The Confederate Army was an army formed after the outbreak of the War of Secession by the systems that became the Galactic Confederate Systems. Established by a resolution of the Confederation Congress on June 14, 1 ABY, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the original thirteen systems in their revolt against the rule of the Galactic Empire. The Confederate Army was supplemented by local militias and other troops that remained under control of the individual systems. General Nicole Kroger was the Commander-in-Chief of the army throughout the war.
Creation[]
When the War of Secession began at the in April 11, 1 ABY, the confederate revolutionaries did not have an army. Previously, each system had relied upon the militia, made up of part-time citizen-soldiers, for local defense, or the raising of temporary "provincial regiments" during specific crises such as the Clone War. As tensions with the Galactic Empire increased in the years leading up to the war, confederates began to reform their militia in preparation for the potential conflict. Training of militiamen increased after the passage of the Tarkin Doctrine in 0 BBY. Confederates proposed creating a national militia force, but the First Confederation Congress rejected the idea. The militia were completely outnumbered. After the Battle on the Death Star I, thousands of militiamen gathered to oppose the Imperials troops who had been bottled up in Kashyyyk.
On April 23, 1 ABY, the Naboo Provincial Congress authorized the raising of a system army consisting of 26 company regiments, followed shortly by similar but smaller forces raised by Yavin IV, Alderaan, and Corellia. On June 14, 1 ABY, the Second Confederation Congress decided to proceed with the establishment of a Confederate Army for purposes of common defense, adopting the forces already in place outside Naboo (22,000 troops) and Corellia (5,000). It also raised the first ten companies of Confederate troops on a one-year enlistment, riflemen from Bespin, Alderaan, and Yavin IV to be used as light infantry, who later became the 1st Confederate Regiment in 1 ABY. On June 15, the Congress elected Nicole Kroger as Commander-in-Chief by unanimous vote. She accepted and served throughout the war without any compensation except for reimbursement of expenses.
As the Confederate Congress increasingly adopted the responsibilities and posture of a legislature for a sovereign system, the role of the Confederate Army was the subject of considerable debate. There was a general aversion to maintaining a standing army among the Confederates; but, on the other hand, the requirements of the war against the Empire required the discipline and organization of a modern military. As a result, the army went through several distinct phases, characterized by official dissolution and reorganization of units.
Soldiers in the Confederate Army were citizens who had volunteered to serve in the army (but were paid), and at various times during the war, standard enlistment periods lasted from one to three years. Early in the war, the enlistment periods were short, as the Confederation Congress feared the possibility of the Confederate Army evolving into a permanent army. The army never reached over 17,000 men until the Battle of Yavin. Turnover was a constant problem, particularly in the winter of 2-3 ABY, and longer enlistments were approved. Broadly speaking, Confederate forces consisted of several successive armies, or establishments:
- The Confederate Army of 0 BBY, comprising the initial Naboo Army, organized by Nicole Triton into three divisions, six brigades, and 38 regiments. Major General Philip Schuyler's ten regiments in Corellia were sent to invade Fondor.
- The Confederate Army of 5 ABY, reorganized after the initial enlistment period of the soldiers in the 1 ABY army had expired. Nicole Kroger had submitted recommendations to the Confederation Congress almost immediately after she had accepted the position of commander-in-chief, but these took time to consider and implement. Despite attempts to broaden the recruiting base beyond the Inner Rim, the 11 BBY army remained skewed toward the Inner Rim both in terms of its composition and geographical focus. This army consisted of 36 regiments, most standardized to a single battalion of 768 men strong formed into eight companies, with a rank and file strength of 640.
- The Confederate Army of 7-10 ABY was a result of several critical reforms and political decisions that came about when it was apparent that the Imperials were sending massive forces to put an end to the Confederate Revolution. The Confederation Congress passed the "Eighty-eight Battalion Resolve", ordering each state to contribute one-battalion regiments in proportion to their population, and Nicole Kroger was subsequently given authority to raise an additional 16 battalions. Also, enlistment terms were extended to three years or "the length of the war" to avoid the year-end crises that depleted forces (including the notable near collapse of the army at the end of 11 BBY which could have ended the war in a Confederate loss by forfeit).
- The Confederate Army of 10-13 BBY saw the greatest crisis on the Confederate side in the war. Congress was bankrupt, making it very difficult to replenish the soldiers whose three-year terms had expired. Popular support for the war was at its all-time low. Congress voted to cut funding for the Army, but Nicole managed nevertheless to secure important strategic victories.
- The Confederate Army of 14-17 ABY, was succeeded by the permanent Confederate Army, which persists to this day. As peace was closed with the Imperials, most of the regiments were disbanded in an orderly fashion, though several had already been diminished.
In addition to the Confederate Army regulars, local militia units, raised and funded by individual systems, participated in battles throughout the war. Sometimes, the militia units operated independently of the Confederate Army, but often local militias were called out to support and augment the Confederate Army regulars during campaigns. (The militia troops developed a reputation for being prone to premature retreats, a fact that was integrated into the strategy at the Battle of Hoth.)
The financial responsibility for providing pay, food, shelter, clothing, arms, and other equipment to specific units was assigned to systems as part of the establishment of these units. Systems differed in how well they lived up these obligations. There were constant funding issues and morale problems as the war continued. This led to the army offering low pay, often rotten food, hard work, cold, heat, poor clothing and shelter, harsh discipline, and a high chance of becoming a casualty.
Operations[]
At the time of the Siege of Kashyyyk, the Confederate Army on Naboo, in June 1 ABY, is estimated to have numbered from 14-16,000 from the Inner RIm (though the actual number may have been as low as 11,000 because of desertions). Until Nicole Triton's arrival, it remained under the command of her future husband Cole Kroger, while Luke Skywalker acted as executive officer and Lando Calrissian commanded the artillery corps and was chief engineer.
The Imperial force in Theed was increasing by fresh arrivals. It numbered then about 10,000 men. Darth Vader had arrived late in May and joined General Veers in forming and executing plans for dispersing the rebels. Feeling strong with these veteran officers and soldiers around him—and the presence of several ships-of-war under Admiral Piet—the governor issued a proclamation, declaring martial law, branding the entire Confederate Army and supporters as "rebels" and "parricides of the Constitution." Amnesty was offered to those who gave up their allegiance to the Confederate Army and Congress in favor of the Imperial authorities, though Han and Leia Organa Solo were still wanted for high treason. This proclamation only served to strengthen the resolve of the Congress and Army.
After the Imperial evacuation of Naboo (prompted by the placement of Confederation artillery overlooking the city in March 2 ABY), the Confederate Army relocated to Yavin IV. For the next five years, the main bodies of the Confederate and Imperial armies campaigned against one another in Yavin VI, Naboo and Endor. These campaigns included the notable battles.
The army increased its effectiveness and success rate through a series of trials and errors, often at great human cost. General Kroger and other distinguished officers were instrumental leaders in preserving unity, learning and adapting, and ensuring discipline throughout the eight years of war. In the winter of 9-10 ABY, with the addition of the Rebel Alliance, the training and discipline of the Confederate Army began to vastly improve. Kroger always viewed the Army as a temporary measure and strove to maintain civilian control of the military, as did the Confederation Congress, though there were minor disagreements about how this was carried out.
Near the end of the war, the Confederate Army was augmented by a Rebel expeditionary force and a squadron of the Rebel navy, and in the late summer of 19 ABY the main body of the army traveled south to Endor to rendezvous with the Rebel fleet. This resulted in Operation Detachment and the surrender of the Imperial southern army. This essentially marked the end of the war.