Daily AncestorVeteran Reserve Corps
The Veteran Reserve Corps (V.R.C.), first called the Invalid Corps, was a Union army corps of partly disabled soldiers who did light and guard duty.
Created in April 1863 as the Invalid Corps, it was renamed the Veteran Reserve Corps in March 1864. Members were either soldiers still under enlistment who were transferred in because of wounds or disease, or discharged men fit for light duty who enlisted again. Their garrison and guard work freed healthy soldiers for the front.
A transfer to the V.R.C. explains why a man vanishes from his original regiment's rolls. Carded medical records include V.R.C. men, and the Provost Marshal General's Bureau had a separate branch for the corps.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Veteran Reserve Corps." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/military/veteran-reserve-corps. Last checked 2026-10-03.