what are 'conscripts'?

[Gray Ghost]

Richard Taylor of CSA has an ability icon that says he trains 'conscripts'. How do I know if I have any? How do they get on the map?

While I'm here --

Some units have a gold star in the lower left had corner of there unit picture. What does this mean?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[le Anders]

"Conscripts" in that context means unit elements. The trainer-general will provide extra experience over time to those.
Some trainers will transform militia-elements into regular infantry elements.

The gold star apparently means the unit has some experience. I think.

[Jim-NC]

Conscripts has 2 meanings in the game. First, they are the recruits you get each turn (called conscript points). Second, they refer to a stage of "development" of your troops. Taylor affects the second meaning.

The infantry path is Militia to conscripts to regular. This is the same path that cavalry takes. Some elements within a unit start as conscripts, while others start as regular. Taylor takes elements that are conscript, and can "train" them to become regular. It's much faster than the normal process of changing.

Hope this helps.