咸丰十年(1860年),曾国藩让左宗棠在湖南招兵买马,组建一支5000人的队伍。左宗棠凭借自己在湖南幕府打下的基础和建立的威望,仅用两个多月时间,就募练成军,并正式命名为“楚军”。楚军是湘军的一个支系。左宗棠不用湘军之名而用楚军,后人多以为他独树一帜、自立门户的愿望十分强烈。其实这是一种误解,有必要予以澄清。一与其他新生事物一样,湘军之名也有一个发展演变过程,并不是一成军就被统一称 Xianfeng ten years (1860), Zeng Guofan let Zuo Zongtang recruit in Hunan, set up a team of 5,000 people. In only two months and more, Zuo Zongtang relied on his foundations and established prestige laid by the Hunan Mufu Government. He officially became known as the “Chu Army.” Chu army is a branch of the Hunan army. Zuo Zongtang does not use the name of the Hunan army and Chu army, later generations think he is unique, self-reliance is very strong. In fact, this is a misunderstanding, it is necessary to be clarified. As with other new things, the name of the Hunan army also has a process of evolution and development.