Returns from U.S. military posts, 1800-1916

Notes

"This microfilm publication reproduces returns from U.S. military posts from the early 1800's to 1916, with a few returns extending through 1917"--Military Service Records, p. 169.

"Most of the records are monthly post returns, but they also include morning reports, field returns, rosters of officers, and related papers that were added to the collection by the AGO either as supplementary information or as substitutes for missing post returns. Field returns, for example, generally show the movement of troops or detachments in the field from units stationed at the post. Among the related papers are some cards that contain information pertaining to wars and skirmishes with Indians. The records also include papers containing historical information about the post, lists of officers and commanders of the post, and date relating to the establishment and abandonment of the post. These related papers appear on the microfilm before the returns for the post to which they pertain. A few duplicate and corrected copies of returns are included. Corrected copies of specific returns are generally filed after the original return"--Military Service Records, p. 169.

"The AGO filed post returns alphabetically by the name of the post and thereunder in chronological order, however, there was no standard practice for dealing with names such as D.A. Russell or George G. Meade, which may be filed by the last name or by the first name or initial. There may be variations in spellings of names of locations of some posts , especially in the Philippine Islands"--Military Service Records, p. 169.

"When the name of a post was changed, the new name was generally the one under which the returns were consolidated. In some instances, however, the Adjutant General's Office kept the earlier returns under the original name and filed the later returns under the new name. Returns for some posts, such as the multiple installations at Manilla, P.I., were filed under the name of the city"--Military Service Records, p. 169.

"In this publication, the filing scheme used by the Adjutant General's Office has been followed, except when returns for a post totaled less than 20. In such cases, returns were removed by the National Archives and filed in a second alphabetical sequence beginning on roll 1492. On rolls 1-1491, each roll contains returns for a single post, although returns for a specific post may be filmed on more than one roll. On rolls 1492-1550, where the number of returns is less than 20 (except for some parts in the Philippine Islands), returns for several posts are reproduced on each roll. The returns for posts in the Philippine Islands that are reproduced on rolls 1492-1550 were found after the filming of the first alphabetical sequence had been completed"--Military Service Records, p. 169-170.

"This publication contains returns for the Civil War period that were used by the Record and Pension Office of the War Department when it compiled the service records of persons who served in the Civil War. Returns from which information was abstracted were stamped with the word 'carded.' Returns that were examined but from which no information was taken were stamped 'not carded.'"--Military Service Records, p. 170.

"For a list of cross-references for names of posts, consult the descriptive pamphlet"--Military Service Records, p. 170.

Microfilm of original records in The National Archives, Washington, District of Columbia.

Subjects

Locality Subjects

Film/Digital Notes