War Department collection of Post-Revolutionary War manuscripts

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Microfilm of original records in The National Archives, Washington, D.C.

This microfilm publication reproduces "the War Department's collection of 'Post Revolutionary War Manuscripts' and the accompanying name card index. The manuscripts (arranged in 101 consecutively numbered envelopes, or manuscript files) consist of about 500 documents that relate primarily to the pay and supply of state militia organizations mustered into Federal service from the close of the American Revolution to the War of 1812. The documents are original records that date from 1784 to 1811, with the exception of a few items either created or copied subsequently"--Introd.

"The name card index to the collection, reproduced on rolls 1 and 2, is arranged alphabetically by surname except for those cards arranged according to a Soundex or phonetic system. In the Soundex system, names pronounced similarly but spelled differently are filed together, such as Allisan with Allison and Allmond with Almond. Cards containing a surname but no given name are filed before other cards of the same surname. The cards provide references to the manuscript file number and to page numbers within the file. Frequently, the references will merely indicate the page of a document where an individual's name appears, and it may be necessary to read the manuscript in order to establish the context. Some of the cards contain references to pages in three volumes, numbered 6.7, and 8. These three volumes are part of the Records of United States Army Commands, 1784-1821, but no longer bear these numbers. No. 6 was assigned to the Orderly Book for Capt. Jonathan Heart's Company, 1785-1788; No. 7 to the Letter Book of Captain Heart, 1787-1788; and No. 8 to the Orderly Book for the Garrison at Castle Island, Boston Harbor, 1786-1787. They are not included in this microfilm publication"--Introd.

"The manuscripts relate almost exclusively to the activities of militia organizations raised in the States and territories. As an institution, the militia had deep roots in America's colonial and revolutionary past. On June 3, 1784, the Congress authorized the raising of a 700 man army to be drawn from state militia and to serve for 1 year. Under the new Federal Government, the militia was provided for in the Constitution. Under article I, section 8, Congress was authorized to call the militia into Federal service to 'suppress insurrections and repel invasions'. Congress was to 'provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining' militia in the U.S. service, but the states retained authority over the appointment of officers and training. Under article III, section 2, the President was to become commander in chief over militia called into Federal service. The constitutional provisions were implemented by an act of September 29, 1789 and subsequent legislation"--Introd.

"In the post-Revolutionary period, the Federal Government placed heavy reliance upon state militia forces because of the small size of the Regular Army. From 1792 to 1808, with the exception of the years 1798-1799 when a quasi-war was waged with France, authorized Regular Army troop strength averaged some three to four thousand men. Such a limited force was insufficient to permit the garrisoning of widely scattered fortifications and the surveillance of a large frontier area without reliance on the supplemental assistance available from the states and territories"--Introd.

"Each of the 101 consecutively numbered envelopes, or manuscript files, contains one or more documents. Within each file the pages are numbered consecutively, the numbers appearing in pencil on the upper-right or left-hand corners of each page. The files are grouped into 17 subseries, the first 15 of which consist of documents pertaining to a particular state or territory. The subseries are in alphabetical sequence except for the files relating to the Territory Southwest of the Ohio River, which follow rather than precede those concerning Virginia. The 16th subseries contains documents relating to U.S. troops and levies, while the last is of a miscellaneous character. The number of files in each subseries varies from one, in the case of the District of Columbia, to 25, in the case of Virginia. The documents in each subseries did not necessarily originate in the particular state or territory to which they have been assigned. Many of them, for example, consist of letters originating in the office of the War Department Accountant but pertaining to a particular state or territory"--Introd.

"Generally, similar types of documents are to be found in each subseries. Included are such documents as correspondence, generally relating to pay and supplies; abstracts, warrants, receipts, vouchers, and claims relating to pay for services rendered or goods furnished; accounts pertaining to expenditures for pay, supplies, and provisions; and organizational returns and lists of supplies"--Introd.

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