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Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia© 2003 By the Library of Virginia.
Processed by: Craig S. Moore
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Use microfilm (Misc. reels 2083, 2084, & 2086)
Virginia. National Guard. Mexican Border Service muster rolls, 1916-1917. Accession 32116. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Transferred from the Dept. of Military Affairs, Virginia National Guard, 15 June 1984.
On March 9, 1916, Pancho Villa and a band of Mexican bandits raided the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing seventeen Americans. President Woodrow Wilson ordered Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing and a 15,000-man force on a "Punitive Expedition" into Mexico. The War Department telegraphed the governor of Virginia to mobilize the Virginia National Guard to protect the Mexican Border while the Regular Army units carried out the expedition. Two regiments of infantry (the 1st and 2nd Regiments), four batteries of artillery, and the signal and field hospital units were sent. In addition, the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, who petitioned the War Department to be included, joined as the 1st Squadron, Cavalry. Later, an engineer company was added to the force of over 3,000 men from Virginia. After a relatively uneventful service, these forces were demobilized in early 1917.
The muster-in rolls provide the following information regarding the soldier: name, rank, age, height, complexion, eye color, hair color, where born, occupation, single or married, residence, emergency notification (includes name, relationship, and address of individual), date of commission or enlistment, home station, signature subscribing to oath, whether they qualified in volunteers, and remarks (usually indicate date enlistment expires).
The muster-in rolls document the musters of the following units of the Virginia National Guard during the Mexican Border Service: recruiting detachment of the 4th Infantry; Quartermaster Corps of the 4th Infantry; Type D, Field Company, Signal Corps; Field Hospital No. 1; Medical Corps; Headquarters 1st Battalion, Field Artillery; Batteries "A" through "D", Field Artillery; Field & Staff of the 1st Squadron of Cavalry; Troops "A" through "D", 1st Squadron of Cavalry; Field, Staff, and Band of the 1st Regiment; Medical Corps attached to the 1st Regiment; Co.'s "A" through "M", 1st Regiment; Field, Staff, and Band of the 2nd Regiment; Hospital Corps of the 2nd Regiment; Co.'s "A" through "M", 2nd Regiment.
The muster-out rolls provide the following information regarding the soldier: name (present or absent), rank, when enlisted, and remarks (e.g. a.w.o.l., transferred, sick).
The muster-out rolls document the musters of the following units of the Virginia National Guard during the Mexican Border Service: field & staff of the 1st & 2nd Regiment Infantry; Supply Co., 1st Virginia Infantry; Headquarters Co., 1st Va. Inf.; Machine Gun Co., 1st Va. Inf.; Companies "A" through "M", 1st Va. Inf.; Sanitary Troops, 1st Va. Inf.; Headquarters Co., 2nd Va. Inf.; Supply Co., 2nd Va. Inf.; Machine Gun Co., 2nd Va. Inf.; Companies "A" through "M", 2nd Va. Inf.; Medical Corps, 2nd Va. Inf.; detachment of the 4th Va. Inf.; Co. A, 4th Va. Inf.; detachment of the 1st Battalion Va. Cavalry; Headquarters 1st Battalion Va. Field Artillery; Batteries "A" through "D", 1st Battalion Virginia Field Artillery; 1st Va. Field Hospital; 1st Signal Company, Co. A; Co. A Engineers; and Quartermaster Corps.
Arranged into 2 volumes: Volume I, Muster-In Rolls, 1916-1917 & Volume II, Muster-Out Rolls, 1916-1917.