Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Adjutant General, Officers' Service Records, 1871-1920. Accession 26194, State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Office of the Adjutant General on October 3, 1964.

Historical Information

The General Assembly passed an act on March 29, 1871, to provide for the organization of the Volunteer Militia of the State, and to repeal existing laws concerning the same. The militia, known as the Virginia Volunteers, was to consist of volunteers to be called into service in case of war, invasion, riots, etc. The militia was organized into companies of 50 to 100 men which in turn were organized into regiments of 6 to 10 companies. The regiments were then organized into brigades and divisions. The officers of the militia were examined by a board consisting of three officers who issued a certificate to the officer if deemed competent. The certificate was then returned to the adjutant general and the officer was commissioned by the governor. All commissioned and non-commissioned officers were also required to take an oath of allegiance to the state of Virginia and support the United States constitution.

Scope and Content Information

These volumes contain individual service records for officers who served in the Virginia Volunteers or Virginia National Guard between 1871 and 1920. The service records provide the following information about the officers: Name; Command or Department; Elected or Appointed (date); Rank; Residence; Accepted (date); Examined by State Board (date); Result (passed or failed); Examined by Federal Board; Result (passed or failed); Date Federal Recognition; Date State Commission; Prior Service (years enlisted or years commissioned); Date Physical Exam; Result; Enlisted as (rank); Company, Battery, or Troop; Squadron, Battalion, or Regiment; Virginia Volunteers or National Guard and date; and blank spaces for dates appointed corporal, sergeant, detailed mess sergeant or supply sergeant, or q.m. sergeant, 1st sergeant, bn. sergeant-major, and regimental sergeant-major.

Additional information includes commissioned service which contains blank spaces to enter units and dates commissioned as 2nd lt., 1st lt., captain; major, lt. colonel, colonel, and brig. general. There are also spaces for assignments or special duty, transfers, resignation or honorable discharge, and re-entered state service.

Lastly, the service records provide federal service & other recognized military service including Mexican Border Service, Spanish-American War Service, and World War I Service. This section lists the rank and honorable discharge as U.S. Army, Navy, or Marine Corps; U.S. Volunteers; organized militia or National Guard from another state, and military service as cadet.

Arrangement

Arranged in 4 volumes alphabetically by the name of the officer: Vol. I, A-F; Vol. II, G-L; Vol. III, M-Z; and Vol. IV, Colored Officers.