Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm (Misc. reels 2087-2091).

Preferred Citation

Virginia Volunteers. Spanish-American War Muster Rolls, 1898-1899. Accession 32116. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Dept. of Military Affairs, Virginia National Guard, 15 June 1984.

Historical Information

On April 25, 1898, the United States declared war on Spain. Immediately, the Secretary of War telegraphed J. Hodge Tyler, the Governor of Virginia, stating that three regiments of twelve companies of infantry were required for the war effort. The three regiments consisted of four companies from the 1st Regiment Infantry, eight companies from the 2nd Regiment Infantry, nine companies from the 3rd Regiment Infantry, eight companies from the 4th Regiment Infantry, two companies of the 3rd Battalion Infantry, and two companies of the 4th Battalion Infantry. With the addition of three new companies organized in Fairfax, Wytheville, and Lynchburg, these thirty-six companies comprised the three regiments which were designated the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Virginia Infantry. Later, another regiment, designated the 6th Virginia Infantry, was created to fulfill the President's additional call for volunteers. The 1st and 2nd Battalions Infantry, consisting of colored soldiers, were mustered into this regiment.

A peace agreement was reached between the United States and Spain in August 1898 before any Virginia regiment made it overseas. The 4th Infantry, however, took part in occupation duties in Cuba and mustered out of service on April 27, 1899. The 2nd Infantry mustered out of service in Richmond in December 1898, the 3rd Infantry mustered out in November, and the 6th Infantry mustered out at Macon, Georgia, in January 1899.

Scope and Content Information

Volume I contains muster-in rolls for the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of Infantry of the Virginia Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. There are musters for the Field, Staff, & Band and Companies "A" through "M" for each regiment. The muster rolls record the following information: number; names (present & absent); description including age, height, complexion, eyes, and hair; town & state born; occupation; date & place where joined, by whom, and for what period; travel from residence to place of rendezvous including residence and no. of miles; valuation of horses and equipment (usually blank); oath subscribed to each man with signature or mark; married or single; if single, name and address of parent or guardian; and remarks (e.g. discharged, medical conditions, and witnesses for those who signed with their mark). There are separate muster rolls for the captains, 1st lieutenants, and 2nd lieutenants for each company. These musters are certified by the major of the respective regiment.

Volume II contains muster-in rolls for the 4th and 6th Regiments of Infantry of the Virginia Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. There are musters for the Field, Staff, & Band for each regiment. There are also musters for Companies "A" through "M" for the 4th Regiment and Companies "A" through "H" of the 6th Infantry. The muster rolls record the following information: number; names (present & absent); description including age, height, complexion, eyes, and hair; town & state born; occupation; date & place where joined, by whom, and for what period; travel from residence to place of rendezvous including residence and no. of miles; valuation of horses and equipment(usually blank); oath subscribed to each man with signature or mark; married or single; if single, name and address of parent or guardian; and remarks (e.g. discharged, medical conditions, and witnesses for those who signed with their mark). There are musters for the Field, Staff, & Band for each regiment. There are also musters for Companies "A" through "M" for the 4th Regiment and Companies "A" through "H" of the 6th Infantry. There are separate muster rolls for the captains, 1st lieutenants, and 2nd lieutenants for each company. These musters are certified by the major of the respective regiment.

Volume III contains muster-out rolls for the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of Infantry of the Virginia Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. There are musters for the Field, Staff, & Band and Companies "A" through "M" for each regiment. The muster rolls record the following information: number; names (present & absent); rank; joined for duty & enrolled (when, where, by whom, & period); mustered for service (when, where, & by whom); last paid (by paymaster & to what time); traveling (place of residence & place of discharge); subsistence & forage furnished by themselves since muster into service (subsistence # of days & forage # of days); valuation of horses & equipments (horses & equipments in dollars and cents); clothing (due U.S. & due soldier in dollars & cents); due U.S. (arms & equipment & Q.M. stores); remarks (eg. not paid between certain dates, detached for service, absent with leave, etc.); period paid for in months & days; pay per month; amount of pay; clothing in dollars & cents; subsistence in dollars & cents; forage in dollars & cents; for horses & equipments in dollars & cents; traveling in dollars & cents; total amount due in dollars & cents; balance paid; received payment of; and witness. The muster-out rolls also contain a recapitulation of those present & absent enumerated by rank and alterations since muster-in including those joined, discharged, died, missing in action, and deserted. The musters are signed and certified by the company commander and mustering officer. Lastly, there is a record of events which may be necessary or useful for future reference at the War Department. This section details when and where the company mustered in, its movements while in service, furloughs, and when and where it mustered out.

Volume IV contains muster-out rolls for the 4th Regiment of Infantry of the Virginia Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. There are musters for the Field, Staff, & Band and Companies "A" through "M" of the regiment. The muster rolls record the following information: number; names (present & absent); rank; joined for duty & enrolled (when, where, by whom, & period); mustered for service (when, where, & by whom); last paid (by paymaster & to what time); traveling (place of residence & place of discharge); subsistence & forage furnished by themselves since muster into service (subsistence # of days & forage # of days); valuation of horses & equipments (horses & equipments in dollars and cents); clothing (due U.S. & due soldier in dollars & cents); due U.S. (arms & equipment & Q.M. stores); and remarks (summarizes service of the individual since mustering in). The muster-out rolls also contain a recapitulation of those present & absent enumerated by rank and alterations since muster-in including those joined, discharged, died, missing in action, and deserted. The musters are signed and certified by the company commander and mustering officer. Lastly, there is a record of events which may be necessary or useful for future reference at the War Department. This section details when and where the company mustered in, its movements while in service, furloughs, and when and where it mustered out.

Volume V contains muster-out rolls for the 6th Regiment of Infantry of the Virginia Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. There are musters for the Field, Staff, & Band and Companies "A" through "H" of the regiment. The muster rolls record the following information: number; names (present & absent); rank; joined for duty & enrolled (when, where, by whom, & period); mustered for service (when, where, & by whom); last paid (by paymaster & to what time); traveling (place of residence & place of discharge); subsistence & forage furnished by themselves since muster into service (subsistence # of days & forage # of days); valuation of horses & equipments (horses & equipments in dollars and cents); clothing (due U.S. & due soldier in dollars & cents); due U.S. (arms & equipment & Q.M. stores); and remarks (summarizes service of the individual since mustering in). The muster-out rolls also contain a recapitulation of those present & absent enumerated by rank and alterations since muster-in including those joined, discharged, died, missing in action, and deserted. The musters are signed and certified by the company commander and mustering officer. Lastly, there is a record of events which may be necessary or useful for future reference at the War Department. This section details when and where the company mustered in, its movements while in service, furloughs, and when and where it mustered out.

Arrangement

Arranged into 5 volumes: Volume I, Muster-In Rolls, 2nd & 3rd Virginia Infantry; Volume II: Muster-In Rolls, 4th & 6th virginia Infantry; Volume III, Muster-Out Rolls, 2nd & 3rd Virginia Infantry; Volume IV, Muster-Out Rolls, 4th Virginia Infantry;and Volume V, 6th Virginia Infantry.