Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Muster Rolls and Payrolls for the War of 1812 of the Auditor of Public Accounts, 1813-1814, Accession APA 253a. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

APA 253a was acquired prior to 1905.

Historical Information

The United States Congress declared war against Great Britain on 18 June 1812 in response to British impressment of American seamen, violation of American neutrality, and blockade of American ports. The British responded by blockading the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and raiding coastal settlements. The British attempted to capture Norfolk but were repulsed by militia stationed on Craney Island on 22 June 1813. Although actual encounters were few, the threat of attack kept militia in the field throughout the war, which ended when the Treaty of Ghent was signed on 24 December 1814.

Scope and Content

These records are part of Auditor of Public Accounts. Administration of State Government: Military Expenditures - War of 1812. Contains muster rolls, payrolls, and related documents of militia companies and detachments not included in Virginia Militia in the War of 1812, Vols. I and II. The rolls include the names of officers and soldiers, dates of service, and pay, and are arranged alphabetically by commanding officer(s). Contains the rolls of Captain Arthur Emmerson's company of artillery, which played a key role in the defeat of the British at the Battle of Craney Island.

Also contains the Revolutionary War muster roll of Captain Briggs' company of the Virginia Line, Fort Pitt, 1777-1778, and the payroll of the 7th Virginia Regiment, 1778.