New York State Adjutant General's Office Special Orders
Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources
Overview of the Records
Repository:
New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
Summary:
This series consists of bound special orders issued by the Adjutant General and commanding officers of specific military units
(usually divisions). Unlike general orders, which deal with the State's military system as a whole, special orders deal with
specific units and individuals. The orders in this series also reflect the activities of State Militia, volunteer and National
Guard units during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border Campaign, World War I, World War II, and various
catastrophes and disturbances.
Creator:
Title:
Adjutant General's Office special orders
Quantity:
Quantity:
Inclusive Dates:
1855-1975
Series Number:
14405
Arrangement
Chronological by year, then numerical by order number.
Administrative History
Chapter 25 of the Laws of 1786 required "that there shall be an adjutant general of the militia whose duty shall be to distribute
all orders from the commander in chief..." In addition to this duty the statute outlined several other functions to be the
responsibility of the adjutant general.
The special orders begin in 1855, and no prior special orders are known to exist. Special Orders are not to be confused with
General Orders which are also issued through the Adjutant General's Office. General Orders deal with the State's military
system as a whole whereas the special orders deal with specific units and individuals.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of bound special orders issued by the Adjutant General and commanding officers of specific military units
(usually divisions).
14405-84: These special orders deal with numerous topics pertaining to New York State militia and later National Guard units
between 1855 and 1946. Included are orders dealing with re-assignment of regiments to brigades and divisions; formation and
assignment of companies (including names of commanding officers); revocation of previously issued special orders; promotions
and demotions; issuance of arms, uniforms, equipment, and accoutrements to units and training institutions; courts martial
and appeals; details for special occasions (e.g. Lincoln's funeral train arrival, capture of Richmond); territory from which
volunteer regiments were to be recruited; inspection of troops; discharges; training exercises; transfer of personnel; issuance
of regulations; and grants or suspension of leaves of absence. The orders also reflect the activities of State Militia, volunteer
and National Guard units during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border Campaign, World War I, World War II,
and various catastrophes and disturbances. Boxes 1-83 consist of Special Orders, and boxes 84-115 consist of Special Orders,
Headquarters, National Guard.
14405-85: These special orders date between 1861 and 1865 only and pertain mainly to the recruitment and enrollment of men
into the volunteer army. In addition, these special orders were issued solely by the Adjutant General's Office whereas the
special orders accessioned in 1984 were issued by this official as well as by regimental commanders and other state militia
officers.
The special orders issued under General Order 13 deal mainly with the preliminary mustering in of individual companies organized
in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers to serve for two years. These special orders usually provide
order number; date of order; site where company assembled; names of men desired by the company for captain, lieutenant, and
ensign; and name of officer detailed for the inspection and mustering of the company as well as supervising the election of
the company's officers (these include captain, lieutenant, ensign, four sergeants, and four corporals).
Special orders issued under General Order 78 pertain to President Lincoln's second call for an additional 25,000 volunteers
from New York State to serve for three years or during the war. Data contained in these special orders includes: unit number
and/or synonym (sometimes); names of men nominated by the company for 1st lieutenant and captain; date of company's acceptance;
and name of Commandant of Depot of Volunteers where company was mustered.
The special orders relating to General Orders 52 (1862); 20, 34, 110, 126 (1863); and 131 (1864) are essentially authorizations
issued by the Adjutant General's Office to qualified individuals for the enrollment of volunteers. Special orders issued under
General Order 52 provide number of order; date; name of person authorized to enroll volunteers; residence (city or county);
term of enlistment for volunteers; and occasionally, name of unit to which person authorized to enroll volunteers will be
attached. Special orders issued under General Order 126 contain the same information but always include the unit to which
the enrolling office will be attached. Special orders issued under General Order 20, pertaining to the enrollment of volunteers
already in the service or to enlistments (new recruits) for a term of three years or during the war, also contain the same
information.
Special orders issued under General Order 34 pertain to the recruitment of companies for the infantry which were to be sent
to regiments in the field that had less than the prescribed number of company organizations. These orders provide date and
special order number; name of enrolling officer; residence (city or county); area in which authorized to recruit; number of
days by which troops are to be recruited; and unit to which they are to be attached.
Alternate Formats Available
Items Online
Special orders relating to the progression of President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train through Albany have been digitized
and are available in State Archives Digital Collections.
New York State Archives Digital Collections
Adjutant General's Office special orders, 1855-1975
Related Material
14403 General Orders
14404 Letter Orders and
A0172 Certificates of appointment and general and special orders, contain additional Adjutant General's orders.
Other Finding Aids
Available at Repository
Volume list.
Accretion 14405-84 has alphabetical name index at the fore of each volume.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.
Access Terms
Corporate Name(s):
Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):
Function(s):
Detailed Description
Dates |
Contents |
Box |
|
Folder |
Accretion: 14405-84 |
1855 |
Orders 1-198 |
1 |
|
|
1855 |
G.O.'s 9B, A-E; Orders 199-200 |
1 |
|
|
1878 |
Orders 215-242 and 36 1/2 |
21 |
|
|
1918 |
Orders 1-159 and Index |
47 |
|
|
1918 |
Orders 160-316 including G.C.M.O.'s 1-12 |
48 |
|
|
1919 |
Orders 163-297 including G.C.M.O.'s 1-3 |
49 |
|
|
1926 |
Orders 1-100 and Index |
58 |
|
|
1927 |
Orders 1-100 and Index |
59 |
|
|
1940 |
Orders 1-152 and Index |
73 |
|
|
1942 |
Orders 1-151 and Index |
76 |
|
|
1943 |
Orders 1-99 and Index |
78 |
|
|
1944 |
Orders 1-98 and Index |
80 |
|
|
1945 |
Orders 1-261 and Index |
82 |
|
|
1917 |
27th and 6th Division S.O.'s |
100 |
|
|
1916 |
Orders 1-232 (6th Division) |
101 |
|
|
1917 |
Orders 1-108, 501-785; Orders 1-217 (27th Division) |
101 |
|
|
|
Orders 1-217 (27th Division) |
101 |
|
|
1917 |
Orders 1-41 (H.Q.) |
102 |
149 |
|
1918 |
Orders 1-191 (H.Q.) |
102 |
|
|
1919 |
Orders 1-145 (H.Q.) |
102 |
150 |
|
1920 |
Orders 1-180 (H.Q.) |
102 |
151 |
|
1921 |
Orders 1-196 (H.Q.) |
103 |
152 |
|
1922 |
Orders 1-129 (H.Q.) |
103 |
153 |
|
|
Orders 1-126 (27th Division) |
103 |
|
|
1923 |
Orders 1-169 (H.Q.) |
104 |
154 |
|
|
Orders 1-49 (27th Division) |
104 |
|
|
1924 |
Orders 1-159 (H.Q.) |
104 |
155 |
|
|
Orders 1-40 (27th Division) |
104 |
|
|
1925 |
Orders 1-123 (H.Q.) |
104 |
156 |
|
|
Orders 1-42 (27th Division) |
104 |
|
|
1926 |
Orders 1-148 (H.Q.) |
105 |
157 |
|
|
Orders 1-50 (27th Division) |
105 |
|
|
1927 |
Orders 1-169 (H.Q.) |
105 |
158 |
|
|
Orders 1-57 (27th Division) |
105 |
|
|
1928 |
Orders 1-239 (H.Q.) |
105 |
159 |
|
|
Orders 1-39 (27th Division) |
105 |
|
|
1929 |
Orders 1-248 (H.Q.) |
106 |
160 |
|
|
Orders 1-43 (27th Division) |
106 |
|
|
1930 |
Orders 1-238 (H.Q.) |
106 |
161 |
|
|
Orders 1-25 (27th Division) |
106 |
|
|
1931 |
Orders 1-250 (H.Q.) |
107 |
162 |
|
|
Orders 1-9 (27th Division) |
107 |
|
|
1932 |
Orders 1-223 (H.Q.) |
107 |
163 |
|
1933 |
Orders 1-224 (H.Q.) |
108 |
164 |
|
|
Orders 1-6 (27th Division) |
108 |
|
|
1934 |
Orders 1-220 (H.Q.) |
108 |
165 |
|
1935 |
Orders 1-244 (H.Q.) |
109 |
166 |
|
|
Orders 1-20 (27th Division) |
109 |
|
|
1936 |
Orders 1-244 (H.Q.) |
109 |
|
167 |
1937 |
Orders 1-229 (H.Q.) |
110 |
168 |
|
1938 |
Orders 1-243 (H.Q.) |
110 |
169 |
|
1939 |
Orders 1-219 (H.Q.) |
111 |
170 |
|
1940 |
Orders 1-257 (H.Q.) |
111 |
171 |
|
|
Orders 1-30 (27th Division) |
111 |
|
|
1941 |
Orders 1-34 (H.Q.) |
111 |
|
|
1940 |
Orders 1-5 (H.Q.) |
112 |
172 |
|
1941 |
Orders 1-122 (H.Q.) |
112 |
|
|
1942 |
Orders 1-166 (H.Q.) |
112 |
173 |
|
1943 |
Orders 1-177 (H.Q.) |
112 |
174 |
|
1944 |
Orders 1-168 (H.Q.) |
113 |
175 |
|
1945 |
Orders 1-204 (H.Q.) |
113 |
176 |
|
1946 |
Orders 1-190 (H.Q.) |
113 |
177 |
|
1916 |
Orders 1-295 (Camp Whitman) |
114 |
178 |
|
1916 |
Orders 1-124 (2nd Division) |
114 |
179 |
|
1915-1917 |
Orders: Quartermaster Corps |
114 |
180 |
|
1917-1920 |
Orders: Naval Militia |
115 |
182 |
|