Scope and Content Note
This index consists of approximately 218 items (slips of paper measuring approximately 3 3/4" by 7 3/4" and 3 1/4" by 8") providing multiple references to newspapers containing articles mainly concerning military matters in which New York State Volunteer and Militia units were involved.
The index was compiled by the Bureau of Military Statistics, probably sometime in 1863. Although its enabling legislation did not specifically require the bureau to collect or create these types of records, the bureau's director, in his first annual report, stated that the bureau would attempt to acquire any material related to the Civil War. Among the items the bureau collected were various newspapers and periodicals. This index was most likely produced in order to provide access to the bureau's newspaper collection.
The bulk of the notations are brief summaries or abstracts of newspaper articles describing various events, occasions or battles in which New York Volunteer or Militia units participated. There are a small number of references to political events, but for the most part, the index pertains to military matters.
According to a cover slip accompanying the index, articles which were indexed were extracted from the New York Tribune, New York Times, and New York Herald between January 1 and May 30, 1863. This is inaccurate, however, since there are references to articles that appeared in the Newburgh Daily Journal and Albany Evening Journal and to other articles dated from June issues of newspapers. Furthermore, the bulk of the references pertain to articles dating between April and May of 1863. More than likely the series was at one time part of a larger index.
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