New York State Paymaster General's Office Ledgers Pertaining to Bounties Authorized by Chapter 184, Laws of 1863 A4139

New York State Paymaster General's Office Ledgers Pertaining to Bounties Authorized by Chapter 184, Laws of 1863

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

Three oversized volumes record bounty payments disbursed by the Paymaster General's Office between 1863 and 1866 as authorized by legislation of 1863. Soldiers were paid different bounties according to the length of time they had served in regiments.

Creator:

New York (State). Paymaster General's Office

Title:

Ledgers pertaining to bounties authorized by Chapter 184, Laws of 1863

Quantity:

1 cubic foot

3 volumes

Inclusive Dates:

1863-1866

Bulk Dates:

(bulk 1863-1864)

Series Number:

A4139

Arrangement

Volumes 1 and 2: by regiment number or synonym, then chronological by date of sentence.

Volume 3: alphabetical by first letter of last name, then by branch of service (infantry, cavalry, artillery).

Scope and Content Note

Three oversized volumes record bounty payments disbursed by the Paymaster General's Office between 1863 and 1866 as authorized by legislation of 1863.

This statute stipulated that all soldiers who had enlisted in New York State regiments since November 1, 1862 were entitled to a bounty of seventy-five dollars. Soldiers who had served two years in regiments organized under legislation passed April 16, 1861 and who re-enlisted for two years were entitled to one hundred and fifty dollars. Those soldiers who re-enlisted for one year received a fifty dollar bounty. The administration of this statute, as well as previous and subsequent legislation dealing with bounties, was entrusted to the Paymaster General's Office.

Information provided for each entry in volumes one and two consists of date of payment, name, company, date, amount, and total. The date and amount categories are repeated because soldiers often did not receive their entire bounty at once. Frequently a portion of the bounty was paid upon enlistment or re-enlistment and the balance paid at a later date. The information in volume three differs slightly in that it provides only regiment number and omits company letter. From the title of this volume, "List of Partial Payments for all Regiments for 1863 and 1864," it appears this volume was originally intended to record only partial bounty payments. However, many entries contain the dates and amounts of subsequent payments made as late as 1866.