Research


Scope and Content Note

These abstracts were compiled from original muster rolls of New York State Militia units that were temporarily mustered into federal service during the Civil War (in 1863 the State's Militia became known as the National Guard). The abstracts are printed forms which have been completed by hand and contain the following categories of information for each individual: date of enlistment; age (in years); place of enlistment and for how long; date mustered in; grade; explanation; and remarks. The explanations usually pertain to the locations where the unit was assigned after it was mustered into federal service. The remarks deal with such matters as how officers were paid for their services, promotions, demotions, desertions, variations in spelling of name, and dates of absences.

In addition to service data, the abstracts contain spaces where each man's place of birth, age (in years), occupation, eye and hair color, height, and complexion could be recorded. This data is almost always omitted.