Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm for Volume I (Misc. Reel 992)

Preferred Citation

Adjutant General, Letter and General Order Books, 1819-1835. Accession 36772 and 36922, State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Acquired prior to 1905.

Biographical/Historical Information

The Office of the Adjutant General was established by an ordinance passed by the third revolutionary convention at its session begun on July 17, 1775. Bernard Peyton replaced Claiborne W. Gooch serving as Adjutant General from March 31, 1821 to March 15, 1840.

Scope and Content Information

Volume I contains transcribed correspondence and orders from Adjutant Generals Claiborne W. Gooch and Bernard Peyton between July 27, 1819 and August 22, 1824. The correspondence is addressed to Governors (James Patton Preston, Thomas Mann Randolph, and James Pleasants) & Council, Commandants of the Public Guard including Blair Bolling and James Paxton, and various commandants of the militia. The correspondence is outgoing and concerns a variety of issues including public edifices and property, supplies of equipment and arms for militia units, the election of officers, court martials, reports of the Lexington Arsenal and the Public Guard, advice of the Council, and returns from officers.

Volume II contains transcribed correspondence and general orders from Adjutant General Bernard Peyton. The correspondence is addressed to the Governor & Council and various commandants of the militia between September 4, 1824 and April 14, 1835. The correspondence concerns a variety of issues including supplies of equipment and arms for militia units, the election of officers, reports of the Lexington Arsenal, lists of general & field officers, and returns from officers. Of note is correspondence to militia officers from Gov. Floyd and Adjutant General Bernard Peyton at the time of Nat Turner's Southampton Insurrection in August, 1831.

Arrangement

Letters and General Orders are arranged chronologically in each volume.

Organized into two volumes: Volume I. 1819-1824; Volume II. 1824-1835.