Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm for Volume V (Misc. reel 2091)

Preferred Citation

Virginia Volunteers. Officers' rosters, 1866-1916. Accession 26194. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Volunteers. Officer's roster, 1899-1919. Accession 32116. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

Acquisition Information

Volumes I-IV were transferred from the Office of the Adjutant General, Richmond, Va., on 3 October 1964.

Volume V was transferred from the Dept. of Military Affairs, Virginia National Guard, 15 June 1984.

Historical Information

The General Assembly passed an act on March 2, 1866 to reorganize the militia. This act provided that the county or corporation courts appoint, for each regiment of militia, three people to conduct the elections of field and company officers. The General Assembly passed another act on March 29, 1871 to provide for the organization of the Volunteer Militia of the State, and to repeal existing laws concerning the same. The militia, known as the Virginia Volunteers, was to consist of volunteers to be called into service in case of war, invasion, riots, etc. The militia was organized into companies of 50 to 100 men which in turn were organized into regiments of 6 to 10 companies. The regiments were then organized into brigades and divisions. The officers of the militia were examined by a board consisting of three officers who issued a certificate to the officer if deemed competent. The certificate was then returned to the adjutant general and the officer was commissioned by the governor. All commissioned and non-commissioned officers were also required to take an oath of allegiance to the state of Virginia and support the United States constitution. Following the passage of the National Defense Act in 1916, the Virginia State militia changed its name from the Virginia Volunteers to the Virginia National Guard.

Scope and Content Information

Volume I contains a register or roster of officers of the Virginia Volunteers commissioned between 1866 and 1882. The roster includes the following information: date of commission, name, rank, date of rank, and remarks (e.g. resigned, deceased, promoted, etc.). The volume begins with the officers of the Public Guard, Adjutant Generals, and Aide-de-Camps to the Governor. The volume then lists officers alphabetical by county. Lastly, the volume lists the officers of the First Brigade (organized in 1881) by regiment.

Volume II contains a register or roster of officers of the Virginia Volunteers commissioned between 1872 and 1898. The roster includes the following information: name, grade, organization, date of rank, date of commission, address of residence, address of place of business, previous service, and resume of present service & remarks (e.g. resigned, promoted, retired). The officers are listed in order by rank.

Volume III contains a register or roster of officers of the Virginia Volunteers commissioned between 1878 and 1897. The roster includes the following information: name, address, rank, date elected, date commissioned, date of rank, date reported for examination, result of examination, bond when filed and amount, and remarks (e.g. resigned, promoted, commission revoked).

Volume IV contains a register or roster of officers of the Virginia Volunteers commissioned between 1899 and 1916. The roster includes the following information: name, rank, date of election or appointment, date examined, result of examination, date re-examined, date of rank, date of commission, and remarks (e.g. resigned, promoted, retired). The officers are listed in order by regiment then by rank.

Volume V contains a register or roster of officers of the Virginia Volunteers commissioned between 1899 and 1919. The roster includes the following information: name, age at original entry, grade, organization, date of rank, original entry into service, address, service record, and remarks (e.g. resigned, promoted, discharged).

Arrangement

Arranged into 5 volumes: Volume I, Officer's Roster, 1866-1882; Volume II, Officer's Roster, 1972-1898; Volume III, Officer's Roster, 1878-1897; Volume IV, Officer's Roster, 1886-1916; Volume V, Officer's Roster, 1899-1919