Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Volunteers. Richmond Light Infantry Blues Battalion enlistment records, 1906-1916. Accession 26194. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Office of the Adjutant General on October 3, 1964.

Historical Information

Following the Spanish-American War, the reorganization of the Virginia Volunteers continued with the assignment of new numbers to the regiments in order to distinguish those regiments who fought in the Civil and Spanish-American Wars. The 70th and 71st Infantry were the first of the new regiments organized in 1900 followed by the 72nd Infantry in 1905. A law was passed by the General Assembly on January 16, 1908, amending Section 306 of the Code of Virginia. This law stipulated that the organization, armament, and discipline of the Virginia militia or volunteers shall be the same as that of the regular and volunteer armies of the United States. In addition, the infantry regiments were again reorganized to reflect a tighter geographical grouping and were reassigned their pre-1898 designations (i.e. 1st, 2nd, & 4th Regiments).

Scope and Content

Volume contains the enlistment records including oaths of enlistment and physical record of volunteers in the Richmond Light Infantry Blues Battalion of Virginia Volunteers between 1906 and 1916. The enlistment records contain an oath to support the laws and Constitution of the United States and the laws and Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The oath was sworn by the volunteer and certified by the company commander. The oath also contains a consent in case of minor signed by a relative or guardian if required. The reverse of the enlistment record includes a description and physical record of the soldier. Included in the description is the following information: name, command, age, height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, complexion, where born, occupation, residence, marital status, name & address of person to notify in case of emergency, and previous military or naval experience. The physical record, as certified by the examining surgeon, notes the condition of the volunteer including his sight, hearing, heart, lungs, etc. The surgeon also noted addictions to alcohol or opium.

Arrangement

Arranged in 3 volumes: Vol. I, Non-Commissioned Staff & Band and Company A; Vol. II, Company B; and Vol. III, Companies C-D.