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Preferred Citation:

Captain James Charlton's Infantry Order Book, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Acquisition Information:

Purchase.

Biographical Information:

James Charlton was a Captain in the 12th United States Infantry during the War of 1812. Infantry organized in Virginia. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

Dealer Description:

Orderly Book from Captain James Charlton's Company, 12th United States Infantry, during the War of 1812.  Records muster rolls, returns, morning reports in one section and  regimental, brigade and divisional general orders in another section.

Capt. Charlton's company was recruited primarily from the back county of Virginia (43 soldiers), Pennsylvania (6), Maryland (4), and North Carolina (11).  Against the name of each soldier is recorded his home county, date and term of enlistment, enlisting officer, occupation, age, height, hair and eye color, complexion and build.  Individual entries made for each soldier record types of equipment, including clothes, arms, and "accoutrements," that were issued, with dates of issuance.  Four pages record abstracts of morning report roll calls during a November-December, 1813 encampment at Sackets Harbor. 

The general orders include records of promotions, leave, transfers and other daily activities in the unit, along with extensive records of courts martial and instructions for conduct in various situations, all as issued through various adjutant general staff through the command structure.

Arrangement of Materials:

Two sections are organized so each can be read from one cover to the middle of the volume.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Infantry Order Books
• United States--History--War of 1812
• United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 12th
• Virginia--Militia--History--War of 1812