Records of United States Army Commands, 1784-1821
(Record Group 98)
1784-1822
48 cu. ft.
Table of Contents
- 98.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
- 98.2 RECORDS OF GEOGRAPHICAL COMMANDS
1786-1821
12 lin. ft.
- 98.2.1 Records of geographical commands, 1798-1813
- 98.2.2 Records of military districts, War of 1812
- 98.2.3 Records of the Division of the North
- 98.2.4 Records of the Division of the South
- 98.2.5 Records of army posts
- 98.3 RECORDS OF ARMY UNITS
1784-1822
31 lin. ft.
- 98.3.1 Records of artillery units
- 98.3.2 Records of infantry units
- 98.3.3 Records of other units
Finding Aids: Maizie Johnson and Sarah Powell, comps., "Preliminary Inventory of the Records of United States Army Commands, 1784-1821," NM 64 (1966).
Related Records:
- Records of U.S. Regular Army Mobile Units, 1821-1942, RG 391.
- Records of U.S. Army Coast Artillery Districts and Defenses, 1901-1942, RG 392. Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920, RG 393.
- Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1920-1942, RG 394.
- Records of U.S. Army Overseas Operations and Commands, 1898-1942, RG 395.
98.2 RECORDS OF GEOGRAPHICAL COMMANDS
1786-1821
12 lin. ft.
98.2.1 Records of geographical commands, 1798-1813
History: U.S. Army under unified field command prior to June 14, 1798. From that date until May 14, 1800, Maj. Gen. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney commanded a district that embraced GA, TN, NC, SC, and VA, with Brig. Gen. James Wilkinson commanding troops in the north and west. After Pinckney's district was abolished, Wilkinson assumed command of the army and divided it into 11 geographical districts, with an informal alignment into western and eastern departments. Reorganized February 15, 1809, into Northern, Southern, and Western Military Districts. Southern and Western Districts consolidated as Southern Department, June 1810, and Northern District designated Northern Department.
Textual Records: Letters sent and received by Maj. Thomas Cushing, commanding Troops on the Mississippi, 1799-1800. Order book, General Pinckney's district, 1800. Orders and muster reports of an expedition to the international boundary between the United States and New Spain (Mexico), along the Sabine River, LA, 1806-7. Order book, Northern Department, 1812-13. Issuances, Southern Department, 1812-13.
98.2.2 Records of military districts, War of 1812
History: United States divided into 9 military districts by War Department General Order, March 19, 1813; increased to 10, July 2, 1814; reduced to 9 by consolidation of 4th and 10th Districts, January 1815. Military districts abolished, May 17, 1815, and superseded by 10 military departments, divided equally between Divisions of the North and South.
Textual Records: Discharge and furlough book and list of officers, 1st Military District, 1813-15. Order book, 2d Military District, 1814-15. Letters received, order books, courts-martial proceedings, registers of furloughs and discharges, lists of officers, and company returns, 3d Military District, 1813-15; and order book, Commander of the Defense of the City and Harbor of New York, 1812-13. Letters sent and issuances, 4th Military District, 1813-14; and issuances and reports of the adjutant and inspector general, 4th and 10th Military Districts (consolidated), 1815. General orders issued by Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton, commanding 5th Military District, April-May 1813. Letters sent and order books, 6th and 7th Military Districts, 1813-15. Letters sent, issuances, order books, and miscellaneous records of the 9th Military District and Right Wing (1st Division), Northern Army (under unified command), 1814-15; records of the Left Wing (2d Division), Northern Army, 1814; and consolidated order book, 4th Brigade of Detached Militia, 1812- 13, and District of Oswego, Sackett's Harbor, and Ogdensburg, 1813. Detail orders, 10th Military District, 1814.
98.2.3 Records of the Division of the North
History: Established May 17, 1815, with headquarters at Brownsville, NY. Abolished in the reorganization of the field army into Eastern and Western Departments, May 1821. Consisted of 1st-5th Military Departments.
Textual Records: Letters sent, 1818-21. Order books, 1815-21. Register of officers, 1815. Consolidated order book, 1st and 3d Military Departments, 1818-21. Order books and discharge registers, 3d Military Department, 1815-19. Order book, 4th Military Department, 1815-19. Letters sent, order books, and discharge registers, 5th Military Department, 1815-21.
Related Records: Additional records of the 1st, 3d, and 4th Military Departments, 1817-21, in Records of the Eastern Division and Department, RG 393, Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920.
98.2.4 Records of the Division of the South
History: Established May 17, 1815, with headquarters at Nashville, TN. Abolished in the reorganization of the field army into Eastern and Western Departments, May 1821. Consisted of 6th- 10th Military Departments.
Textual Records: Letters sent and order books, 1815-21. Letters sent, 1817-21, and order books, 8th Military Department, 1815-19. Letter book, Maj. Gen. Edmund P. Gaines, 1814 (9th and 4th Military Districts), 1815 (7th Military District), and 1817-19 (Division of the South, 7th Military Department, and Post of Fernandina, East Florida).
Related Records: Order book, 9th Military Department, June 1819- June 1821, in Records of the Western Division and Department, RG 393, Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920.
Textual Records: Records of Castle Island (Fort Independence), Boston, MA, consisting of an order book, 1786-87, and garrison records, 1803-15. Order book, Fort Johnston, NC, 1795-1811. Order books and provision returns, garrison at New Orleans, 1806-16.
98.3 RECORDS OF ARMY UNITS
1784-1822
31 lin. ft.
98.3.1 Records of artillery units
Textual Records: Order and company books, Regiment of Light Artillery, 1808-21; 1st Regiment, 1803-15; 2d and 3d Regiments, 1812-15; and Corps of Artillery, 1814-22.
98.3.2 Records of infantry units
Textual Records: Inspection return, American Regiment of Foot, May 1784. Company and order books, 1st Regiment, 1785-88; 3d Regiment, 1796-1802; 1st-7th Regiments, 1802-15; 9th-14th, 16th, 18th, 20th-23d, 25th-27th, 30th-35th, 37th, 38th, 40th-43d, 45th, and 46th Regiments, 1812-15; Maj. Zebulon M. Pike's Consolidated Regiment, 1805-11; and 1st, 3d, 7th, and 8th Regiments, 1815-21.
Textual Records: Records of the Legion of the United States, consisting of orders, 1792-93, and enlisted returns, 1789-92. Company and order books, 1st and 3d Regiments of Riflemen, 1812- 15. Company books, Regiment of Light Dragoons, 1812-15.
Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.
This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.
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