New York State Adjutant General's Office Special Orders

Chronological by year, then numerical by order number.

Chapter 25 of the Laws of 1786 required "that there shall be an adjutant general of the militia whose duty shall be to distribute all orders from the commander in chief..." In addition to this duty the statute outlined several other functions to be the responsibility of the adjutant general.

The special orders begin in 1855, and no prior special orders are known to exist. Special Orders are not to be confused with General Orders which are also issued through the Adjutant General's Office. General Orders deal with the State's military system as a whole whereas the special orders deal with specific units and individuals.

This series consists of bound special orders issued by the Adjutant General and commanding officers of specific military units (usually divisions).

14405-84: These special orders deal with numerous topics pertaining to New York State militia and later National Guard units between 1855 and 1946. Included are orders dealing with re-assignment of regiments to brigades and divisions; formation and assignment of companies (including names of commanding officers); revocation of previously issued special orders; promotions and demotions; issuance of arms, uniforms, equipment, and accoutrements to units and training institutions; courts martial and appeals; details for special occasions (e.g. Lincoln's funeral train arrival, capture of Richmond); territory from which volunteer regiments were to be recruited; inspection of troops; discharges; training exercises; transfer of personnel; issuance of regulations; and grants or suspension of leaves of absence. The orders also reflect the activities of State Militia, volunteer and National Guard units during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border Campaign, World War I, World War II, and various catastrophes and disturbances. Boxes 1-83 consist of Special Orders, and boxes 84-115 consist of Special Orders, Headquarters, National Guard.

14405-85: These special orders date between 1861 and 1865 only and pertain mainly to the recruitment and enrollment of men into the volunteer army. In addition, these special orders were issued solely by the Adjutant General's Office whereas the special orders accessioned in 1984 were issued by this official as well as by regimental commanders and other state militia officers.

The special orders issued under General Order 13 deal mainly with the preliminary mustering in of individual companies organized in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers to serve for two years. These special orders usually provide order number; date of order; site where company assembled; names of men desired by the company for captain, lieutenant, and ensign; and name of officer detailed for the inspection and mustering of the company as well as supervising the election of the company's officers (these include captain, lieutenant, ensign, four sergeants, and four corporals).

Special orders issued under General Order 78 pertain to President Lincoln's second call for an additional 25,000 volunteers from New York State to serve for three years or during the war. Data contained in these special orders includes: unit number and/or synonym (sometimes); names of men nominated by the company for 1st lieutenant and captain; date of company's acceptance; and name of Commandant of Depot of Volunteers where company was mustered.

The special orders relating to General Orders 52 (1862); 20, 34, 110, 126 (1863); and 131 (1864) are essentially authorizations issued by the Adjutant General's Office to qualified individuals for the enrollment of volunteers. Special orders issued under General Order 52 provide number of order; date; name of person authorized to enroll volunteers; residence (city or county); term of enlistment for volunteers; and occasionally, name of unit to which person authorized to enroll volunteers will be attached. Special orders issued under General Order 126 contain the same information but always include the unit to which the enrolling office will be attached. Special orders issued under General Order 20, pertaining to the enrollment of volunteers already in the service or to enlistments (new recruits) for a term of three years or during the war, also contain the same information.

Special orders issued under General Order 34 pertain to the recruitment of companies for the infantry which were to be sent to regiments in the field that had less than the prescribed number of company organizations. These orders provide date and special order number; name of enrolling officer; residence (city or county); area in which authorized to recruit; number of days by which troops are to be recruited; and unit to which they are to be attached.

Special orders relating to the progression of President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train through Albany have been digitized and are available in State Archives Digital Collections.

14403Series 14403, General Orders

14404Series 14404, Letter Orders and

A0172 Certificates of appointment and general and special orders, contain additional Adjutant General's orders.

Volume list.

Accretion 14405-84 has alphabetical name index at the fore of each volume.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.