New York (State). Adjutant General's Office

It is unclear exactly how these volumes came into the State's possession. They may have been forwarded to the Adjutant General who in turn transferred them to the State Library; the State Library then transferred the volumes to the State Archives in the spring of 1978. A second possibility is that the volumes could have been donated to the Bureau of Military Statistics. In 1911 and 1912 the Adjutant General's Office transferred a large number of items collected by the bureau to the State Library. These two volumes may have been included among the transfer.

From the description of Regimental records pertaining to the First Regiment of Artillery, New York State Volunteers, 1863-1865. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 80637252

The New York State Militia was organized pursuant to Chapter 45, Laws of 1793 (16th Session) and continued by Chapter 222 of the Laws of 1818. It was reorganized under Chapters 205 and 290 of the Laws of 1849, and Chapter 477 of the Laws of 1862 (this latter act renamed it the National Guard). Chapter 211 of the Laws of 1821 required the Adjutant-General to keep a "local description of the several regiments, brigades, and divisions". This provision was repeated in the Revised Statutes, 1829, Part I, Chapter 10, Title 8, Art. 1, Section 2, and by the later statutes cited above.

From the description of Organization rosters of military officers, 1800-1899. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 80242396

It is unclear how this register, which deals with claims filed by United States Troops against the federal government, came into possession of the State's Adjutant General's Office. No state laws pertaining to the filing or payment of back pay, pension, or bounty claims can be found. However, in the United States Statutes, Thirty Eighth Congress, Chapter 124, Section 4, Laws of 1864, provision is made for payment of such claims.

From the description of Register of United States Colored Troops who filed claims against the federal government, 1866-1869. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 80509198

The Naval Militia was organized pursuant to Chapter 492, Laws of 1889, and Chapter 708 of Laws of 1892.

From the description of New York Naval Militia roster of commissioned officers, 1891-1898. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 84507037

The Spanish-American War was waged between Spain and the United States in the spring and summer of 1898. The major consequences of the defeat of Spain were the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands, and the Mariana Islands. American victory made the United States a colonial power with political interests in Far Eastern affairs. The United Stated States also annexed the Republic of Hawaii as a territory before the peace treaty was signed.

From the description of Abstracts of muster rolls for National Guard units mustered into federal service during the Spanish-American War, 1898. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 82064030

This index was created over a number of years by staff of the Adjutant General's Office. Sporadic references to the creation of this index which appear in the Adjutant General's annual reports indicate that the index was compiled sometime between 1900 and 1920.

From the description of Name index to Civil War muster roll abstract, ca. 1900-1920. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 151675755

From the description of Name index to abstracts of muster rolls of National Guard Units mustered into federal service during the Civil War, ca. 1900. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122434702

The Mexican Punitive Campaign (1916-1917) was undertaken by the United States Army by order of President Woodrow Wilson during the Mexican Revolution. The campaign, which was staged in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, was precipitated by an attack on the U.S. cavalry garrison at Columbus, Mexico, on March 9, 1916 by revolutionaries led by Pancho Villa. The expedition, led by General John J. Pershing, failed in its attempt to capture Villa but succeeded in dispersing his followers.

From the description of Abstracts of muster rolls for National Guard units mustered into federal service during the 1916 Mexican Punitive Campaign, 1916-1917. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 81403007

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.

From the description of Special orders, 1855-1975. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 77830524

Bonus payments were first authorized under Chapter 872 of the Laws of 1920, which allowed bonds to be issued, upon agreement of the voters in the general election of 1920, with the money realized from the sale of the bonds to pay for the bonuses.

The program was administered by an unnamed commission, which was created by Chapter 315 of the Laws of 1921 to administer payments provided for by the previous law. The commission consisted of the adjutant general (chairman), the comptroller, and the attorney general. It had the right to appoint deputies in each county, the right to subpoena witnesses and testimony, and to adopt rules and regulations for distribution of the bonuses. It was to be abolished by executive order of the governor as soon as its purposes were accomplished, and its records turned over to the adjutant general. This commission was superseded by the New York State Bonus Commission, created in 1924 (Chapter 19) after a constitutional amendment was passed to authorize financing of the bonus payments.

The bonus program was marked by constitutional, financial, and administrative problems. It required additional appropriations and extensions of its original 2-year application deadline well into the 1930s. The foundation legislation for the program, Chapter 872 of the Laws of 1920, was declared unconstitutinal (in People versus Westchester County National Bank). In 1923 a concurrent resolution was passed proposing an amendment of article 7 of the state constitution, to empower the legislature to authorize by law the creation of debt for payment of the bonuses. The amendment (new section 13 of article 7) was submitted to the people and passed by voters in November of 1923.

Chapter 19 of the Laws of 1924 was the resulting act to authorize creation of the debt and issuance and sale of bonds for the bonuses. The proceeds of the bond sales were to be distributed by the New York State Bonus Commission which was created by this law. The commission was made up of the adjutant general (chairman), attorney general, comptroller, and the state treasurer. At the same time eligibility was extended specifically to any person in the army or navy nurse corps. Bonus awards were to be made by application filed within two years. Surviving relatives could claim the bonus in this order: widow or widower, child, mother, father, brother, and sister.

Chapter 26 of the Laws of 1925 redefined "honorably discharged" to include those who died or were killed in service (in which case the bonus could be paid to relatives). Filing deadlines were extended numerous times and additional appropriations were passed throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

On April 22, 1926 the functions of the New York State Bonus Commission were transferred to a unit of the Adjutant General's office called the Soldier's Bonus Bureau. According to a 1929 report of the Adjutant General, approximately 518,000 people from New York served in the war and by the end of 1928 over $48 million had been paid out in bonuses and administrative costs. The Bureau was closed June 30, 1937. Chapter 40 of the Laws of 1937 authorized the Board of War Records to take over the bureau's records.

From the description of World War I veterans bonus cards, 1914-1919. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 81026666