REPORT OF PUBLICATION OF WAR RECORDS. WAR DEPARTMENT, WAR RECORDS OFFICE, To the SECRETARY OF WAR: SIR: I have the honor to report progress in the publication of the military records of the War of the Rebellion. The examination of the files for 1861, 1862, and 1863, both Union and Confederate, and of the files of the Union Armies for 1864 and 1865, has been completed, and the necessary copying from them is nearly finished. Many of the Confederate files for 1864 and 1865 have also been examined. A few of the book records for 1863 and most of those for later years, of both armies, are yet to be searched. The War Department agent for the collection (by gift or loan) of Confederate documents continues to be successful in obtaining valuable records from Confederate officers or their heirs. The more extensive contributions of that nature received since my last report have been from the collections of Generals E. P. Alexander, S. G. French, Johnson Hagood, Bradley T. Johnson, James H. Lane, T. T. Munford, J. C. Tappan, E. C. Walthall, and W. H. C. Whiting, and Colonels I. W. Avery and Charles Marshall. The "Polk Papers" have been donated to the Government by Dr. William M. Polk, now of New York City. By the act of June 16, 1880, Congress authorized the publication of 10,000 copies of each volume of the records that might be ready during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881. Under that act seven volumesfive of Series I and one each of Series III and IV-were sent to the Public Printer. Of Series I, Vols. I and II have been given to the public. Vol. III, so far as this office is concerned, has been completed, and it will doubtless be delivered by the Public Printer before Congress assembles. The text of Vols. IV and V has been stereotyped and they are being indexed. The text of Vols. I, Series III and IV, has also been stereotyped. Under the current appropriation Vols. VI and VII of Series I have been sent to the Public Printer; Vols. VIII, IX, and X are ready for him, and Vols. XI to XVI will be arranged during the current fiscal year. With proper regard for accuracy the volumes cannot be published more rapidly until the examination of the records is completed. The contents of Vols. I to XI, Series I, are as follows: VOLUME I. Chapter I. Operations in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. December 20, 1860-April 14, 1861. Chapter II. The secession of Georgia. January 3-26, 1861. Chapter III. The secession of Alabama and Mississippi. January 4 20, 1861. Chapter IV. Operations in Florida. January 6-August 31, 1861. Chapter V. The secession of North Carolina. January 9-May 20, 1861. Chapter VI. The secession of Louisiana. January 10-February 19, 1861. Chapter VII. Operations in Texas and New Mexico. February 1June 11, 1861. Chapter. VIII. Operations in Arkansas, the Indian Territory, and Missouri. February 7-May 9, 1861. VOLUME II. Chapter IX. Operations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. April 16-July 31, 1861. VOLUME III. Chapter X. Operations in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Indian Territory. May 10-November 19, 1861. VOLUME IV. Chapter XI. Operations in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. June 11, 1861-February 1, 1862. Chapter XII. Öperations in Kentucky and Tennessee. July 1-November 19, 1861. Chapter XIII. Operations in North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia. August 1, 1861-January 11, 1862. VOLUME V. Chapter XIV. Operations in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and West Virginia. August 1, 1861-March 17, 1862. VOLUME VI. Chapter XV. Operations on the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Middle and East Florida. August 21, 1861-April 11, 1862. Chapter XVI. Operations in West Florida, Southern Alabama, Southern Mississippi, and Louisiana. September 1, 1861-May 12, 1862. VOLUME VII. Chapter XVII. Operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. November 19, 1861-March 4, 1862. VOLUME VIII. Chapter XVIII. Operations in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory. November 19, 1861-April 10, 1862. VOLUME IX. Chapter XIX. Operations in Southeastern Virginia. January 11March 17, 1862. |