NARA U.S. Regular Army Mobile Units, 1815-1950 - Steven J. Coker (coker@geocities.com)
Subject: NARA U.S. Regular Army Mobile Units, 1815-1950
From: Steven J. Coker ([email protected])
Date: April 10, 1999

Records of United States Regular Army Mobile Units, 1821-1942
(Record Group 391) 1815-1950, 6,255 cu. ft.

391.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Finding Aids: Sarah Powell and Randall Roots, comps., "Preliminary Inventory of
the Records of United States Regular Army Mobile Units, 1821-1942," NM 93
(1970); supplement in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary
inventories.

Related Records: 
Records of U.S. Army Commands, 1784-1821, RG 98. 
Records of the Chiefs of Arms, RG 177. 
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.

RECORD TYPES           RECORD LOCATIONS           QUANTITIES
Textual Records        Washington Area          6,250 cu. ft.
Maps and Charts        College Park                76 items
Still Pictures         College Park             1,605 images

391.2 RECORDS OF THE ARTILLERY  1821-1943, 1,607 lin. ft.

391.2.1 Records of the 1st-7th Artillery Regiments

History: Four artillery regiments were formed out of the existing Corps of
Artillery and Regiment of Light Artillery, June 1821, in accordance with the act
reducing the size of the army (3 Stat. 615), March 2, 1821. Fifth regiment
organized, May 4, 1861, and confirmed by an act of July 29, 1861 (12 Stat. 279).
Two additional regiments of artillery (6th and 7th) organized under an act of
March 8, 1898 (30 Stat. 261). Artillery Corps, consisting of field and coast
artillery branches, established by General Order 9, War Department, February 6,
1901, pursuant to the Army Reorganization Act (31 Stat. 748), February 2, 1901,
which provided an authorized strength of 30 field artillery batteries and 130
coast artillery companies. The existing regiments were divided into 82 coast
artillery companies and 16 field artillery batteries by General Order 15, War
Department, February 13, 1901.

Textual Records: Regimental and battery records, including letters sent and
received, issuances, muster rolls, returns, and descriptive books, of the
1st-4th Artillery Regiments, 1821-1901; 5th Artillery Regiment, 1830-1901; 6th
Artillery Regiment, 1898- 1901; and 7th Artillery Regiment, 1898-1901. Letters
received and orders issued by the Astor Battery, 1898.

391.2.2 Records of field artillery units

History: Fourteen field artillery batteries created from 1st-7th Artillery
Regiments by General Order 15, War Department, February 13, 1901. A total of 16
additional batteries were organized by General Orders 78 and 116, War
Department, June 6 and September 3, 1901. Batteries organized into 13 battalions
by General Order 152, War Department, September 15, 1904. Reorganized into six
regiments, effective July 1, 1908, by General Order 24, War Department, February
2, 1907, implementing the act of January 25, 1907 (34 Stat. 861), establishing a
separate Coast Artillery Corps (CAC).

Textual Records: Records, including letters sent, registers of letters received,
general correspondence, issuances, muster rolls, returns, rosters, descriptive
books, and histories, of the 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Field Artillery Battalions,
1901-7; the Provisional Battalion, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 1904-5; the 3d, 4th,
8th, 13th, 26th, and 28th Field Artillery Batteries, 1901-7; and the 1st, 2d,
3d, and 5th Field Artillery Regiments, 1907-16. Muster rolls of the 4th Field
Artillery Regiment, 1911.

391.2.3 Records of coast artillery companies

History: Eighty-two coast artillery companies created from 1st- 7th Artillery
Regiments by General Order 15, War Department, February 13, 1901. A total of 44
additional companies were organized by General Orders 25, 78, 101, 108, and 131,
War Department, February 28, June 6, August 2, August 14, and October 7, 1901.
CAC, consisting of 1st-170th Coast Artillery Companies, established as a
separate combat arm, effective July 1, 1908, by General Order 24, War
Department, February 2, 1907, implementing an act of January 25, 1907 (34 Stat.
861). Companies were redesignated in separate numerical sequences for each coast
artillery fort by General Order 31, War Department, July 24, 1916.

Textual Records: Correspondence, issuances, returns, muster rolls, and
descriptive lists of the 6th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 23d, 25th, 26th,
30th-35th, 37th, 42d, 44th, 47th, 55th- 57th, 61st, 62d, 69th, 70th, 74th, 76th,
78th, 79th, 81st, 88th, 90th, 93d, 96th, 100th, 104th, 106th, 111th, 112th,
114th, 115th, 127th, 137th, 149th, 152d, 154th, 160th, 161st, and 166th Coast
Artillery Companies, 1901-16. Correspondence and issuances of the 1st
Provisional Regiment, composed of coast artillery companies in the Department of
the East, March-June 1911.

391.2.4 Records of field artillery regiments (1916-43)

Textual Records: Records of the 1st-351st Field Artillery Regiments, 1916-21
(886 ft.). Records of the 1st, 5th-14th, 17th- 19th, 21st, 25th, 36th, 68th,
70th, 71st, 76th, 77th, 79th, 80th, 83d, 306th, 331st, and 349th Field Artillery
Regiments, 1921-43. Returns and rosters of the 1st-83d Field Artillery
Regiments, 1917-21.

391.2.5 Records of coast artillery units (1916-39)

History: Coast artillery companies renumbered separately for each Coast Defense
Command by General Order 98, War Department, July 26, 1917. Additional coast
artillery companies organized, by General Order 21, War Department, May 18,
1922, from the residual elements of composite artillery regiments (cavalry,
infantry, and coast artillery) that had been established by General Order 115,
War Department, August 29, 1917, and substantially demobilized by 1919. By
General Order 8, War Department, February 27, 1924, companies redesignated
batteries and organized into 1st-16th and 65th CAC Regiments, to which were
added the 41st, 60th, and 61st- 63d CAC Regiments, formed by redesignation of
artillery battalions bearing the same numbers.

Textual Records: Records of Coast Defense Command coast artillery companies,
1916-21 (105 ft.). Records of the 1st-75th Coast Artillery Corps Regiments,
1916-34 (237 ft.). Records of the 1st, 5th, 6th, 8th-11th, 13th, 15th, 16th,
51st, 53d, 61st-65th, 68th, 69th, 206th, and 895th Coast Artillery Regiments,
1922-39. Records of Coast Artillery Corps regimental bands, 1907-21. Records of
the 1st and 18th Sound Ranging Batteries, 1924-31.

391.2.6 Records of U.S. Army mine planters

History: Army Mine Planter Service established in Coast Artillery Corps by War
Department Bulletin 43, July 22, 1918, from mine companies and mine planters,
which had been part of the Coast Artillery Corps since 1908.

Textual Records: General correspondence and logbooks of U.S. Army Mine Planters
Colonel Albert Todd, 1920-21; Cyrus W. Field, 1908- 20; Brig. Gen. Edmund Kirby,
1920-21; Colonel Garland N. Whistler, 1920-21; General Samuel M. Mills, 1914-22;
Major Samuel Ringgold, 1919-22; John P. Story, 1920-21; and General Wallace F.
Randolph, 1920-21.

391.3 RECORDS OF THE CAVALRY  1833-1941, 259 lin. ft.

391.3.1 Records of the 1st Cavalry Division

Textual Records: Correspondence and other records, 1921-39.

391.3.2 Records of 1st-6th Cavalry Regiments

History: Regiment of dragoons organized, March 1833; designated 1st Regiment of
Dragoons, 1836, when the 2d Dragoons (designated the Regiment of Riflemen, March
1843-April 1844) was raised. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen organized, May 1846.
Two additional regiments, designated 1st and 2d Cavalry, organized, March 1855.
Sixth regiment, designated 3d Cavalry, raised, May 1861, and confirmed by an act
of July 29, 1861 (12 Stat. 279). By an act of August 3, 1861 (12 Stat. 289), the
1st and 2d Dragoons, the Mounted Riflemen, and the 1st and 2d Cavalry were
redesignated 1st-5th Cavalry Regiments, respectively; and the old 3d Cavalry
became the new 6th Cavalry.

Textual Records: Regimental, battalion, squadron, troop (company), and
detachment records, including letters sent and received, correspondence,
issuances, rosters, descriptive books and lists, muster rolls and returns,
morning reports, and histories, of the 1st Cavalry Regiment (and 1st Dragoons),
1833- 1916; 2d Cavalry Regiment (and 2d Dragoons and Riflemen), 1837, 1907; 3d
Cavalry Regiment (and Mounted Riflemen), 1846-1918; 4th Cavalry Regiment (and
1st Cavalry), 1855-1919; 5th Cavalry Regiment (and 2d Cavalry), 1855-1920; and
6th Cavalry Regiment (and 3d Cavalry), 1861-1915. Records of the 4th Cavalry
include records of the Powder River Expedition, 1876. Records of the 6th Cavalry
include reports and correspondence relating to operations in Tientsin, China,
during the Boxer Rebellion, 1900.

391.3.3 Records of the 3d Regiment of Dragoons

History: Raised for service in the Mexican War, February 1847. Disbanded, July
1848.

Textual Records: Letters sent, April 1847-June 1848. Regimental descriptive
book, 1847-48. Company descriptive books, 1847.

391.3.4 Records of the 7th-10th Cavalry Regiments

History: Organized under an act of July 28, 1866 (14 Stat. 332), with 10th
Cavalry reserved for black enlisted men.

Textual Records: Regimental, battalion, troop (company), and detachment records,
including letters sent and received, issuances, muster rolls, descriptive books,
and histories, of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1866-1917; 8th Cavalry Regiment,
1866-1918; 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1867-1919; and 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1866-
1918. Records of the 7th Cavalry include records of a detachment on the
Yellowstone Expedition, 1873. Records of the 10th Cavalry include a unit diary
documenting participation in the Punitive Expedition to Mexico, 1916.

391.3.5 Records of the 11th-15th Cavalry Regiments

History: Organized pursuant to the Army Reorganization Act (31 Stat. 748),
February 2, 1901.

Textual Records: Regimental, squadron, and troop (company) records, including
letters sent, registers of letters received, issuances, descriptive books,
muster rolls and returns, and scrapbooks, of the 11th Cavalry Regiment, 1901-15;
12th Cavalry Regiment, 1901-11; 13th Cavalry Regiment, 1901-18; 14th Cavalry
Regiment, 1901-18; and 15th Cavalry Regiment, 1901-12.

391.3.6 Records of cavalry regiments (1916-41)

Textual Records: Records of the 1st-17th, 301st, and 306th Cavalry Regiments,
1916-21 (60 ft.). Records of the 3d-8th, 10th- 12th, 14th, and 121st Cavalry
Regiments, 1920-41.

391.4 RECORDS OF THE ENGINEERS  1846-1939, 1,076 lin. ft.

History: Company of sappers, miners, and pontoniers authorized under an act of
May 15, 1846 (9 Stat. 12), as part of the Corps of Engineers, to which were
added three additional companies by an act of August 3, 1861 (12 Stat. 287), and
a fifth company, by an act of July 28, 1866 (14 Stat. 332). Organized into
Battalion of Engineers by General Order 56, War Department, August 1, 1866.
Transferred to line of the army by General Order 36, War Department, March 4,
1899. Increased to three battalions by General Order 22, War Department,
February 26, 1901, pursuant to the Army Reorganization Act (31 Stat. 748),
February 2, 1901, and organized into three regiments and one company of a
mounted battalion by General Order 22, War Department, June 30, 1916.

Textual Records: Battalion and company records, including letters sent and
received, correspondence, issuances, descriptive lists, histories, muster rolls,
and monthly and field returns, of the 1st Battalion, 1846-1918; 2d Battalion,
1901-17; and 3d Battalion, 1901-19. Records of engineer regiments and
battalions, 1912-21 (1,000 ft.). Records of the 1st, 3d-7th, 9th-11th, 21st,
27th, 29th, and 70th Engineer Regiments, 1919-39.

391.5 RECORDS OF THE INFANTRY  1815-1942, 2,286 lin. ft.

History: Army organized into seven infantry regiments, 1815, with 8th Infantry
Regiment added, 1838. Mexican War expansion added eight regiments (designated
9th-16th Infantry), 1847, but these were discontinued, 1848. Two new regiments
(9th and 10th) were added, 1855, and nine additional regiments were constituted,
May 1861 (11th-19th), and confirmed by an act of July 29, 1861 (14 Stat. 279).
In a major expansion under General Order 92, War Department, November 23, 1866,
pursuant to an act of July 28, 1866 (14 Stat. 332), 2d and 3d battalions of the
existing 11th- 19th Infantry Regiments were designated 20th-37th Infantry
Regiments, with four new regiments (38th-41st) to be composed of black enlisted
men, and new 42d-45th Infantry Regiments for wounded veterans of the Civil War.
Reduced by consolidation to 25 regiments, under General Order 17, War
Department, March 15, 1869, with the 24th and 25th constituting the black
enlisted force. Expanded to 30 regiments by the Army Reorganization Act (31
Stat. 748), February 2, 1901.

391.5.1 Records of infantry divisions and brigades

Textual Records: General correspondence, record cards, and court- martial
records of the 2d Provisional Infantry Division, 1917. General and field orders
issued by the 12th Provisional Infantry Division, 1916-17. Records of the
1st-3d, 5th, 7th, 88th, and 103d Infantry Divisions, 1923-40. Records of the
1st, 5th, 6th, 16th, and 21st Infantry Brigades, 1923-39.

391.5.2 Records of infantry regiments raised prior to the Civil War, except
regiments raised exclusively for Mexican War service

Textual Records: Regimental, battalion, company, and detachment records,
including letters sent and received, correspondence, general and special orders,
descriptive books, returns, and histories, of the 1st Infantry Regiment,
1827-1918; 2d Infantry Regiment, 1815-1920; 3d Infantry Regiment, 1822-1919; 4th
Infantry Regiment, 1821-1917; 5th Infantry Regiment, 1821-1917; 6th Infantry
Regiment, 1817-1909; 7th Infantry Regiment, 1842- 1914; 8th Infantry Regiment,
1838-1917; 9th Infantry Regiment, 1862-1904; and 10th Infantry Regiment,
1855-1916.

391.5.3 Records of infantry regiments raised for the Mexican War

Textual Records: Records of the 9th-16th Infantry Regiments, 1847-48, including
letters sent, and regimental and company descriptive books.

391.5.4 Records of infantry regiments raised in May 1861

Textual Records: Regimental, battalion, company, and detachment records,
including letters sent and received, correspondence, issuances, rosters,
casualty and descriptive lists, descriptive books, and histories, of the 11th
Infantry Regiment, 1861-69; 12th Infantry Regiment, 1861-1912; 13th Infantry
Regiment, 1861- 1915; 14th Infantry Regiment, 1861-1913; 15th Infantry Regiment,
1861-1910; 16th Infantry Regiment, 1861-69; 17th Infantry Regiment, 1861-1913;
18th Infantry Regiment, 1861-1917; and 19th Infantry Regiment, 1861-1919.

391.5.5 Records of infantry regiments organized in the army expansion of 1866

Textual Records: Regimental, battalion, company, and detachment records,
including letters sent and received, correspondence, issuances, muster rolls and
returns, descriptive books and lists, histories, and morning reports, of the
20th Infantry Regiment, 1866-1915; 21st Infantry Regiment, 1861-1915; 22d
Infantry Regiment, 1865-1915; 23d Infantry Regiment, 1861-1918; 24th Infantry
Regiment, 1861-69; 25th Infantry Regiment, 1862-69; 26th Infantry Regiment,
1862-69; 27th Infantry Regiment, 1861-69; 28th Infantry Regiment, 1864-69; 29th
Infantry Regiment, 1861-69; 30th and 31st Infantry Regiments, 1865-69; 32d
Infantry Regiment, 1865-67; 33d Infantry Regiment, 1862-69; 34th Infantry
Regiment, 1864-69; 35th and 36th Infantry Regiments, 1865-69; 37th Infantry
Regiment, 1862-69; and 38th-45th Infantry Regiments, 1866-69.

391.5.6 Records of infantry regiments organized by consolidation of existing
regiments in 1869

Textual Records: Regimental, battalion, and company records, including letters
sent and received, correspondence, issuances, histories, muster rolls and
returns, and descriptive books, of the 11th Infantry Regiment, 1869-1910; 16th
Infantry Regiment, 1869-1919; 24th Infantry Regiment, 1869-1916; and 25th
Infantry Regiment, 1869-1917.

391.5.7 Records of infantry regiments organized in 1901

Textual Records: Regimental, battalion, and company records, including letters
sent, correspondence registers, issuances, and descriptive books and lists, of
the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1901- 2, 1914; 27th Infantry Regiment, 1901-18; 28th
Infantry Regiment, 1901-11; 29th Infantry Regiment, 1901-14; and 30th Infantry
Regiment, 1901-7.

391.5.8 Records of infantry regiments (1916-42)

Textual Records: Records of the 1st-3d Provisional Regiments, 1918-19. Records
of the 1st-338th and 559th Infantry Regiments, 1916-21 (1,800 ft.). Records of
the 1st, 2d, 5th-8th, 10th-22d, 24th-30th, 33d-35th, 38th, 47th, 65th, 67th, and
341st Infantry Regiments, 1921-42.

391.6 RECORDS OF OTHER UNITS  1847-48, 1867-1941, 607 lin. ft.

391.6.1 Records of units organized before World War I

Textual Records: Company descriptive books of the Regiment of U.S. Voltigeurs
and Foot Riflemen, 1847-48. Records, including letters sent and received,
issuances, and descriptive lists, of Signal Corps companies and detachments,
1867-75, 1902-10. Records, including letters sent and received, muster rolls,
descriptive books and lists, and morning reports, of companies and detachments
of Indian Scouts, 1872-99. Records, including letters sent and received, general
correspondence, issuances, muster rolls, and returns, of the 1st-7th and 12th
Philippine Scout Battalions, 1901-14; and 4th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 32d, 42d,
and 51st Philippine Scout Companies, 1901-17. Records of the 1st-5th, 7th-12th,
44th, 101st, 102d, 112th, 301st-379th, 381st- 410th, 412th-417th, 420th, 421st,
and 423d Bakery Companies, 1913-22.

391.6.2 Records of units (World War I)

Textual Records: Records of the 301st, 302d, 307th, 308th, 310th, 312th, 313th,
315th-323d, 325th, 326th, 329th-331st, 336th, 340th-342d, and 344th-347th Fire
Truck and Hose Companies, 1917- 19. Records of the 301st-343d Guard and Fire
Companies, 1918-19. Records of the 1st-3d, 6th, 301st, 303d, 305th-307th, 309th-
315th, 317th-323d, 325th-334th, 349th-354th, 356th, 504th, 510th, 512th, 514th,
529th, and 530th Mobile Laundry Companies, 1918-24. Records of Medical Supply
Unit No. 2 and miscellaneous medical and field medical supply depot companies,
1917-18. Records of the 1st, 6th-10th, 12th, 13th, 15th-17th, 19th-25th,
28th-31st, 33d, 34th, 40th, 41st, 43d, 44th, 56th, and 58th-61st Motor Commands,
1918-21. Records of the 301st-313th, 320th-322d, and 327th-329th Motor Repair
Units, 1918-20. Records of motor transport companies, 1917-23. Records of the
1st-3d, 6th, 7th, 11th, 18th, 36th, 51st, 55th, 56th, 60th, 63d, 87th, 102d,
103d, 105th, 110th, 118th, 119th, 201st, 398th, 399th, 402d, 411th, 413th-
416th, 418th-421st, 431st-433d, 435th, 442d, 445th-448th, 451st- 456th, 458th,
462d-474th, 495th-497th, 499th-506th, 509th-512th, 533d-548th, 550th, and
571st-576th Motor Truck Companies, 1916- 22. Records of the 13th-145th Ordnance
Depot Companies, 1918-19. Records of the 108th Ordnance Depot Company, Camp
Sherman, OH, 1918-22. Records of 8th-43d Provisional Ordnance Depot Companies,
1918-19. Records of the 1st-59th Ordnance Guard Companies, 1918- 19.
Miscellaneous records of the 1st-4th Ordnance Reinforcement Detachment
Companies, 1918. Records of the 301st-304th, 306th, 308th-313th, 315th-318th,
320th, 324th, 325th, 327th, 328th, 330th, 331st, and 333d Auxiliary Remount
Depots, 1917-21. Records of the 401st-435th, 437th-439th, 441st-449th, and 551st
Reserve Service (Labor) Battalions, 1918-39. Records of the 1st-7th, 10th-14th,
16th, and 21st Salvage Companies, 1918-24. Records of the 1st-21st, 25th,
27th-30th, 32d-37th, 39th-44th, 46th-48th, and 54th-57th (Signal) Service
Companies, 1917-33. Records of the 1st-43d and 45th-48th U.S. Guard Battalions,
1917-19.

391.6.3 Records of units (post-World War I)

Textual Records: Records of the 1st and 2d Chemical Regiments, 1934-39. Records
of the 1st-7th Clothing and Bath Units, 1920-24. Records of the 1st, 11th, 16th,
and 323d Medical Regiments, 1938- 39. Records of the 1st, 3d, 5th, 6th, 8th, and
10th Motorcycle Companies and the 1st and 2d Provisional Motorcycle Companies,
1920-30. Records of the 1st, 2d, 9th, 10th, 72d, and 73d Ordnance Companies,
1925-39. Records of the 19th, 80th, 82d, 84th, 87th, 89th, 92d, 93d, and
97th-100th Motor Repair Sections, 1919-23. Records of the 10th Ordnance Service
Company, 1937-39. Records of the 1st-28th Ordnance Supply Companies, 1918-19.
Records of the 3d, 54th, 55th, and 71st Quartermaster Regiments, 1923-39.
Records of the 1st, 3d, 7th, 18th, and 51st Signal Companies, 1924-39. Records
of the 3d Signal Service Company, Boston, MA, 1929-41. Records of Special
Troops, Hawaiian Division, 1922-23. Records of the 2d, 17th, and 18th Tank
Battalions, 1921-31; 6th Tank Company, 1919-30; 11th Tank Company, 1921-22; and
7th and 8th Tank Platoons, 1921-27. Records of the 5th, 20th, 25th, and 26th
Wagon Companies, 1920-35.

391.7 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)  1869-1941, 76 items

Maps: Road marches, routes between military reservations, and maneuver areas
mostly in the western states, made during training exercises by a number of
corps and divisions, and infantry, cavalry, and field artillery regiments,
1869-1941.

391.8 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)  1850-1950, 1,605 images

Photographic Prints (1,604 images): Fort Wingate, NM, and views of the
southwest, including pueblos and Indians, 1866-80, some by J.K. Hillers, 1879
(FW, JKH; 48 images). Philippine Islands and insurgent leaders, 1896-1906 (PI,
60 images). Officers and enlisted men of the 4th, 10th, 15th, 17th, and 19th
Infantry Regiments, and the 1st, 2d, 4th-6th, 9th, and 10th Cavalry Regiments,
1850-1950 (IN, CA; 1,494 images). Battery C, 144th Field Artillery, California
National Guard, 1939 (AR, 1 image). Ben Johnson League baseball team, Junction
City, KS, 1939 (M, 1 image).

Paintings (1 image): Watercolor of Alexander Hamilton as a Revolutionary War
soldier, Provincial Company, New York Artillery, ca. 1776, by D.W.C. Falls, 1923
(AR).

--

==== SCROOTS Mailing List ====



Go To:  #,  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  G,  H,  I,  J,  K,  L,  M,  N,  O,  P,  Q,  R,  S,  T,  U,  V,  W,  X,  Y,  Z,  Main