Texas Adjutant General's Department:

An Inventory of Spanish-American War Military Rolls at the Texas State Archives, 1898-1899, 1901, undated

Agency History

On April 25, 1898, the U.S. Congress declared war on Spain. Two days before, President William McKinley had issued a call for 125,000 volunteers. The Spanish-American War saw the nationalization of the Texas Volunteer Guard, which was organized into four regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, and designated the Texas Volunteers. A truce was signed in August, and a treaty formally ending the war in December 1898. The Texas Volunteers were de-nationalized in late 1898, and the Texas Volunteer Guard was reorganized on April 1, 1903 as the Texas National Guard.

An act of the U.S. Congress was approved on July 8, 1898, entitled "An Act to reimburse the governors of States and Territories for expenses incurred by them in aiding the United States to raise and organize, and supply and equip the Volunteer Army of the United States in the existing war with Spain." This act was amended by another act of Congress (approved March 3, 1899), and paralleled by an act of the 23rd Legislature of Texas (approved June 1, 1899). Simply put, the individual claimants would submit claims against the State of Texas, which would in turn submit claims against the United States government.

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Scope and Contents of the Records

These records consist of muster-in rolls, lists of recruits, muster-out rolls, and payrolls, dating 1898-1899, 1901, and undated, all for the Texas Volunteers for the Spanish-American War. These military rolls list all of the officers and enlisted men enrolled in each unit, plus additional information on each man which varies with the type of roll.

The muster-in rolls, in pre-printed sewn booklets, cover all companies in four regiments of infantry and one regiment of cavalry. Information in the muster-in rolls includes the following: name, rank, age, height, complexion, eyes, hair, where born (town or county, state or kingdom), occupation; when, where, by whom, and for what period joined for duty and enrolled; residence, number of miles from residence to place of rendezvous, valuation of horses and equipments (which is usually left blank), signature to the oath, whether married or single, name and address of parent or guardian (if single), and remarks. These troops were called into the service of the United States by proclamation of the President on April 23, 1898.

There are three sets of lists of recruits for the Texas Volunteers for the Spanish-American War, dating 1898.

There are five bound volumes of muster-out rolls/payrolls, one for each regiment of the Texas Volunteers for the Spanish-American War, dated 1898-1899. Information contained in these pre-printed volumes includes: name, rank; when, where, by whom, and for what period joined for duty and enrolled; when, where, and by whom mustered into service; by which paymaster last paid, and to what time; place of resident, place of discharge; number of days subsistence and forage furnished by themselves; valuation of horses and equipments; amount of money due U.S. and due soldier for clothing; amount of money due U.S. for arms and equipment, quartermaster stores, and equipage; and remarks. The pay account includes a place for signature, which is sometimes blank. At the end of each company is a "record of events which may be necessary or useful for future reference at the war department." Individuals on these rolls have been included in the Texas State Archives' search room "Spanish-American War" card index.

The payrolls were drawn up in 1901 for payment from the date of assembly at the rendezvous to the date of muster into United States service for the War with Spain. Information in these pre-printed, stapled booklets includes: name, address, rank, date of enrollment for the war, date of assembly at the rendezvous, date of muster into U.S. service, number of days, rate of pay per month, amount due, and remarks (a stamp of the date paid). Almost all of these payrolls include an affidavit of the commander; this is the date which is used in the item inventory, not the various dates of payment.

A cross-reference chart follows, to match the company to the town/city.

Note: Occasionally a researcher knows the name of a company commander, but does not know which military unit (Ranger or militia or otherwise) he commanded, or where to search for the appropriate military roll. Researchers using the finding aid electronically may search for names of captains. For researchers using a print copy, an alphabetical list of captains is provided in the Texas State Archives search room, matching the captain with the military organization. All of the non-Civil War military rolls (muster rolls, payrolls, etc.) held in the Texas State Archives are included in this index. To repeat, this index of company commanders does NOT include Civil War units except for Union troops, listed as Army of the United States (1860-1861, 1864-1865).

This finding aid describes one series (with four subseries) of military rolls. If you are reading this electronically, click here for an overview of the Texas Adjutant General's Department, Military rolls. If you are reading this in paper, the overview is at the beginning of the first binder labeled Military rolls.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Technical Requirements

None.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Spanish-American War military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 1933/001

These records were apparently transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934.

Processed by

Tony Black, July 1986

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Detailed Description of the Records

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