Union Ordnance Returns
The Union Ordnance Returns come from NARA Microfilm M1281: Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876, Roll 7, which contains the number and types of weapons of each infantry unit in the Union Army broken down by company for the period of April-June 1864, or 2nd Quarter 1864. This roll may be purchased directly from the NARA for $85 (microfilm) or $125 (images on CD). I’ll be offering transcriptions of every Union infantry unit which participated in the Siege of Petersburg and was present on June 30, 1864. Stay tuned while I edit old store pages and figure out how best to share these items freely to all.
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Brett:
Can you explain the meaning of the title on the spreadsheet I bought?
It is titled “Infantry Ordnance Returns (etc.)”
Does this reflect the weapons “returned” or “on hand” or what?
Appreciate any clarifying info you can give me.
Bob Weston
Bob,
A “return” is simply a report filed to count something, in this case the number of weapons on hand in a given company of a given regiment on June 30, 1864. So the numbers you see for the specific companies in each New Jersey regiment show the number and type of weapons they had available to use on June 30, 1864.
Brett
I take it that this would be the 1861 model, is that correct? I just found out my Great Grandfather served in this regiment and would like to get a full kit in his honor.
Scott,
Correct.
Brett