World Archives Project: Buffalo Soldiers, Returns from Regular Army Cavalry Regiments, 1866-1916
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About this project
After the Civil War the US Congress authorized the formation of the 9th and 10th Cavalry of black soldiers, as well as four black infantry regiments. This project covers Returns from Military Posts for the 9th and 10th cavalry, covering the years 1866 through 1916, when these "Buffalo Soldiers" served mostly in Texas and the southwest, but also in Cuba and the Philippines.
Like other Military Returns this project has documents with lists of the soldiers' names, ranks, the place and the dates that they served. The project difficulty is set at Average because of the wide variance from where the data can be extracted.
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Form with Names
Regiment Commanding Officer
Key the full name of the Commanding Officer, including rank, as it is written on the document. This name will typically be located near the top of the document.
See Example
Regiment Return Date - Month
Key the Month from the Regiment Return Date. This date will typically be found near the top of the document.
See Example
Regiment Return Date - Year
Key the Year from the Regiment Return Date. This date will typically be found near the top of the document.
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Prefix
Key any titles before the name, such as "Dr" or "Rev" in the Prefix field. Since this project has a separate Rank field, do not include the Rank in this field.
See Example
Given Name
Key the first name and any middle names or initials for the soldiers assigned to the post and any other names of people you see, whether of soldiers, civilians, or unknown types.
The personnel assigned portion of the report is listed in the body of the report. There may be two columns, one for Commissioned Officers, and one for Non-Commissioned Officers or Enlisted.
Also check the other sections containing Remarks, Record of Events, Communications Received, Purport, etc., for names and key any found there. Key all the names, top to bottom, found in the left-most column, then move to the right and key from top to bottom. Then look still farther to the right, and key any other names, again going from top to bottom.
See Example
Surname
Enter the surname here as it appears on the image, using the drop-down list to help you.
The personnel assigned portion of the report is listed in the body of the report. There may be two columns, one of Commissioned Officers and one for Non-Commissioned Officers or Enlisted.
Also check the other sections containing Remarks, Record of Events, Communications Received, Purport, etc., for names and key any found there.
Key all the names, top to bottom, in the left-most column, then move to the right and key from top to bottom. Then look still farther to the right, and key any other names, again going from top to bottom.
See Example
Suffix
Key all titles following the surname, such as "Jr" or "III." Because this project has a separate field for rank, do not include the rank in this field.
Do NOT key suffixes that are shown as a way to clarify to the post the same names such as Smith 2nd, Smith 3rd and so on.
See Example
Alias Prefix
Key any titles before the alias given name, such as "Mr" or Mrs". Since this project has a separate Rank field, do not include the Rank in this field.
See Example
Alias Given
On some records, a second name is given in parentheses or quotes. This name is usually a nickname or maiden name. Key the first name or initial and any middle names or initials in the Alias Given field. If you cannot distinguish a given name or surname, please input the entire name in this field.
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Alias Surname
Key any Alias Surname which appears. Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses. All the rules for keying a primary name should also be followed for keying any alias name.
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Alias Suffix
Key any titles following the alias surname such as "Jr" or "III". Because this project has a separate field for rank, do not include the rank in this field.
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Number
Key the number from the column titled "NO," or from any numbered list the individual is in. This field may not be present on all documents or for all individuals.
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Rank
Key the Rank of the Individual, as it is written on the document. The Rank will most likely be under the column titled "Rank." When an individual has multiple ranks, such as "Capt and Bvt Major", include all ranks separated by a semicolon, for example: "Capt; Bvt Major". This field may not be present on all documents or for all individuals, but must be keyed when present.
The text for this field will automatically populate in the next record, until it is changed. Please make sure that the correct entry is in this field before accepting it.
There are several ranks and rank abbreviations that are not in the dictionary provided with this project, so you will have to use the F7 button to accept them. Examples include, but aren't limited to, Blacksmith, Recruit, 2d Lieut, and Corpl.
Company Letter
Key the Company Letter. It will typically be found under a column titled something similar to "Letter of Company," or "Company" The text for this field will automatically populate in the next record, until it is changed. Please make sure that the correct entry is in this field before accepting it. "Band" and "NCS" are companies, But "Unassigned" is not.
Tip: there is no company "J" because it looks too much like an "I" in cursive.
See Example
Action Date - Month
Enter the Month from the Date that the Individual ended their term of military action. When present, there should be an Action Date associated with each Individual. If there is a date range with columns "From" and "To", this information should be extracted from the "To" column. If there is no information in the "To" column, extract information (if possible) from the "From" column, or from other Remarks about the individual. When it becomes necessary to extract the date from the remarks column, use the first date you encounter on the line, unless you see a date listed as "To", in which case, use the "To" date.
The information for this field may not be present on all documents or for all individuals, but it must be entered, when present. The text for this field will automatically populate in the next record, until it is changed. Please make sure that the correct entry is in this field before accepting it.
See Example
Action Date - Day
Enter the Day from the Date that the Individual ended their term of military action. When present, there should be an Action Date associated with each Individual. If there is a date range with columns "From" and "To", this information should be extracted from the "To" column. If there is no information in the "To" column, extract information (if possible) from the "From" column, or from other Remarks about the individual. When it becomes necessary to extract the date from the remarks column, use the first date you encounter on the line, unless you see a date listed as "To", in which case, use the "To" date.
The information for this field may not be present on all documents or for all individuals, but it must be entered, when present.
The text for this field will automatically populate in the next record, until it is changed. Please make sure that the correct entry is in this field before accepting it.
See Example
Action Date - Year
Enter the 4-digit Year from the Date that the Individual ended their term of military action. When present, there should be an Action Date associated with each Individual. If there is a date range with columns "From" and "To", this information should be extracted from the "To" column. If there is no information in the "To" column, extract information (if possible) from the "From" column, or from other Remarks about the individual. When it becomes necessary to extract the date from the remarks column, use the first date you encounter on the line, unless you see a date listed as "To", in which case, use the "To" date.
The information for this field may not be present on all documents or for all individuals, but it must be entered, when present.
The text for this field will automatically populate in the next record, until it is changed. Please make sure that the correct entry is in this field before accepting it.
See Example
Action Place
Enter the Place(s) where the Individual served their term of military action. Do not key periods, otherwise key all locations as written, do not expand abbreviations or correct misspellings. Separate locations with semicolons (example 1: Logan; Colo; Wash; D C; Saw Mills; Utah) (example 2: Springfield; Boston; Tallahassee) (example 3; Tex; Colo; Kansas). When present, this information will most likely be found under a column titled "Where" or "Place" but may be contained in other remarks about the individual. Include all locations listed for an individual. However, locations that do not mention a place such as "in the field" or "target range" should be omitted. "In the field, Cuba" should simply be entered as "Cuba".
If an individual is not shown at a specific place but enroute, between or near, we should key as seen. Such examples are: 'enroute to US', 'between Fort Bayard and Silver City'; near Fort Concho.
The information for this field may not be present on all documents or for all individuals, but must be entered when it is present.
Please make sure that the correct entry is in this field before accepting it.
See Example
Enlisted or Officer
At the top of the Document or Section where the names are listed, there should be some sort of indication whether the individuals in that section are Officers or Enlisted men. Please enter either the word "Enlisted" or "Officer" depending on what is on the record. There may be Officers and Enlisted Men on the same page, or in different sections.
Another way to determine whether a person is an Officer or an Enlisted Man is by rank. Privates, sergeants, corporals, cooks, blacksmiths, farriers, artificers, and wagoners are all considered as enlisted men.
If there is no indication as to whether the individual is an Officer or an Enlisted Man, leave this field blank.