indianapolis arsenal records, 1861-1903

168 Pages·2010·0.5 MB·English

Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL
RECORDS, 1861-1903
Collection #s:
M 650
OMB 54
BV 2709-2858
BV 2871-2999
Table of Contents
User Information
Historical Background
Scope and Content Note
Series, Box and Folder Listing
Cataloging Information
Processed by:
Paul Brockman
31 January 1995
USER INFORMATION
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 207 manuscript boxes, 280 bound volumes, 13 oversize manuscript boxes containing
69 folders
COLLECTION DATES: 1861-1903
PROVENANCE: John Adams representing Indianapolis Public Schools Education Office, 120 E. Walnut St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46204, 21 February, 1990
RESTRICTIONS: None
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: Varney-Porter Papers (M 639); John Parle Papers
ACCESSION NUMBER: 94.0017X
NOTES: The records of the Indiana State Arsenal are held by the Commission on Public Records, Indiana State
Archives.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Indianapolis Arsenal was established by the Federal Ordnance Department in April, 1863. Prior to that time, the
state of Indiana operated its own arsenal in Indianapolis to supply munitions for Indiana regiments. The state arsenal
operated from 1861-1864, at which time the land was taken over for use by the Federal Arsenal. Captain of Ordnance,
William Y. Riley, was appointed to command the first National Arsenal which was located on forty acres of land on
Michigan Avenue on the east side of Indianapolis near the area that became known as Woodruff Place. Riley was
replaced by Captain Thomas Treadwell in August of the same year. Treadwell oversaw the construction of the first
stone storehouse completed in 1865. Over the years, nine other buildings were constructed on the property, with the
last structure being completed in 1893. Unlike its predecessor which also manufactured munitions, the Indianapolis
Arsenal mainly served as an arms and supply storehouse for the United States Army. It was reported that at one time,
the Arsenal stored 100,000 rifles.
The Indianapolis Arsenal had a normal complement of fifty soldiers. Over its nearly forty year history, the Arsenal was
commanded by fifteen different officers. The Arsenal's last two commanders were Major Almon L. Varney (1892-
1899) and Major Charles Shaler (1899-1902). During the Spanish American War, the Arsenal's status was raised from
third to first class. Artillery harnesses and horse equipment were made in its shops.
The Arsenal's importance declined after the war with Spain, and the government authorized its closing in June, 1902.
A detachment from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, maintained the grounds until they were purchased for use by the Winona
Lake Technical and Agricultural Institution in April, 1903. After six years, Winona Lake went into receivership and in
September, 1912, the land was used to start Arsenal Technical Schools, the predecessor of Arsenal Technical High
School, which became the city's third high school in 1916.
Sources: Information in Collection.
Sengenberger, Ella. "Looking Back to Arsenal Days."
Thornbrough, Emma Lou. Indiana in the Civil War Era.
Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (Arsenal Technical High School Entry).
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection contains the records of the Indianapolis Arsenal, 1863-1902. The records are divided into five series and
reflect the Arsenal's departments and formats of record keeping according to the original order. Departments
represented in the collection are Ordnance, Commissary, and Quartermaster. There also are sections on general post
records, the post library, and bound volumes of records. The last two series were created for format and storage
reasons since both reflect a great number of bound volumes that would be confusing to interfile with the remainder of
the collection. The records primarily consist of retained copies of correspondence, reports, and supply information that
were sent to either the War Department or appropriate related areas of the military.
Ordnance records (series one) contain retained copies of correspondence with the government agencies, the Ordnance
Department in Washington, D.C., other arsenals in the country, and merchants and suppliers, April, 1863-September,
1902. Topics include receipts and shipment of supplies, military orders, personnel matters, and general operational
subjects. There are also bound volumes of letterbooks, July, 1881-September, 1902 and copies of letters to the Chief of
Ordnance, November, 1885-April, 1899. Other Ordnance materials includes rosters, daily reports, accounts with troops,
merchants, and other individuals, 1866-July, 1902. The bulk of the remainder of the Ordnance section concerns stores
including financial statements and statements of Ordnance Stores, July, 1863-June, 1900; abstracts and issues and
receipts of stores, May, 1863-August, 1902; weekly reports of stores, and return of stores, January, 1864-June, 1902.
Also in the collection are invoices for Ordnance Stores, June, 1863-December, 1868, orders and receipts for supplies,
and vouchers for cash and materials, September, 1863-December, 1878. Other items relating to the Ordnance
Department include abstracts of proposals from contractors and suppliers, 1867-1901, contracts for supplies and
builders, 1882-1903, requisitions for stores, 1863-1902, and inspections, certificates, and reports (financial and
condition of the operations), 1886-1902. Additional Ordnance records include returns relating to provisions, 1866-
1873, cash papers and company funds, 1872-1902, and returns relating to troops and local merchants. There also are
troop and civilian employee records including muster rolls, 1898-1901, pay rolls, 1898-1901, enlistment papers and
discharge notes, 1865-1902, and Civil Service reports and information, 1897-1901.
Quartermaster Department (series two) records include retained copies of letters with the Quartermaster General's
office and other related departments and individuals regarding supplies and operations, 1863-1902, return of stores,
supplies, and clothing and equipage (commonly referred to as "C&E"), 1865-1902. There also are records of estimates
of "C&E" and issues of "C&E", 1878-1902, as well as records for the requisition, contracts, and proposals for fuel,
forage, and straw, 1875-1902. Also contained are records for individual current accounts with the department, 1875-
1902, and cash papers and returns, 1866-1874, as well as reports of persons hired, 1877-1901, letterbooks, 1891-1902,
and bills of lading, shipping, and transportation invoices and records, 1866-1902. There also are records regarding
contracts with local merchants, local financial records, and records of property returns, 1875-1902.
Commissary Department records (series three) contain papers regarding a variety of departmental information,
including the return of provisions, abstract of purchases, and accounts current, October, 1866-December, 1894. There
also are retained copies of letters about provisions, contracts, payments, notices of supplies ordered from other
barracks, notices of funds ordered, and orders to provide troops with supplies (subsistence stores) from the
Indianapolis Arsenal, September, 1866-June, 1902. Commissary records also contain return of provisions, January,
1868-June, 1901, bank and treasury statements, 1886-1902, and the returns of subsistence stores, July, 1892-June,
1902 (probably a continuation from the general commissary papers mentioned above.) Also included are property
returns, 1876-1883, contracts, 1879-1902, abstracts and proposals for contracts, 1879-1902, letterbooks, 1876-1901,
and financial records, 1875-1893.
The records also contain general information regarding the Indianapolis Arsenal (series four). Included are retained
copies of general or miscellaneous letters and letterbooks, June, 1863-August, 1902, regarding acknowledgment of
receipts, enclosures of bills or other requests, shipment of stores, requests or receipts of ammunition and weapons, and
information about troops in the garrison such as enlistments, retirements, transfers, and disciplinary information. There
also are records regarding the troops including muster and pay rolls, 1866-June, 1902, pass books, November, 1894-
November, 1899, post returns (attendance of troops), 1866-1877, and information about civilian employees, 1878-
1902. Also included are letters to the Treasury Department, 1866-1902, along with Treasury Department statements
and receipts, 1874-1902, and letters to the Surgeon General and other post medical records, 1876-1902. Special and
post orders and circulars, 1876-1902, and local financial accounts and original bills from local merchants, 1871-1901
are also contained in the collection.
The larger bound volumes and volumes from the post's library are placed in a separate section (series five) to reflect
their format, but when possible, they too are divided into departments and general records. The first part of these
records consistsof 149 printed bound volumes apparently housed in the Post's library. Volumes in this section include
reports of the Chief of Ordnance, 1875-1900, Ordnance Circulars, Orders, and Notes, 1863-1894, and Quartermaster
General Reports, 1884-1900. The library volumes also contain General army orders and circulars, 1863-1900, the
Army Register, 1877-1900 and various manuals, lists, histories, and laws, 1861-1898. Of particular note are field and
heavy artillery tactics manuals, 1861-1863, and Revised U.S. Army Regulations, 1861.
The second part of series five consists of 129 large bound volumes regarding the facility's operation. Ordnance
volumes include letters sent, 1863-1885, morning reports, 1869-1880, supply/stores records, 1863-1902, returns of
hired men, 1863-1901, and moving reports, 1884-1900. There also are volumes of miscellaneous letters sent, 1863-
1902, clothing records, 1866-1899, medical records, 1884-1902, and Quartermaster letters and records, 1870-1902.
The most extensive subject of the bound volumes are the Post Guard Reports, 1866-1902, which includes a daily
general description of life and conditions at the Arsenal.
BOX AND FOLDER LISTING
SERIES I: RECORDS OF THE ORDNANCE DETACHMENT AT THE INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL
BOX 1: Ordnance, Correspondence and Letters, April, 1863-April, 1867
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Correspondence, April, 1863-June, 1863
2 Correspondence, July, 1863-August, 1863
3 Correspondence, September, 1863-October, 1863
4 Correspondence, November, 1863-December, 1863
5 Letters, December, 1863-February, 1864
6 Letters, March, 1864-April, 1864
7 Letters, May, 1864-June, 1864
8 Letters, July, 1864-December, 1864
9 Letters, 1st Quarter, 1865
10 Letters, 2nd Quarter, 1865
11 Letters, 3rd Quarter, 1865
12 Letters, 4th Quarter, 1865
13 Letters, January, 1866-February, 1866
14 Letters, March, 1866-May, 1866
15 Letters, June, 1866-August, 1866
16 Letters, September, 1866-October, 1866
17 Letters, November, 1866
18 Letters, January, 1867-February, 1867
19 Letters, March, 1867-April, 1867
BOX 2: Ordnance, Letters, May, 1867-December, 1873
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters, May, 1867-June, 1867
2 Letters, July, 1867
3 Letters, August, 1867-September, 1867
4 Letters, October, 1867-December, 1867
5 Letters, January, 1868-February, 1868
6 Letters, March, 1868-April, 1868
7 Letters, May, 1868-June, 1868
8 Letters, July, 1868-August, 1868
9 Letters, September, 1868-October, 1868
10 Letters, November, 1868-December, 1868
11 Letters, January, 1869-March, 1869
12 Letters, April, 1869-May, 1869
13 Letters, June, 1869-August, 1869
14 Letters, September, 1869-October, 1869
15 Letters, November, 1869-December, 1869
16 Letters, January, 1870-March, 1870
17 Letters, April, 1870-June, 1870
18 Letters, July, 1870-September, 1870
19 Letters, October, 1870-December, 1870
20 Letters, January, 1871-March, 1871
21 Letters, April, 1871-June, 1871
22 Letters, July, 1871-October, 1871
23 Letters, November, 1871-December, 1871
24 Letters, January, 1872-May, 1872
25 Letters, June, 1872-December, 1872
26 Letters, January, 1873-June, 1873
27 Letters, July, 1873-December, 1873
BOX 3: Ordnance, Letters, January, 1874-December, 1878
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters, January, 1874-June, 1874
2 Letters, July, 1874-December, 1874
3 Letters, December 1, 1873 & December 16-17, 1874
4 Letters, January, 1875-April, 1875
5 Letters, May, 1875-July, 1875
6 Letters, August, 1875-October, 1875
7 Letters, November, 1875-December, 1875
8 Letters, January, 1876-March, 1876
9 Letters, April, 1876-May, 1876
10 Letters, June, 1876
11 Letters, July, 1876
12 Letters, August, 1876
13 Letters, September, 1876
14 Letters, October, 1876-December, 1876
15 Letters, January, 1877-February, 1877
16 Letters, March, 1877-May, 1877
17 Letters, June, 1877-July, 1877
18 Letters, August, 1877-October, 1877
19 Letters, November, 1877-December, 1877
20 Letters, January, 1878-February, 1878
21 Letters, March, 1878-May, 1878
22 Letters, June, 1878-July, 1878
23 Letters, August, 1878-September, 1878
24 Letters, October, 1878-December, 1878
BOX 4: Ordnance, Letters, January, 1879-December, 1882
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters, January, 1879-February, 1879
2 Letters, March, 1879-April, 1879
3 Letters, May, 1879-June, 1879
4 Letters, July, 1879
5 Letters, August, 1879
6 Letters, September, 1879-October, 1879
7 Letters, November, 1879-December, 1879
8 Letters, January, 1880-March, 1880
9 Letters, April, 1880-June, 1880
10 Letters, July, 1880-September, 1880
11 Letters, October, 1880-December, 1880
12 Letters, January, 1881-March, 1881
13 Letters, April, 1881-June, 1881
14 Letters, July, 1881-September, 1881
15 Letters, October, 1881-December, 1881
16 Letters, January, 1882-February, 1882
17 Letters, March, 1882-April, 1882
18 Letters, May, 1882-June, 1882
19 Letters, July, 1882-August, 1882
20 Letters, September, 1882-October, 1882
21 Letters, November, 1882-December, 1882
BOX 5: Ordnance, Letters, January,1883-December, 1886
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters, January, 1883
2 Letters, February, 1883
3 Letters, March, 1883
4 Letters, April, 1883
5 Letters, May, 1883
6 Letters, June, 1883
7 Letters, July, 1883
8 Letters, August, 1883
9 Letters, September, 1883
10 Letters, October, 1883
11 Letters, November, 1883
12 Letters, December, 1883
13 Letters, January, 1884-February, 1884
14 Letters, March, 1884
15 Letters, April, 1884-May, 1884
16 Letters, June, 1884-July, 1884
17 Letters, August, 1884-September, 1884
18 Letters, October, 1884-December, 1884
19 Letters, January, 1885-March, 1885
20 Letters, April, 1885-May, 1885
21 Letters, June, 1885-July, 1885
22 Letters, August, 1885-October, 1884
23 Letters, November, 1885-December, 1885
24 Letters, January, 1886
25 Letters, February, 1886
26 Letters, March, 1886
27 Letters, April, 1886
28 Letters, May, 1886
29 Letters, June, 1886
30 Letters, July, 1886
31 Letters, August, 1886
32 Letters, September, 1886
33 Letters, October, 1886
34 Letters, November, 1886
35 Letters, December, 1886
BOX 6: Ordnance, Letters, January, 1887-December, 1891
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters, January, 1887-March, 1887
2 Letters, April, 1887-June, 1887
3 Letters, July, 1887-September, 1887
4 Letters, October, 1887-December, 1887
5 Letters, January, 1888-February, 1888
6 Letters, March, 1888-April, 1888
7 Letters, May, 1888-June, 1888
8 Letters, July, 1888-August, 1888
9 Letters, September, 1888-October, 1888
10 Letters, January, 1889-March, 1889
11 Letters, April, 1889-June, 1889
12 Letters, July, 1889-August, 1889
13 Letters, September, 1889-December, 1889
14 Letters, January, 1890-April, 1890
15 Letters, May, 1890-August, 1890
16 Letters, September, 1890-December, 1890
17 Letters, January, 1891-March, 1891
18 Letters, April, 1891-June, 1891
19 Letters, July, 1891-September, 1891
20 Letters, October, 1891-December, 1891
BOX 7: Ordnance, Letters, January, 1892-March, 1892
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters, January, 1892-March, 1892
2 Letters, April, 1892-June, 1892
3 Letters, July, 1892-September, 1892
4 Letters, October, 1892-December, 1892
5 Letters, January, 1893
6 Letters, February, 1893
7 Letters, March, 1893
8 Letters, April, 1893
9 Letters, May, 1893
10 Letters, June, 1893
11 Letters, July, 1893
12 Letters, August, 1893
13 Letters, September, 1893
14 Letters, October, 1893
15 Letters, November, 1893
16 Letters, December, 1893
17 Letters, January, 1894
18 Letters, February, 1894
19 Letters, March, 1894
20 Letters, April, 1894
21 Letters, May, 1894
22 Letters, June, 1894
23 Letters, July, 1894
24 Letters, August, 1894
25 Letters, September, 1894
26 Letters, October, 1894
27 Letters, November, 1894
28 Letters. December, 1894
29 Ordnance Letters, Morgan Engineering Company, November, 1893
30 Ordnance Letters, Morgan Engineering Company, December, 1893
31 Ordnance Letters, Morgan Engineering Company, January, 1894
32 Ordnance Letters, Morgan Engineering Company, February, 1894
33 Ordnance Letters, Morgan Engineering Company, March, 1894-May, 1894
34 Ordnance, Telegrams, Morgan Engineering Company, November, 1893-March, 1894
BOX 8: Ordnance, Letters, January, 1895-December, 1898
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Letters, January, 1895-March, 1895
2 Letters, April, 1895-May, 1895
3 Letters, June, 1895
4 Letters, July, 1895-August, 1895
5 Letters, September, 1895-October, 1895
6 Letters, November, 1895-December, 1895
7 Letters, January, 1896-February, 1896
8 Letters, March, 1896-April, 1896
9 Letters, May, 1896-June, 1896