ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, April 16, 1861.

[TO MUSTERING OFFICERS:]

SIR: I inclose herewith-copies of "Instructions for making musters-rolls and mustering into service of volunteers and militia authorized by the Secretary of War 12th of June, 1848:

Rolls for muster into service.

Returns of the force mustered, to be made and signed by you as mustering office. The parts of instruction applicable for mustering into service you will find in paragraphs 1 to 4, 13, 14 first part of 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 look at 24 and 59, 82, 83, 84, and 85 as amended, 86; look at 87, 88, 89, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106.

The last bank in the second line of caption of muster-roll will be filled by inserting "the President." One copy of the roll will be left with the officer who signs it; one copy of each roll, with a return showing the force by companies and regiments, higher commands, if any, mustered into service, will be made and forwarded by you promptly to the Adjutant-General, Washington, and a like return left in charge of each colonel and general officer so mustered for the disuse. You will also causae the staff officers who supply the troops, and ordnance officers who may be called upon for arms or ammunition, the names of commanders and the strength of their corps, by grades, which have been mustered, with the dates of enrollment or arrival as in paragraph 24 and distribute the other blanks, with infirmation of their uses and manner of filling up, as they may be required. The blank mustered-rolls for a company will necessarily be used, with required alterations, for mustering the field and staff and general staff, and so or returns and morning reports.

I send to your care copies of instructions for making muster- rolls, copies of the Rules and Articles of War, monthly returns or regiments and companies, morning reports for regiments and companies, provision returns, and guard reports, to be delivered to the colonel for use in his regiment.

you can call upon the colonel or commanding officer for the detail of a suitable man as clerk during the time you are engaged in mustering and making returns.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]

Instructions for making muster-rolls, for mustering into service, for periodical payments, and for discharge from service, of volunteers or militia.*

CAPTIONS OF MUSTER-ROLLS.

1. The caption of rolls will embrace the name of the captain or permanent commander, and letter of the company; the number of the

---------------

* Only such paragraphs as aired referred to in the foregoing letter are here published.

---------------