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At the beginning of the Civil War Governor Richard Yates called a special session of the General Assembly to reorganize the state militia and render assistance to the federal government. Among the bills passed at this session was an act that created a War Fund and provided for the auditing of all accounts and disbursements arising under the call for volunteers (L. 1861, Extra.
Sess., p. 22). Under the terms of this act the Governor appointed three commissioners to approve all expenditures from the War Fund and to audit all expenditures for supplies and equipment.
This Board of Army Auditors, also known as the Commissioners of the War Fund, was terminated on February 14, 1863 and all its books, papers, and furniture were delivered to the Auditor of Public Accounts (L. 1863, p. 56). The Auditor later was authorized in 1865 to pay any remaining claims that had been approved by the board but not submitted within the time limit established by the original act (L. 1865, p. 132).
501.001
OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE. May 10, 1861-April 2, 1863. 1 vol. No index.
Letterpress copies of outgoing correspondence from the secretary of the Board of Army Auditors concern the payment of accounts against the State of Illinois for the transportation or supply of troops raised by Illinois for use in the Civil War.
501.002
JOURNALS. May 18, 1861-February 26, 1863. 5 vols. Index.
Journals primarily consist of lists of accounts which were examined, audited, and approved by the board. Individual accounts were submitted for approval in groups which were assigned an abstract number. Accounts are listed under the abstract with which they were submitted and the abstracts are numbered and arranged chronologically by date of approval. Entries for each account include date of account; account number; name of individual, institution, or city to which payment was made; cause for disbursement (e.g., description of supplies or equipment provided, services or labor performed); and amount of disbursement. Also included are eight abstracts of accounts which were barred from payment because they were filed after the specified time limit.
Entries posted to INDIVIDUAL LEDGERS, RS 501.003.
501.003
INDIVIDUAL LEDGERS. April 20, 1861-February 26, 1863. 2 vols. Partial index.
Ledgers consist of balanced accounts with individuals providing goods and services to the state militia, Adjutant General, and the Board of Army Auditors. Entries for each disbursement include date account submitted, title of account charged against (e.g., subsistence, quartermaster, ordnance, incidental expenses), date account approved for payment, number of abstract in which account was submitted for approval, and amount of payment.
Entries are posted from JOURNALS, RS 501.002.
501.004
RECORD OF ABSTRACTS OF ARMY ACCOUNTS. May 18, 1861-April 9, 1862. 1 vol. Index, 1 vol.
Record consists of summaries of each abstract submitted for board approval. Listed under each abstract are entries for individual accounts which were submitted in that abstract. These entries include date account submitted for payment by individual; account number; name of individual, institution, or city to which payment was made; amount paid for each account; and name of ledger account charged against (e.g., quartermaster, subsistence, ordnance, incidental expenses). For each abstract information also includes date abstract approved and total amount approved for all accounts in abstract.
501.005
LIST OF EQUIPMENT PURCHASED FOR ILLINOIS TROOPS. 1861-1862. 1 vol. No index.
List is of equipment purchased, probably by order of the Adjutant General, for the use of Illinois troops and examined for payment by the board. Entries include date, number of account, name of supplier, amount paid, quantity, and sometimes the name of purchaser who usually was the Quartermaster General.
Numerous categories of goods listed include accoutrements, horse equipment, cavalry equipment, blacksmith tools, saddler's tools, means of transportation, building materials, carpenter's tools, fuel, forage, straw, stationery, clothing, camp and garrison equipage, camp and office furniture, hospital stores and furniture, ordnance department purchases, quartermaster's purchases, and commissary purchases. Each category further is divided to show specific purchases, such as squares, hand vises, planes, and saws under the heading of carpenter's tools.
These records are available at the Illinois State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State.
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