Question about Inspection Reports

[Savez]

I have an opportunity next February to visit the National Archives. I was wondering about inspection reports. I know some can be found in the OR and many members post those they have found here. Most of these seem to cite the National Archives. My question is how do I find these reports. Do many exist? I am looking for one in particular. It was an inspection report of Holtzclaw's brigade near Lovejoy Station in September of 1864. Would this report exist? I saw references to it in the Service Record files of the 58th Alabama infantry on Fold3. Any feedback would be much appreciated, not just on Inspection reports but researching the NA, especially from those that have visited the archives. Thanks in advance.

[4vaadjutant]

Re: Question about Inspection Reports

Hello, Clint!

Doing research at the National Archives can be very rewarding and a lot of fun if you prepare for your visit in advance. Being able to see and touch so many of the original documents is something very special. Not all documents are readily available for direct viewing, but over the years I spent doing research there it was surprising to me upon how many I was able to put my finger prints! Many of those documents cannot be touched any more, however, because they have been laminated or otherwise preserved in ways that don’t allow for direct examination. It’s still a privilege to be able to go there and an opportunity to maximize.

In my research the only inspection reports I examined were prepared by an assistant inspector-general and noted on muster rolls. I suggest that you contact by telephone a military archivist ahead of time and ask for his assistance. Tell him precisely what you seek – be as specific as possible. I found that when I told an archivist why I needed the information it sometimes helped him locate what I wanted, if it was available. When I did my research I would have to submit a request for documents before my visit to the Archives. Arrive early on the day of your visit because you will have to become registered as a researcher and obtain a photo ID pass (you will want to keep it as a souvenir. There were times when my IDs from the National Archives and the Library of Congress allowed me to have access to the backrooms of some museums to examine items because they served as indicia of me being a serious researcher.). When you go to the room where you can examine your documents, you will have to lock everything except the clothes you are wearing in a locker as only you and a laptop will be allowed in the examination rooms. They even provide pencils and notebook paper for note-taking. Please be forewarned that their photocopy equipment is not the best in the world! When you present your credentials to an employee in the examination room, a cart with your documents will be brought to you from a storage room. Then you can examine what you pre-ordered to your heart’s content.

If you have time, it is possible to go “upstairs” to another exam room to look up the individual service records of soldiers of both armies. Arrangements ahead of time are not required for this area and it is fun to look up the data. It is all on microfilm and there are a gazillion readers available. It is also possible to get records of companies and regiments if requested ahead of time. For me it was special locating documents signed by some of my ancestors who fought in the 27th Tennessee Infantry (colonel commanding); the 28th Louisiana (first lieutenant commanding at Vicksburg); and the 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry, Wilder’s Lightning Brigade (commissary-sergeant).

Good luck in your search and have fun!

Your obedient servant,
Tom Williams
4th Virginia Infantry, Indianapolis

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