Series 6305

National Guard Mexican border campaign records, i 1916-1917.

1.20 cubic feet

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

This series provides a comprehensive account of the activities of the National Guard when they were called into service by President Woodrow Wilson on June 18, 1916.

Scope and Content

This series provides a comprehensive account of the activities of the National Guard when they were called into service by President Woodrow Wilson on June 18, 1916. The Guard protected against raids which were being conducted by Mexican revolutionary factions across the border into the United States. The series consists primarily of administrative records and correspondence of individual units of the Guard. The records include internal memoranda and orders plus memoranda and orders between the units and the federal government, namely the War Department in Washington D.C. and regional headquarters of the Regular Army Replies to a memorandum are normally made on the same or attached sheet and are referred to as endorsements (abbreviated "ind."). There are also communications between the units and the state National Guard Adjutant General in Salt Lake City.
The service of the First Utah Cavalry (formerly the First Utah Infantry) is the most thoroughly documented. In fact, the seriesincludes administrative papers of that unit before it was called into active duty. The First Utah Cavalry consisted of two squadrons: the first made up of Troops A, B, C, and D and the second of Troops E, F, G, and H. Also documented are the activities of the Field Hospital and the Sanitary Department. Less well documented is information about the First Field Artillery which completed Utah's contribution to the campaign.
Mobilization activities are outlined in detail. Units were ordered to report to their armories where processing was initiated. Additional recruits were also sought or volunteered. Men were issued equipment and given physical examinations. They were then mustered into service at Fort Douglas. At the same time, there were many requests for discharge as men learned they were to be activated. All these activities are documented in the form of correspondence, orders, memoranda, and muster rolls. Muster of individual Utah Guard units into federal service occurred betweenJune 26, 1916 (First Field Artillery) and July 12, 1916 (Field Hospital and second squadron of cavalry).
Activities at the border are well documented in memoranda and orders from field commanders and federal District Headquarters, particularly the Nogales Headquarters Logistical issues, including the issuing and inspection of rations, supplies, equipment, and animals are all covered. Personnel issues include absences, changes in rank, discipline, payroll, transfers, etc. Those who had not taken oaths under the National Defense Act of June 3, 1916, did so. Dependent families under financial stress received funds from the Relief Committee for Dependent Families; less commonly, a soldier received a discharge.
Activities of the units and their members are noted in appointments, assignments, and details. Also outlined are the activities required to combine two squadrons of cavalry from Utah with one squadron of cavalry from California to form the Provisional Regiment. Various marches,maneuvers, and practices were held. There were few hostile encounters. There is information about the role of the field hospital in caring for soldiers in both the National Guard and Regular Army who became sick or were involved in accidents. Also cited are the efforts taken to see that the camps had adequate sanitary conditions.
The mustering out procedures are recorded in detail, involving both men and horses or equipment. After completing a practice march with the Provisional Regiment, the First Squadron Utah Cavalry and the sanitary detachment were mustered out on November 10, 1916. The Utah Artillery Battery was mustered out on December 22, 1916. The Field Hospital was mustered out on December 29, 1916. The Second Squadron Utah Cavalry was finally replaced by the 10th United States Cavalry and mustered out on March 8, 1917.

Arrangement

The series is arranged alphabetically by subject or document type, thereunder chronologically. Undated material appears at the end of the subject file; enclosures and endorsements are sometimes kept together under one date.

Additional Forms

Copies of these records are located at Familysearch.org
.

Access Restrictions

Records which contain personal data may be private, particularly medical records, disciplinary actions, and financial records. Access restrictions apply for 100 years for individuals who were age 21 or younger at the time the record was created; restrictions apply for 75 years for those who were over 21. Access to restricted records may be permitted under certain circumstances. Contact the Reference Archivist for more information.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

These records were transferred to the Archives from the Utah National Guard in 1987. Before processing there was no discernible arrangement. Arranged and processing begun by J. Brent Brinkerhoff in 1991 Processing completed by A.C. Cone in 1992.

Related Material

Mexican border campaign service cards from the Division of Archives and Records Service, Series 6131, contains service information abstracted from the rolls in this series.
Adjutant General's records from the National Guard, Series 6308, contains corresponding information on the role of the Guard in the Mexican border campaign from the perspective of the State Adjutant General's office.

Container List

BoxFolderDescription
11Absent without Leave
12Accolades
13Appointments; Feb.-May 1916
14Appointments; June 1916
15Appointments; July 1916
16Appointments; Aug. 1916
17Appointments; Sept.-Dec. 1916
18Athletics
19Courts Martial
110Demotions
111Desertions
112Details; Feb.-June 1916
113Details; July 1916
114Details; Aug. 1916
115Details; Sept.-Oct. 1916
116Discharges; June 1916
117Discharges; July 1916
118Discharges; Aug 1916
119Discharges; Sept. 1916
120Discharges; Oct -Dec 1916
121Discipline
122Drills
123Finances
124Firearms
125Furloughs; June-Aug. 1916
126Furloughs; Sept. 1916
127Furloughs; Oct.-Dec. 1916
128Guard details
129Horses/Mules; July-Aug. 1916
130Horses/Mules; Sept. 1916
131Horses/Mules; Oct. 1916
132Horses/Mules; Nov. 1916
133Hostilities
134Inspections
135Marches
136Medical; June-July 1916
137Medical; Aug.-Dec. 1916
138Muster in; June 1916
139Muster in; July 1916
140Muster in; Aug.-Dec 1916
141Muster out; Sept. 1916
142Muster out; Oct.-Nov.
143Muster rolls
144Muster rolls, final
145Oaths; July-Sept. 1916
146Oaths; Oct.-Dec. 1916
147Organization; June-Aug. 1916
148Organization; Sept.-Nov. 1916
149Patrols
150Payroll; June-July 1916
151Payroll; Aug. 1916
152Payroll; Sept.-Oct. 1916
153Payroll; Nov.-Dec. 1916
154Payroll; 1917
155Physicals
156Policy
157Promotions; Jan.-July 1916
158Promotions; Aug.-Oct 1916
159Promotions; 1917
160Publications
161Rations; June-July 1916
162Rations; Aug.-Nov. 1916
163Recruits; May-July 1916
164Aug.-Oct. 1916
165Relief Committee; July 1916
166Relief Committee; Aug. 1916
167Relief Committee; Sept.-Nov. 1916
168Resignations
169Returns
170Rosters; June-Sept. 1916
171Rosters; Oct.-Nov. 1916
21Supplies; June 1916
22Supplies; July 1916
23Supplies; Aug. 1916
24Supplies; Sept. 1916
25Supplies; Oct. 1916
26Supplies; Nov. 1916
27Supplies; Dec.-Mar. 1917
28Transfers; June-July 1916
29Transfers; Aug.-Sept.
210Transfers; Oct.-Nov. 1916
211Transport; June-Aug. 1916
212Transport; Sept.-Nov. 1916