Wisconsin. Secretary of State: State Civil War Claims Against the United States, 1861-1872
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Summary Information
Title: Wisconsin. Secretary of State: State Civil War Claims Against the United States
Inclusive Dates: 1861-1872

Creator:
  • Wisconsin. Secretary of State
Call Number: Series 274

Quantity: 5.4 c.f. (9 archives boxes and 2 flat boxes)

Repository:
Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:
Vouchers, abstracts, and other records used to substantiate Wisconsin's claim against the United States for reimbursement of monies the state expended to raise and equip troops during the Civil War. The expenditures, made mainly in 1861 before federalization of the war effort, were made by the Quartermaster General, Commissary General, and Paymaster General. The vouchers are duplicates or copies of the originals which were sent to Washington by the Governor. Included is an 1866 statement by Governor Lucius Fairchild detailing the state's mobilization efforts in 1861 and Wisconsin's wartime relationship with the federal government.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-ser00274
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Scope and Content Note

Vouchers, abstracts, and volumes used to substantiate Wisconsin's claim against the United States for reimbursement of monies the state expended to raise and equip troops during the Civil War. Wisconsin's claims were not settled until 1903 when it was awarded $460,436.20. (See Governor La Follette's message, 1903.)

The expenditures, which were primarily incurred in 1861 before the federalization of the war effort and which were chiefly expenditures from the War Fund, were made by the Governor, the Quartermaster General, the Commissary General, and the Paymaster General. (The role of the Secretary of State in these negotiations is not apparent from the records. It is likely that they came to the Historical Society from the Secretary of State as a result of that office's early function as the state archives.)

The vouchers are transcriptions of information from original records created by those offices, arranged here by office and by voucher number. The record books include a detailed wartime compilation of the state's claims giving voucher number, name, a brief description of each expenditure, and the amount claimed. Two additional volumes detail the differences between Wisconsin and the U.S. Treasurer over the reimbursement amount. Volume 2, which is undated, contains a voucher level explanation of why the federal government disallowed or suspended some payments and the state's response. Notable in this volume is “Abstract A” (p. 99), a sixteen-page policy statement prepared by Governor Lucius Fairchild, circa 1866, commenting on the state claims. His account is an excellent account of the state's mobilization efforts in 1861 and Wisconsin's wartime relationship with the federal government. Volume 3, which was presented to the Historical Society with the Fairchild Estate, contains a detailed breakdown of claims, circa 1865, and a statement of monies due the state. Volume 4 is a recapitulation of differences in 1972.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Includes Series 252 (2/3/4/2-15) and Wisconsin Mss 13S. Portions transferred from Series 81, Governor's Investigations.


Contents List
Vouchers and abstracts
Governors' expenditures
Randall
Box   1
Folder   1-2
War Fund, 1861
Box   1
Folder   3
Extra Expense Fund, 1861
Box   1
Folder   4
Harvey, Contingent Fund, 1862
Box   1
Folder   5-7
Salomon, Contingent Fund, 1862-1863
Quartermaster General
Box   2
May, 1861
Box   3
June-July, 1861
Box   4
August, 1861-April 1862
Box   5
Commissary General, 1861-1862
Paymaster General
Box   6
Regiments 1-4
Box   7
Regiments 5-15, Cavalry, and Artillery
Abstracts and related papers, 1862-1872
Box   8
Governors' orders
Box   8
Receipts signed by governor for original vouchers
Box   8
Refunds, 1861-1862
Box   8
Abstracts listing vouchers sent to U.S.
Box   8
State claims still unsettled, 1869-1872
Record books
Box   9
Wartime statement of claims (Volume 1)
Note: Was Series 252 (2/3/4/2-15)
Box   9
Explanation of disallowances and suspensions, undated (Volume 2)
Note: Was Series 252 (2/3/4/2-15)
Box   10
Statement of differences in settlement amounts, circa 1865
Note: Was Wis Mss 13S
Box   11
Statement of differences, First to ninth installments, 1972
Note: Was part of Series 81