Wm. E. Morris additional information.

[Barbara Morris]

Thanks for the information about Wm. E. Morris. Please tell me how & where I can get copies of his enlistment papers & birth certificate & any additional information that anyone may have about him & his half brother.
Thanks again. My email is [e-mail]

[Walt Cross]

Request his military and pension records from the national archives. They have a website online with directions on how to obtain records. It takes awhile and it can be pricey if there is a large number of documents in his file.

Walt

[Ephriam Dickson]

A summary of the enlistment of William E. Morris and his half brother Byron L. Tarbox can be found in the U. S. Army Register of Enlistments. See Microfilm publication microcopy M233 Roll 39 (for Morris) and Roll 40 (for Tarbox). This shows for example that Morris and Tarbox enlisted together on September 22, 1875.

The actual enlistment papers, which will bear their actual signatures, is not microfilmed, but is in Record Group 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office.

You can track both of these individuals through their service using two important sets of documents. The Muster Rolls, usually created every two months for the soldiers' pay, includes information about their current station, pay and extra duties. The monthly Returns of Regiments also contain information about enlisted soldiers. For example, we know that Morris was sent to Company M (Capt. French) per Special Order 114, dated Heqdquarters REcruiting Service, St. Louis Barracks, oct. 5, 1875; arrived at Fort Abraham Lincoln on October 21, 1875 and eight days later, marched with his new company to their egular station at Fort Rice. They remained at Rice until May 5, 1876 when they encmaped two miles from Fort A. Oincoln joining other companies of the Seventh in preparation for the expedition against the Lakota.

Civilian records of Morris are also available. He can be found in the 1860 census (Belfast, Waldo Co., ME); 1880 Census, Manhattan, New York; 1900 Census, New York; 1910, 1920 and 1930 census, Bronx, NY. I could not find him in the 1870 census, though he is probably there somewhere. His marriage record in New York is also preserved.

Hope this helps.

e

[Ephriam Dickson]

And I almost forgot...

Kenneth Hammer published Walter Camp's interview notes with William E. Morris (p. 131-132) and listed several other accounts by Morris, including his letter to Cyrus Brady (in: Indian Fights and Fighters, p. 401-405); and letter in Dustin Collection, Custer Battlefield National Monument.

In addition, there is a letter from Morris dated November 18, 1908 together with his drawing of the battlefield that as far as I can find, remains unpublished.

e