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These two orderly books were kept by John L. Fink, captain and later lieutenant of the 13th Infantry, United States Army, headquartered at Sackets Harbor, New York, during the War of 1812. The volumes contain regimental, brigade, and general orders; "Morning Reports" that register promotions, enlistment, reductions, absenteeism, desertions, and deaths; rules for recruiting; and other accounts and receipts.

The Fink orderly books (2 volumes) were kept by the captain, and later lieutenant, of the 13th United States Infantry, headquartered at Sackets Harbor, New York, during the War of 1812.

The first volume consists of "Rules with Regard to Recruiting," forms to use for the commander, orders issued to new recruits from the Broadway Quarters in 1812, accounts of bounties and premiums for Captain Fink’s recruits (April 17-June 30, 1812), and accounts of clothing and provisions for enlistees (1813-1814). In the middle of the book is a copy of three verses of a Civil War era song entitled Manassas, attributed to J.A. of 12th Ohio Regiment and published by the Tobacco Factory, in Richmond, 1861.

The second volume contains regimental, brigade, and general orders, from Sackets Harbor (February 6-May 12, 1815); "Morning Reports" that register promotions, enlistment, reductions, absenteeism, desertions, and deaths, as well as miscellaneous receipts (January-April, 1815); and provision returns (January-April, 1815).

The John M. O'Connor papers contain correspondence, documents, and miscellany relating to O'Connor's military career (including the War of 1812), translation work, and political involvement.

The John M. O'Connor papers contain 350 letters, 15 financial records, 7 legal documents, and several lists, clippings, and the lyrics to a song, spanning 1810-1826. The correspondence is almost entirely incoming and the majority dates to the period from 1815 to 1824. Approximately 20 of the letters relate to the War of 1812; some discuss official army matters, such as supplies and troops, while others concern popular opinion of the war (June 26, 1813: "The public do not appear to be satisfied with the military acquirements of the Commander in chief, and not a few are so daring as to stigmatize his operations as being tardy & imbecile"). A series of letters in September and October 1812 relate to the death of O'Connor's mother, Margaret.

Correspondence in 1815-1816 mentions and documents the chain of events arising from the feud between O'Connor and Major General George Izard, including O'Connor's court martial and subsequent leave of absence, and his attempts to regain his position and good standing in the army. Slightly later correspondence documents O'Connor's translation of Gay de Vernon's Treatise on the Science of War and Fortifications, and includes a letter from O'Connor to Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, encouraging him to request more copies of the work in order to ensure the success of the project (March 4, 1818). Approximately 15 letters from this period were written in French.

The majority of the material, particularly later in the collection, relates to national politics and political factions in New York State. On October 12, 1818, William H. Crawford, whom O'Connor would later back in the presidential election of 1824, wrote to O'Connor concerning a visit to the South, including observations on the failure of crops, family news, and French politics. On February 18, 1820, James Taylor provided a long account of the Missouri Compromise to O'Connor, and commented that "I am constrained to believe that the spirit of intolerance & oppression towards the black man, and the determination to perpetuate his bondage…are daily gaining ground in the Southern & Southeastern United States." Letters of November 1823 concern the presidential election of 1824 and New York politics.

Also of interest are letters from O'Connor's sister, Eliza, who seems to have been a governess or lady's companion in Middletown, Pennsylvania, but left because of dissatisfaction with the position: "You say that I was placed with the most respectable family in Middletown and all my wants were provided for, and I was at once raised to a respectable and enviable situation, as to their respectability no one will dispute it, as to my situation being enviable, I do not know how excepting I was independent of them, the want of relations will never be compensated to me by strangers" (August 25, 1820). Many letters throughout the collection also document O'Connor's interest in trading stocks and bonds. Letters from his agent, Thomas Hutchison, show his interest in bank bonds and provide advice and information on securities trading.

Several of the documents in the collection relate to the military, including 1814 General Orders, several financial records, and two certificates. Also included are several bonds, a bill of lading, and lists relating to O'Connor's translation work.

These loose pages, extracted from an orderly book, document service of the 2nd Elite Corps of the Virginia Militia from September to October 1814. Garrisoned in Charles City County, the unit kept records of courts martial, unit orders, and observations of its commander, Colonel Moses Green. The collection also includes a single leaf dated February 1815, with 2nd Virginia Militia Regiment orders from Brigade commander General Robert Porterfield. At the time, the unit was garrisoned at Camp Holly (near New Market) and entries pertain to forage requirements for the regiment's horses, a morning report, the disbanding of the unit, and the distribution of equipment.

These loose pages, extracted from an orderly book, document service of the 2nd Elite Corps of the Virginia Militia from September to October 1814. Garrisoned in Charles City County, the unit kept records of courts martial, unit orders, and observations of its commander, Colonel Moses Green. The collection also includes a single leaf dated February 1815, with 2nd Virginia Militia Regiment orders from Brigade commander General Robert Porterfield. At the time, the unit was garrisoned at Camp Holly (near New Market) and entries pertain to forage requirements for the regiment's horses, a morning report, the disbanding of the unit, and the distribution of equipment.

The unit's courts martial include cases of drunkenness, fighting, abusing (cursing) other soldiers, disobeying orders, neglect of duty, and riotous behavior. The records include verdicts, punishments, and transcripts of testimony.

The pages include regimental orders in which:

• Colonel Moses Green finds himself "astounded" that regiments have failed to adhere to regulations.
• Increased camp accountability is needed with respect to damage inflicted on nearby private properties, including the burning of wooden fences.
• Soldiers are forbidden from firing a gun within one mile of camp.
• Commanders are liable for reporting all delinquencies under their command.
• Uniformed companies are expected to appear in uniform at all regimental parades.

The final leaf, pertaining to the 2nd Virginia Militia Regiment, contains the following:

• Recto: Two tables. One respecting the foraging needed to feed the regiment's fourteen horses and the second is a morning report of Captain Stevenson on February 17, 1815.
• Verso: Orders from Brigadier-General Robert Porterfield respecting the discharge dates of companies, the sick or injured, relief of guards, and property belonging to the "publick".