{"value"=>"<p>Regimental returns are on printed forms (one sheet) entitled \"Strength with monthly gain and loss.\" The form lists five questions regarding the strength and number of sick at the close of the month, gain and loss during the month, and how many men were wounded in action during the month (with several sub-questions within each). The dates spans are those of the data originally collected. Work on data for this time period was completed under B.A. Gould's direction, from late 1864 into the post-war period, using federal and state adjutant general records. A few returns date to February, 1866.</p> <p>Returns are by state and roughly follow the Statistical Bureau's North to South to West geographical arrangement. The Bureau numbered the individual sheets 1-695 consecutively across all states, with the exception of Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri. Supplementary returns are filed with the appropriate state.</p> <p>Within each state, returns are transcribed by military unit type (most commonly in the order of infantry, cavalry, artillery, battery, and other [i.e. engineers, sharp shooters]). Within each military unit type, regiments appear in numerical order above monthly column headings for each of that regiment's existing monthly returns. Return questions are listed as row headings and data from the regimental returns is entered into the table accordingly.</p> <p>Not all military unit types can be found within every state and the actual order of military units within each state may vary.</p>"}