This collection includes different types of documents from the American Civil War. Generally the documents fall into one of five different categories: General Orders, Special Orders, Equipment Reports, Legal Statements, and Receipts. There are a few documents which do not fit into any of these categories. Most of the General and Special Orders are issued by the commander of the Cape Girardeau sub-district (usually Brigadier General John McNeil). Equipment Reports and Legal Statements are usually signed by Capt. J. H. Burrough, the Cape Girardeau sub-district Provost Marshal. The collection is organized chronologically, with those undated documents in the first folder, and then by year in each folder after that. 1863 and 1864 are subdivided further, due to the large number of documents produced in those years.