> Several people have asked about how to use the index to the 128-volume of the > " Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion" > popularly called the OR by researchers. If you are going to attempt to use the > books, this information will save you considerable time. > As to how to use the 1,242-page OR index, Mr. Groene writes at p. 39 of > his book: > > "Suppose you find a letter signed by Paul J. Semmes. In the OR Index you > will find listed after his name, I, 11, 12, 19,21,25,27,29,51; III, 1: IV, 1. > The 128 OR books are divided into 4 parts, called series. They are I, II. III. and > IV. So the I, III, and IV indicate that references to Semmes will be found in > Series I, III, and IV. The numbers after the Roman numerals are volume numbers, not > pages numbers. I, 11 means that in Series I and volume eleven's own separate index > in the back of the book you will find the name Paul J. Semmes, and the pages in > that particular volume where he is mentioned. Be sure to note that the general > index has a section on additions > and corrections." > > Hope this helps. Let me know.