GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 30. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, March 24, 1862. 
I ..The very great carelessness shown by many detached officers, in 
keeping this office advised of their movements and address, makes it 
necessary to recall, in a particular manner, to the attention of every 
officer of the Army, paragraphs 176, 188, and 468, of the General 
Regulations, by which all officers on detached service and leave of absence, 
are required to make monthly reports of their address, as well as of 
every change in their address, to this office, and also to their post and 
regimental commanders. 
II. -The attention of officers commanding regiments, both volunteer 
and regular, and of all commanders of Military Depaitments, separate 
armies, detached army corps, divisions, and brigades, is once more 
directed to the subject of returns, and to the absolute necessity of 
promptly furnishing this office, within the first three days of every 
month, with an exact return of the forces under their command. 
III. -The commanding officers of all Military Departments and troops 
in the field, are also reminded that, by General Orders, No. 85, of 
October 1, 1861, they are required to furnish this office with tri- 
monthly field returns of their commands, on the 10th, 20th, and last 
days of each month. 
IV. The exceeding importance, at this moment, of the information 
derived from the above reports and returns,—information which can in 
no other way be obtained,—obliges the Secretary of War to reiterate the 
existing orders on the subject, and to notify all commanding officers, 
that these orders must in future be more punctually obeyed. To this 
end, he directs that General Orders, No. 74, of September 10, 1861, 
be republished to the troops, by their Corps, Division, and Brigade 
Commanders, and urges upon all commanding officers the necessity of 
giving to this subject their own earnest and unceasing attention. 
V. Justice to enlisted men who are separated from their companies, 
l equires that they should have with them Descriptive Rolls showing 
the pay due them, their clothing accounts, and everything which would 2 
be required in settling with the Government, should they be discharged. 
Without such papers the men cannot receive the pay due them. 
The especial attention of company commanders is directed to this 
subject. 
VI..The enlisted men on extra duty in the several bureaux, offices, 
and hospitals, and at the different headquarters, in this city, instead 
of being paid on separate vouchers, as heretofore, will be mustered 
together in detachments, under the direction of their respective chiefs. 
The rolls may be made monthly, so as to constitute consolidated vouch- 
ers for each disbursing officer whose duty it may be to pay the men, 
and will be receipted after the manner of ordinary muster and pay 
rolls, at the time payment is made. 
By order of the Secretary of War; 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official: 
Assistant Adjutant General.