No report offered by either one of us will be representative of arms or numbers present for a unit during the entire war.

Ordnance reports found on microfilm for the Army of Northern Virginia demonstrate the War Department's intent to inspect every command monthly. For that reason by 1864 officers were assigned to duty as inspectors at the brigade, division, corps and army level. These inspectors were expected to help provide information needed by inspectors sent by the War Department to make each report. Monthly reports provide a very good picture of arms, equipment, supplies, conditions, practices and morale of each command.