All 12mo, printed on single sheets. Many orders signed. Total includes some duplicates. Approximately 350 orders were issued by the Headquarters of the Army in Washington D.C., with others issued by the Department of Dakota, the Department of Arizona, Headquarters 10th Regiment of US Cavalry, and the Department of the Missouri.

Earliest document is a Circular issued by "Headquarters, Department of the Missouri, Office of the Judge Advocate, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, June 15, 1871." Period handwritten notation on top reads "Hdqs Cheyenne Agency / Oct / 74." Most orders from the 1880s are hole-punched at center left and then crudely bound together into a "volume" with a wire. The bulk of the collection is composed of loose orders from the 1890s.

Notable orders include approximately 10 orders related to the 10th US Cavalry, an original "Buffalo Soldier" regiment, most detailing changes in command or posts, deaths of officers, and details for recruiting service or court martial.

Provenance: Orders likely were collected by Major Joseph M. Kelley (1844-1911), whose name appears on a few orders below the signed authorization, typescript letter dated 14 October 1893 indicating Major Joseph M. Kelley was relieved from duty "to act as Indian Agent at the Fort Belknap Agency, Montana."

Major Joseph M. Kelley served as an officer in the 10th U.S. Cavalry regiment during the 1870s, 1880s, and at his retirement from active service in 1898 (retirement announced in Special Orders No.251 issued from Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D.C.). Kelley, alongside the African American soldiers of the 10th Cavalry, served in combat during the Indian Wars in the western United States.  The 10th was stationed at numerous forts throughout Kansas and Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). In 1875, the 10th Cavalry moved its headquarters to Fort Concho in west Texas. The 10th Cavalry played an important role in the 1879-80 campaign against Chief Victorio and his band of Apaches. In 1885, the regiment was transferred to the Department of Arizona. Once again the 10th was involved in the arduous pursuit of Apaches under the leadership of Geronimo, Mangus, and the Apache Kid. After twenty years of service in some of the most undesirable posts in the southwest, the regiment was transferred to the Department of Dakota in 1891. The regiment served at various posts in Montana and the Dakotas until 1898.