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US MILITARY RECORDS
Robyn Gootfried
I. General Information
Military records of the US many not provide a solution to every genealogical
problem, but they often contain excellent supplemental pedigree information.
Records relating to conflicts prior to the Revolutionary War are mainly
historical accounts and contain little genealogical data. Records created
since the Revolution often contain facts relating to birth, marriage, death,
parentage, migration as well as other important genealogical events.
Military records of major genealogical importance consist mainly of service
and pension files. Service files contain documents relating to events which
affect personnel during their tour of duty; from enlistment or induction to
separation or discharge. Pension files often include more genealogical
information than service files and relate to the individual after he was
released from service.
With the exception of a few record groups which were destroyed in 1800 and
1812-15, most service and pension files have been preserved. Most records in
existence which related to early wars, and in peacetime during the same
periods, are in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Most Confederate
veteran's records are not in the National Archives but are mainly located in
their respective states. A majority of existing records relating to World War
I have been centralized at a Federal Records Center in East Point, GA.
Records relating to pesonnel who served during World War II and in later
conflicts have been centralized at a Federal Records Center in St Louis,
Missouri. Personnel currently in the service, whether on active duty or in
the Reserves, usually are of record in Headquarters Unit of their parent
organization. Duplicate and supplemental records relating to service
personnel who have served since the beginning of World War II may also be
found in regional offices of the Veterans Administration.
II. Revolutionary War Records
Service files relating to the Revolution were destroyed when the British
burned Washington during the War of 1812.
Pension records relating to service in the Revolutionary War were created
under various Congressional acts beginning in 1776 and continuing to the 20th
century. The burden to provide the actual bernefits rested first with the
states and applied mainly to officers. Important pensions acts in 1818, 1828,
and 1832 liberalized pension requirements; allowing the enlisted man, his
widow, and his orphans certain benefits. Under acts beginning in 1776 and
continuing to 1855, "Bounty Lands" were granted to veterans of U.S. service or
of State Militia.
Documents relating to a particular soldier, his widow, or to his children,
have been combined in a single packet or file in the National Archives and are
available to the genealogist. Xerox or microfilm copies of existing documents
can be obtained from the National Archives at a reasonable cost. The files
have also been microfilmed and are available through the LDS Genealogical
Society in Salt Lake City. The microfilmed files are alphabetically arranged
by the name of the soldier and a published index also exists.
III. American Loyalists Records and Regular Army Records.
After the peace treaty of 1783, both the U.S. and Great Britain provided means
whereby "Loyalists" could be compensated for property losses and records
pertaining to these claims have been preserved. Microfilmed copies of
"American Loyalist's" Claims, Series "I" are in the Genealogical Society in
Salt Lake City and are indexed on microfilm GS #62,010. Several volumes of
published material relating to Loyalists can also be found at the Society in
Salt Lake City.
The Regular Army also known as "The United States Army" was created as a
permanent establishment in 1789 and records relating to its personnel have
been preserved. Records of both officers and enlisted men are reflected in
registers of enlistment which were prepared from various original documents
created during the acutal period of service. Registers are in the National
Archives arranged in two major groups; those for the period 1789-1821-1912.
IV. Pension Files of other Early Wars
The "Old Wars" series of pension application files relate to claims for
service rendered between the end of the Revolution (11 April 1782) and the
beginning of the Civil War (4 March 1861). The files are currently in the
National Archives. An alphabetical name index has been reproduced on seven
rolls of microfilm and is availabl34 at Salt Lake City and Brigham Young
University.
The War of 1812 Pension Records are also in the National Archives. The
records related to service between 1812 and 1815 and are similar to those of
the Revolutionary War. The face side of each jacket or envelope has been
reproduced on 102 rolls of microfilm.
Indian Wars Pension Records and Mexican War Pension Records are also in the
National Archives. Indians War Pension Records related to service between
1817 and 1898 and are indexed on 12 rolls of microfilm,. Mexican War Pension
records related to service between 1846-48 and are indexed also.
V. Civil War Records
Service and pension files relating to Union forces are in the National
Archives and are well indexed.
Service and Pension files relating to Confederate forces are in their
respective states though "A Consolidated Index to Confederate Veteran's
Compiled Military Service Records" has been created.