Texas Military Records: Difference between revisions

Fort Arbuckle
Port of Austin -- Textual records of this post, 18666-1875, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Belknap 1851 -1867
Fort Bliss 1849 -- Textual records of this fort, 1865-1894, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Brown -- Textual records of this fort, 1865-1906, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Chadbourne 1852-1867
Fort Clark 1852
Fort Cobb
Fort Colorado 1856
Fort Concho -- Textual records of this fort, 1867-1889, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Cooper 1855 -1865
Fort Croghan 1849-53
Fort Davis 1854 -- Textual records of this fort, 1867-1891, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Duncan -- Textual records of this fort, 1868-1883, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Elliott -- Textual records of this fort, 1870-1890, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Ewell 1852-54
Port of Galveston -- Textual records of this post, 1865-1870, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Gates 1849-52
Fort Graham 1849-54
Fort Griffin -- Textual records of this fort, 1868-1881, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Hudson 1857 -1868
Fort Inge 1849 -1869
Post of Jefferson -- Textual records of this post, 1868-1871, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Lancaster 1855 -1861
Fort Lincoln 1849-1852
Fort Martin Scott 1849-52
Fort Mason 1851-1869
Fort McIntosh 1849-1946
Fort McKavett -- Textual records of this fort, 1868-1883, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Merrill 1850-55
Camp Pena Colorado -- Textual records of this fort, 1880-1893, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Phantom Hill 1851-54
Fort Quitman 1858 -1877
Fort Richardson -- Textual records of this fort, 1857-1878, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Ringgold -- Textual records of this fort, 1874-1906, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
Fort Saint Louis
Fort Sam Houston 1879-Present; originally San Antonio Quartermaster Depot
Fort San Luis
Fort Sill -- in Oklahoma
Fort Stockton 1858 -- Textual records of this fort, 1867-1886, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7). These records have been microfilmed on 3 rolls and are part of National Archives Microcopy M1189. These records (M1189) are availble at the FamilySearch Library FS Library Film: 1490261 (first film of 8).
Fort Terrett 1852-54
Fort Teron
Fort Washita
Fort Worth 1849-53

For Further Reading

Encyclopedia of Indian wars Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850-1890. By Gregory F. Michno. Mountain press Publishing Co., Missoula, Montana. Co. 2003. ISBN 0-87842-468-7

War of 1812 (1812-1815)[edit | edit source]

See United States Military Online Genealogy Records for more resources.

The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States confirmed the separate existence of the United States and the future Canada.

There are helpful nationwide records for soldiers of the War of 1812. For more information, see United States in the War of 1812.

Pension Records[edit | edit source]

War of 1812 pensioners and others on the pension rolls as of January 1, 1883 Texas (Cullman, Alabama: Gregath, [199?] pages 40. FS Catalog book 976.4 A1 no. 297

Veterans in Texas[edit | edit source]

A published roster with added genealogical information for veterans is Mary Smith Fay's, War of 1812 Veterans in Texas. (New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1979). FS Catalog book 976.4 M2f.

Cook, Donna Gholson: Gholson road : revolutionaries and Texas Rangers (D.G. Cook, c2005) pages 387 FS Catalog book 976.4 H2

Hurst, Ernice. War of 1812, the second war for independence (Houston, Texas, Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, 1094) page 16 FS Catalog book 973 M23

War of Texas Independence (1835-1836)[edit | edit source]

Published muster rolls of soldiers who served in the war are in Muster Rolls of the Texas Revolution. Austin, Texas: Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Incorporated, 1986. FS Catalog book 976.4 M2mr. The book's preface states that the muster rolls come from "deteriorating manuscripts." It further explains: "According to the research done by Thomas Miller in The Public Lands of Texas 1519-1917, the General Land Office possesses a 'true copy of the Muster Rolls prepared by the adjutant general in 1850.' Because the adjutant general's office was destroyed by fire in 1855, and all the records were lost, the Muster Roll copies in the General Land Office and the Texas State Archives in Austin, Texas are probably the only ones in existence." In addition to the Muster Rolls, there are letters from the Quartermaster General's Office and information on the participants of the Battle of San Jacinto.
Abstracts of pension applications are in John C. Barron, et al., Republic of Texas Pension Application Abstracts. Austin, Texas: Austin Genealogical Society, 1987. FS Catalog book 976.4 M2bj and FS Library fiche 6101694.
Republic of Texas pensions, ca. 1870-1900
Republic claims files, 1835-1846
Republic of Texas unpaid claims, ca. 1835-1846
Republic of Texas public debt papers, ca. 1835-1860
edited from the originals in the Texas State Library by Seymour V. Connor, assisted by Howard Lackman and Margaret K. Howard. With an introd. by Louis M. Kemp, Texas treasury papers : letters received in the Treasury Department of the Republic of Texas, 1836-1846Austin, Texas : Texas State Library, 1955. Digital
A detailed history of the Alamo siege and a roster of the garrison will be found in Phil Tosenthal and Bill Groneman, Roll Call at the Alamo. Ft. Collins, Colorado: The Old Army Press, 1985. FS Catalog book 976.4351 M2r.
Biographical sketches of soldiers who served in the Battle of San Jacinto are in Sam Houston Dixon and Louis Wiltz Kemp, The Heroes of San Jacinto. Houston, Texas: The Anson Jones Press, 1932. FS Catalog book 976.4141 M2d and FS Library film 1000606.
Butterfield, Jack C. Men of the Alamo, Goliad and San Jacinto : an analysis of the motives and actions of the heroes of the Texas Revolution. San Antonio : Naylor Co., c1936

Patrick, Robert "Scott". Battle of San Jacinto, and It's Veterans, (accessed 20 April 2012).
Tabb, William H. Mrs. War of 1812 ancestors and their children : from the files of John Cavet Chapter United States Daughters of 1812 (Dallas, Texas, Hudson Genealogy Co. 1985) page 94 FS Catalog book 976.4 M2tw
Daughters of the Republic of Texas - Ancestors
Daughters of the Republic of Teas. Muster rolls of the Texas revolution. Austin, Texas : Daughters of the Republic of Texas, c1986. FS Library 976.4 M2mr

Mexican War (1846-1848)[edit | edit source]

The Mexican War was caused by the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states. Records of Mexican War veterans might exist in a state where the veteran later resided. Many soldiers from Texas served in this conflict. The National Archives and the FamilySearch Library have the service records for Texas volunteers FS Library films 471519-37 and the indexes to service and pension records. The pension records have not been filmed and are only available at the National Archives.

1846-1848 United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926. (NARA T317). FS Library films 0537000–13 Alphabetically arranged and includes the veteran’s name, rank, and unit; names of dependents; date of filing and application; certificate numbers; act filed under; and state from which application was made. Also available at:

*United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Free digital copy.

Robarts, William Hugh. Mexican War Veterans : A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848… Washington, D.C. : Brentano’s, 1887. FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh Digital version available at Internet Archive.

A published history of the role Texas played in the war is Henry W. Barton, Texas Volunteers in the Mexican War. Wichita Falls, Texas: Texican Press, 1970. FS Catalog book 976.4 M2b.

Click on these links to learn more about the Mexican War and about Mexican War pension records.

Roster of Members of the Texas Volunteers in the Mexican War, 1846-1848. NARA NAID 2619022

Civil War (1861-1865)[edit | edit source]

Members of the Terry's Texas Rangers (c. 1861) Company "C"

See Texas in the Civil War for information about Texas Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the Texas regiments involved in the Civil War.

The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.

Online Records

1861-1865 Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
1861-1865 Texas, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
1861-1865 United States Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
1861-1865 Texas Comptroller's Office. Confederate pensions : applications approved and rejected, 700 Rolls
1871-1880 - U.S. Southern Claims Commission Master Index, 1871-1880 Index only $

Wiki articles describing an online collections are found at:

Indian Wars (1780s-1890s)[edit | edit source]

Stephens, Robert W. Texas Ranger Indian War Pensions. Quanah, Texas: Nortex Press, 1975. FS Catalog book 976.4 M24u.

Spanish-American War (1898)[edit | edit source]

The Spanish-American War was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippines. Spanish-American War records might exist in the state from which the soldier served or in a state where the veteran later resided. The Texas Volunteer Guard was mustered into federal service in 1898. Records of these volunteers are at the National Archives. The Texas State Library has some records and muster-out rolls (records of soldiers discharged from military service) for 1899.

Indexes

1861-1934 United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; (NARA T288). Free digital copy. The index covers veterans of the Civil War, Spanish‑American War, Philippine Insurrection, Boxer Rebellion (1900 to 1901), and the regular Army, Navy, and Marine forces.

1898 United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Free digital copy.

Click on the link to learn more about the Spanish American War.

World War I (1917-1918)[edit | edit source]

World War I was a global war fought on multiple continents with several nations involved. Over four million men and women served from the United States.

1917-1920 Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images

United States. Selective Service System. Texas, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. FS Library film 1927189 (first of 183 films) Also available at:

1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images — free

1917-1919 United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

1917-1919 United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

United States World War I Draft Records provides additional information.

Records of Texans who have participated in any war since World War I are filed in the National Archives and the National Archives—Fort Worth Branch. See the United States and the United States Military Records Wiki articles for more information.

Records of the National Guard units drafted into federal forces are at the Adjutant General's Office, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas.

World War II (1941-1945)[edit | edit source]

Draft Registration

On 16 September 1940, President Roosevelt signed into law the first peacetime Selective Service Act. During WWII, the Selective Service System conducted six draft registrations; these records are held collectively in two groupings at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO. The registrations are part of Record Group 147 Records of the Selective Service System. From December, 1942 to August, 1945 no enlistments were allowed. The Selective Service became the only way men entered the service for the remainder of the war.

1940-1947 Texas, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947 at FamilySearch

On April 27, 1942, the Selective Service conducted the fourth of six draft registrations related to WWII. The "World War II Selective Service Draft Cards: Fourth Registration, 1942" is often referred to as the “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft" because it included men with a date of birth from April 28, 1877 to February 16, 1897. Since there is overlap in the WWI and WWII Selective Service registration, men born in the years 1877 to 1900 may have registered twice and have both WWII and WWI draft records.

1942 United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (Image Browse) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; - free
1942 United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images with partial index - free

Also available at:

Ancestry ($)
Fold3 ($).

World War II United States Military Records provides additional information.

Korean War (1950–1953)[edit | edit source]

The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea (and its communist allies) and South Korea (with support of the United Nations, primarily the United States). See the Korean War wiki article for information on records and their availability.

Vietnam War (1964–1972)[edit | edit source]

The Vietnam War was a conflict between North Vietnam (and its communist allies) and South Vietnam (with support of its anti-communist allies, including the United States). See the Vietnam War wiki article for information on records and their availability.

National Guard[edit | edit source]

Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin

Additional Military Records[edit | edit source]

The Texas State Library has pre-statehood records for groups such as the Rangers and Minute companies. The following volumes summarize many of these early records:

Ingmire, Frances Terry. Texas Rangers: Frontier Battalion, Minute Men, Commanding Officers, 1847-1900. Six Volumes. St. Louis, Missouri: Ingmire Publications, 1982. FS Catalog book 976.4 M2ift.

Ingmire, Frances Terry. Texas Frontiersmen, 1839-1860: Minute Men, Militia, Home Guard, Indian Fighters. St. Louis, Missouri: F.T. Ingmire, 1982. FS Catalog book 976.4 M2i.

Records of Texans who have participated in any war since World War I are filed in the National Archives and the National Archives—Fort Worth Branch. See the United States and the United States Military Records Wiki articles for more information.

Records of the National Guard units drafted into federal forces are at the Adjutant General's Office, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas.

Websites[edit | edit source]

The National Archives
The National Archives at Fort Worth
Texas Military Records (Texas Genealogy)