Wisconsin Military Records: Difference between revisions

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Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The U.S. Military Records Research Outline (34118) provides more information on federal military records and search strategies. Archives in Wisconsin with exceptional holdings include:
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The Office of the Adjutant General has records pertaining to the National Guard in Wisconsin, primarily for the 1900s:
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'''Office of the Adjutant General'''<br />115 East State Capitol<br />Madison, WI 53702<br />Telephone: 608-266-1212<br />Fax: 608-267-8983<br />Internet: [http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=2625 http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&amp;prid=2625]
=== Online Resources ===


'''State Historical Society.''' The Archives Division has copies of draft records, muster rolls, state militia rosters, pension claims, and other materials.
[[U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records]]  provides more links for nationwide military record collections.


'''The Department of Veteran Affairs.''' This department has restricted records for World War I and later wars. It also has a file of grave registrations.
*[http://www.accessgenealogy.com/wisconsin/wisconsin-gold-star-list.htm Wisconsin Gold Star List]
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1585 Wisconsin Muster Rolls from the Winnebago War, 1827]
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1586 Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Black Hawk War (1832)]
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/roster/ Wisconsin Historical Society Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865] Index only.
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2996059|United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1917-1940''' {{RecordSearch|2968245|United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Veterans Administration Master Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]];index
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/korean-war/casualty-lists/wi-alpha.pdf Korean Conflict State-Level Casualty Lists - Wisconsin]
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-lists/wi-alpha.pdf U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Home-State-of-Record: Wisconsin]
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'''Department of Veteran Affairs'''<br />301 W. Mifflin<br />Madison, WI 53703<br />Telephone: 1-800-947-8387 or<br />688-166-1311<br />Internet: http://dva.state.wi.us/
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<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[United States Military Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div>
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The following sources are also very helpful:
== Record Locations  ==


=== Revolutionary War (1775–1783) ===
Many military records are found at the FamilySearch Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. [[United States Military Records]] provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.


White, Virgil D. ''Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files.'' 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing Co., 1990–1992. (FHL book 973 M28g.) Volume four is an every-name index to volumes one to three. These volumes contain detailed abstracts with names, dates, and places mentioned in the Revolutionary War Pension files.
Archives in [[Wisconsin Genealogy|Wisconsin]] with holdings include:  


''Revolutionary War Veterans, 1775–1784, Buried in Wisconsin.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975. This is a microfilm of a typescript. (FHL film 940199 item 9.) This lists 43 Revolutionary War soldiers and the states from which they came to Wisconsin.
*[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]. The Archives Division has copies of draft records, muster rolls, state militia rosters, pension claims, and other materials.


See the [http://www.familysearchwiki.org/../united-states-research-outline United States Research Outline ](30972), "Military Records" section, for several excellent DAR and SAR indexes, available at the Family History Library, to cemetery records of Revolutionary War soldiers.
*Wisconsin Veterans Museum. The museum has letters, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, and other original papers and records from Wisconsin veterans and veteran organizations; recorded interviews with Wisconsin veterans from World War I through the present; and books, military manuals, newsletters, maps, posters, prints, and other published materials focusing on Wisconsin and American military history.


=== War of 1812 (1812–1815) ===
:Wisconsin Veterans Museum<br>30 W Mifflin Street<br> Madison, WI 53703<br>Telephone: (608) 267-1799<br>Website: [http://www.wisvetsmuseum.com/ Wisconsin Veterans Museum]


White, Virgil D. ''Index to War of 1812 Pension Files.'' 2 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing Co., 1992. (FHL book 973 M22i 1992.)
*The Department of Veterans Affairs. This department has restricted records for World War I and later wars. It also has a file of grave registrations.


If you do not have access to the above book, you will find the same information on the National Archives microfilms of the ''Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files'' (FHL films 840421–500 and 847501–32). This lists the soldier's name and often the name of his wife.
:Department of Veteran Affairs<br>201 W. Washington Ave.<br>PO Box 7843<br>Madison, WI 53707<br>Telephone: 800-WIS-VETS (947-8387)<br>Website: http://dva.state.wi.us/


=== Indian Wars (1815–1858) ===
*Department of Military Affairs. This department has records pertaining to the National Guard in Wisconsin, primarily for the 1900s


White, Virgil D. ''Index to Volunteer Soldiers in Indian Wars and Disturbances, 1815–1858''. 2 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: The National Historical Publishing Co., 1994. (FHL book 973 M22wiv.)
:Department of Military Affairs<br>2400 Wright St.<br>Madison, WI 53708<br>Telephone: (800) 335-5147 or (608) 242-3000<br>Website: [http://dma.wi.gov/dma/dma/default.asp Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs]


=== Mexican War (1846–1848) ===
== Forts  ==


You may wish to search records of soldiers and widows of the Mexican War, 1846–1848. For example, the following index is available:
Forts were authorized by the federal government, built to house and maintain the military who were to assist in maintaining peace by enforcing treaties and providing protection to settlers.  


White, Virgil D. ''Index to Mexican War Pension Files''. Waynesboro, Tennessee: The National Historical Publishing Co., 1989. (FHL book 973 M22mw.)
*[http://www.howderfamily.com/travel/wisconsin/fort_st_antoine.html Fort St. Antoine]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Howard_(Wisconsin) Fort Howard]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Koshkonong Fort Koshkonong]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Winnebago Fort Winnebago]


=== Civil War (1861–1865) ===
== Revolutionary War (1775-1783) ==


The Family History Library and the National Archives have an index to service records of Union army volunteers, ''Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Wisconsin'' (FHL films 882486–518). The library also has the index to the pension files (FHL films 540757–1300), but the actual service and pension records are available only at the National Archives.
*White, Virgil D. ''Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files.'' 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing Co., 1990–1992. (FS Library book {{FSC|476517|title-id|disp=973 M28g}}.) Volume four is an every-name index to volumes one to three. These volumes contain detailed abstracts with names, dates, and places mentioned in the Revolutionary War Pension files.
*''Revolutionary War Veterans, 1775–1784, Buried in Wisconsin.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975. This is a microfilm of a typescript. (FS Library film {{FSC|33286|title-id|disp=940199}} item 9.) This lists 43 Revolutionary War soldiers and the states from which they came to Wisconsin.


The following regimental muster and descriptive rolls made by the Adjutant General's Office are at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and the Family History Library:
See [[United States Military Records]] for DAR and SAR indexes, available at the FamilySearch Library, to cemetery records of Revolutionary War soldiers.
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/33286? Revolutionary War veterans, 1775-1784, buried in Wisconsin]


Wisconsin Adjutant General's Office. ''Military Records, 1861–1865.'' (FHL films 1311667-98.) These include such information as the soldier's name, rank, birthplace, age, and occupation. They are arranged by regiment, then company.
== War of 1812 (1812-1815) ==


The Wisconsin Veteran's Museumhas a computerized index to Wisconsin Civil War soldiers' enlistments. This is for soldiers who served in Wisconsin regiments only. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request for a search.
The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States confirmed the separate existence of the United States and the future Canada.  


'''Wisconsin Veteran's Museum'''<br />30 West Mifflin Street<br />Madison, WI 53703<br />Telephone 608-267-1799<br />Internet: http://museum.dva.state.wi.us/
There are nationwide records for soldiers of the War of 1812. For more information, see [[United States in the War of 1812|United States in the War of 1812]]''.''  


For Civil War veterans another source is:
'''Federal Records'''


Miljat, Leslie Elizabeth. ''Admission Applications, 1867–1872, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers,'' ''Northwestern Branch, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.'' Wauwatosa, Wisconsin L. E. Miljat, 1991. (FHL book 977.595 M28m.) This lists Civil War soldiers from many parts of the country.
Information about many Wisconsin soldiers can be found in federal records. See [[United States in the War of 1812|United States in the War of 1812]] for links to databases and lists of many other War of 1812 records. Be sure to also check the list of record types, such as Pensions, on the left.  


The applications contain family history information about each veteran, such as name of spouse, father, siblings, or children; Civil War unit; discharge or death date; and burial place. The Family History Library has the original applications and records of this home for the years, 1867–1934 (FHL films beginning with film 1561060.)
'''Explanation of the Major Record Types'''


The censuses taken by the state in 1885, 1895, and 1905 included separate enumerations of soldiers residing in the state. The lists of soldiers were published in alphabetical order at the end of the statistical reports. For 1885, see FHL films 1032703-04. For 1895, see films 1032705-16. The 1905 lists are on 36 FHL films beginning with film 1020439. The 1885 lists were published in alphabetical order, at the end of ''Tabular Statements of the Census Enumeration'' (Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Co., 1886; FHL book 977.5 X2w; film 962237).
*Pearson, Thomas A., comp. [http://www.slpl.lib.mo.us/libsrc/genealogicalrecordswarof1812.htm Genealogical Records of the War of 1812]: an Introduction and Selected Bibliography of Materials in the Collection of St. Louis Public Library. (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Public Library, July 2004).


When the 1890 census was taken, a listing was made of Civil War soldiers and their widows. This has been indexed in:
'''Pension Records'''


Jackson, Ronald Vern. ''1890 Wisconsin Veterans Census Index''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, Inc., 1988. (FHL book 977.5 X22w 1890.)
*[http://www.genealogycenter.info/search_wisconsin1812.php War of 1812 Pensioners in Wisconsin, 1883] (Free). Abstracted from the U.S. Pension Bureau's ''List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883'', volume IV. Allen County Public Library has this online database searchable by name. Includes veterans and widows.


An important index available on microfilm is:
*Hetzel, Bev. ''List of soldiers of the War of 1812 living in Wisconsin before 1883'' (Salt Lake City, Utah:&nbsp; Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1998) {{FSC|782055|item|dips=FS Library Film 6038968}}


United States Veterans Administration. ''Pension Index File, Alphabetical; of the Veterans Administration'' . . . Washington, D.C.: Veterans Administration, Publications Service, 1953. (On 544 FHL films beginning with film 0540757.) To obtain copies of the actual pension files, you will want to write to the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
== Indian Wars (1780s-1890s) ==


''Biographical sketches of soldiers are in Soldiers' and Citizens' Album of Biographical Record'', 2 vols. (Chicago: Grand Army Pub., 1888, 1890; FHL book 977.5 D3s; vol. 1 is on film 928504 item 2; vol. 2 is on film 928508; vol. 2 is also on fiche 6051213).
''''' Winnebago War (1827) '''''


A useful new book for tracing Civil War ancestors is:
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1585 Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Winnebago War] (Wisconsin Historical Society) - Transcription of Wisconsin Muster Rolls from the Winnebago War. Lists Prairie du Chien and Green Bay militia units along with Menominee, Stockbridge and Oneida Indians that served.


Moore, Dennis R. ''Researching Your Civil War Ancestors in Wisconsin''. Manitowoc, Wisconsin: Bivouac Publications, 1994. (FHL book 977.5 M27m.) This gives detailed listings of Civil War records available at the State Archives and explains what is included in each type of record.
''''' Black Hawk War (1832) '''''


For records of national old soldier homes including the home in Waupaca, Wisconsin, see:
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1586 Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Black Hawk War] (Wisconsin Historical Society) - Transcription of Wisconsin Muster Rolls from the Black Hawk War. Lists soldiers in the 18 companies of "Iowa" militia (i.e., Iowa Co, Michigan Territory), plus the Menominee and Potawatomie warriors and one militia company raised at Green Bay.


United States. Veterans Administration. ''Registers of Veterans at National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866–1937''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (On 282 FHL films.) Includes general indexes for each of the twelve homes, but some volumes are indexed separately. These Historical Registers may list the soldier's name, date and place of enlistment, rank, military unit, length of service, date and place of discharge, place of birth, age, physical description, religion, occupation, previous residence, marital status, nearest relative, pension, soldier home admission and discharge dates, disability, death date, or cause of death.
== Mexican War (1846-1848) ==


=== World War I (1917–1918) ===
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.


A published roster of soldiers who died during the war, arranged by branch of service and by county, is John Goodby Gregory, ed., ''Wisconsin's Gold Star List: Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Nurses from the Badger State''. . . . (Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1925; FHL film 1000801; film 924401 item 2; fiche 6051352).
*''Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926''. (NARA T317). {{FSC|0537000|item|disp=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:<br>


World War I draft registration cards for men ages 18 to 45 may list address, birth date, birthplace, race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. Not all registrants served in the war. For registration cards for Wisconsin, see:
:*'''1887-1926''' {{RecordSearch|1979390|United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Index to Mexican War Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Free digital copy. <br>


United States. Selective Service System. ''Wisconsin, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918''. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987–1988. (On FHL films beginning with film 1685061.)
*Robarts, William Hugh. ''Mexican War Veterans&nbsp;: A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848…'' Washington, D.C.&nbsp;: Brentano’s, 1887. {{FSC|1854496|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh}} Digital version available at [http://archive.org/details/mexicanwarvetera00roba Internet Archive].


To find an individual's draft card, it helps to know his name and residence at the time of registration. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board, and then alphabetically by surname within each draft board.
Click on these links to learn more about the [[Mexican War, 1846 to 1848|Mexican War]] and about [[US Mexican War Pension Records|Mexican War pension records]].  


Most counties had only one board; large cities had several. A map showing the boundaries of individual draft boards is available for most large cities. Finding an ancestor's street address in a city directory will help you in using the draft board map. For a copy of the map for Milwaukee, see:
== Civil War (1861 to 1865)  ==


United States. Selective Service System. ''List of World War One Draft Board Maps''. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. (FHL film 1498803.)
[[Image:{{GeneralLysanderCutler}}]] See [[Wisconsin in the Civil War|Wisconsin in the Civil War]] for information about Wisconsin Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the Wisconsin 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 [http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database] 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.
 
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/767483 Dennis R. Moore. ''Researching your Civil War ancestors in Wisconsin'' Monitowoc, Wisconsin : Bivouac, c1994] FS Library 977.5 M28e
 
== Spanish-American War (1898)  ==
 
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.
 
'''Indexes'''
 
*'''1861-1934''' {{RecordSearch|1919699|United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, General Index to Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|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''' {{RecordSearch|1919583|United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Index to Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers in the War with Spain - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Free digital copy.
 
Click on the link to learn more about the [[Spanish-American War, 1898|Spanish American War]].
 
== Mexican Border Service ==
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/826226 Moses N. Thisted, ''Wisconsin troops in federalized National Guard : Mexican border service, June 22, 1916 - Jan 19, 1917|Wisconsin National Guard'' Place of publication not identified : M.N. Thisted, 1966? FS Library 977.5 M2t]
 
== World War I (1917-1918)  ==
 
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.
 
*United States. Selective Service System. ''Wisconsin, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918''. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987–1988. (On FS Library films beginning with film {{FSC|747003|title-id|disp=1685061}}) Also available at:
 
*'''1917-1918''' {{RecordSearch|1968530|United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images — free
 
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2513098|United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images
 
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2996059|United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
 
[[United States World War I Draft Records|United States World War I Draft Records]] provides additional information.
 
*A published roster of soldiers who died during the war, arranged by branch of service and by county, is John Goodby Gregory, ed., ''Wisconsin's Gold Star List: Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Nurses from the Badger State''. . . . (Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1925; FS Library film 1{{FSC|195809|title-id|disp=000801}}; film {{FSC|195809|title-id|disp=924401 item 2}}; fiche {{FSC|195809|title-id|disp=6051352}}).
 
*[https://www.orderfirstworldwar.com/wisconsin-service-cards.htm Wisconsin Service Cards - Wisconsin Historical Society]
*[https://wisvetsmuseum.com/research/search-the-wisconsin-veterans-museums-world-war-i-database/ World War I Roster Database - Wisconsin Veterans Museum]
 
== World War II (1941-1945) ==
 
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''' {{RecordSearch|1339071|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (Image Browse)}} at FamilySearch) - [[United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; free
*'''1942''' {{RecordSearch|1861144|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; images with partial index - free
 
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1468984 John Maino ; editor, Kathy McKenzie, ''Frontlines : World War II personal accounts of Wisconsin veterans'' Green Bay, Wisconsin : J. Maino, c2006 FS Library 977.5 M2mj]
 
:Also available at:<br>
 
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1002 Ancestry] ($)
*[http://www.fold3.com/title_765/wwii_old_mans_draft_registration_cards Fold3] ($).
 
[[World War II United States Military Records, 1941 to 1945|World War II United States Military Records]] provides additional information.
 
== Korean War (1950–1953)  ==
 
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 [[United States Korean War 1950 to 1953|Korean War ]] wiki article for information on records and their availability.
 
== Vietnam War (1964–1972)  ==
 
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 [[United States Vietnam War 1964 to 1972|Vietnam War]] wiki article for information on records and their availability.
 
== National Guard ==
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/826226 Moses N. Thisted. ''With the Wisconsin National Guard on the Mexican border in 1916-1917.''S.l. : M.N. Thisted, 1966?]
* Wisconsin National Guard Museum, Camp Douglas
 
{{Wisconsin|Wisconsin}} {{State Military Records}}
 
[[Category:Wisconsin Military Records]]

Latest revision as of 10:07, 19 April 2024

Wisconsin Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Wisconsin Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources
300px-Ft cosconong.jpg

Online Resources[edit | edit source]

U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records provides more links for nationwide military record collections.

Record Locations[edit | edit source]

Many military records are found at the FamilySearch Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. United States Military Records provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.

Archives in Wisconsin with holdings include:

  • Wisconsin Historical Society. The Archives Division has copies of draft records, muster rolls, state militia rosters, pension claims, and other materials.
  • Wisconsin Veterans Museum. The museum has letters, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, and other original papers and records from Wisconsin veterans and veteran organizations; recorded interviews with Wisconsin veterans from World War I through the present; and books, military manuals, newsletters, maps, posters, prints, and other published materials focusing on Wisconsin and American military history.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
30 W Mifflin Street
Madison, WI 53703
Telephone: (608) 267-1799
Website: Wisconsin Veterans Museum
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs. This department has restricted records for World War I and later wars. It also has a file of grave registrations.
Department of Veteran Affairs
201 W. Washington Ave.
PO Box 7843
Madison, WI 53707
Telephone: 800-WIS-VETS (947-8387)
Website: http://dva.state.wi.us/
  • Department of Military Affairs. This department has records pertaining to the National Guard in Wisconsin, primarily for the 1900s
Department of Military Affairs
2400 Wright St.
Madison, WI 53708
Telephone: (800) 335-5147 or (608) 242-3000
Website: Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs

Forts[edit | edit source]

Forts were authorized by the federal government, built to house and maintain the military who were to assist in maintaining peace by enforcing treaties and providing protection to settlers.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)[edit | edit source]

  • White, Virgil D. Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing Co., 1990–1992. (FS Library book 973 M28g.) Volume four is an every-name index to volumes one to three. These volumes contain detailed abstracts with names, dates, and places mentioned in the Revolutionary War Pension files.
  • Revolutionary War Veterans, 1775–1784, Buried in Wisconsin. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975. This is a microfilm of a typescript. (FS Library film 940199 item 9.) This lists 43 Revolutionary War soldiers and the states from which they came to Wisconsin.

See United States Military Records for DAR and SAR indexes, available at the FamilySearch Library, to cemetery records of Revolutionary War soldiers.

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

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

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

Federal Records

Information about many Wisconsin soldiers can be found in federal records. See United States in the War of 1812 for links to databases and lists of many other War of 1812 records. Be sure to also check the list of record types, such as Pensions, on the left.

Explanation of the Major Record Types

  • Pearson, Thomas A., comp. Genealogical Records of the War of 1812: an Introduction and Selected Bibliography of Materials in the Collection of St. Louis Public Library. (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Public Library, July 2004).

Pension Records

  • War of 1812 Pensioners in Wisconsin, 1883 (Free). Abstracted from the U.S. Pension Bureau's List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883, volume IV. Allen County Public Library has this online database searchable by name. Includes veterans and widows.
  • Hetzel, Bev. List of soldiers of the War of 1812 living in Wisconsin before 1883 (Salt Lake City, Utah:  Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1998) FS Library Collection

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

Winnebago War (1827)

  • Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Winnebago War (Wisconsin Historical Society) - Transcription of Wisconsin Muster Rolls from the Winnebago War. Lists Prairie du Chien and Green Bay militia units along with Menominee, Stockbridge and Oneida Indians that served.

Black Hawk War (1832)

  • Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Black Hawk War (Wisconsin Historical Society) - Transcription of Wisconsin Muster Rolls from the Black Hawk War. Lists soldiers in the 18 companies of "Iowa" militia (i.e., Iowa Co, Michigan Territory), plus the Menominee and Potawatomie warriors and one militia company raised at Green Bay.

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.

  • 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:
  • 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.

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

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

Union General Lysander Cutler (1807-1866)

See Wisconsin in the Civil War for information about Wisconsin Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the Wisconsin 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 Database 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.

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.

Indexes

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

Mexican Border Service[edit | edit source]

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.

  • United States. Selective Service System. Wisconsin, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987–1988. (On FS Library films beginning with film 1685061) Also available at:

United States World War I Draft Records provides additional information.

  • A published roster of soldiers who died during the war, arranged by branch of service and by county, is John Goodby Gregory, ed., Wisconsin's Gold Star List: Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Nurses from the Badger State. . . . (Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1925; FS Library film 1000801; film 924401 item 2; fiche 6051352).

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

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.

Also available at:

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]

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