Alabama Military Records

Portal:United States Military Records>Alabama

Background Information

Military records identify those who served in the military or who were eligible for service. Evidence that your ancestor served may be found in family traditions, census records, naturalization records, biographies, cemetery records, and records of veterans’ organizations.

Alabama has participated in wars from the Revolutionary War to the present. Military enlistment and service records may give names, residences throughout the life of the family, rank, unit, dates of service, death date, and cause of death. Pension records often provide the soldier’s birth date and place, widow’s name, the date and place of marriage, and names and ages of children.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has the most complete collection of Alabama military records. Their collection includes military records and soldiers’ correspondence from all wars in which Alabama has participated. Many federal military records of Alabama are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and the National Archives Southeast Region (Atlanta) (Morrow, Georgia).

Alabama Forts

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

Fort Barrancas 1820-,

Fort Charlotte 1813-20,

Fort Claiborne 1813,

Fort Crawford 1817-19,

Fort Clinch 1823-34,

Fort Clairborne

Fort Conde

Fort Deposit 1813, Fort Gaines, Fort Jackson 1814, Fort Hampton 1810-17,

Fort Louis de la Mobil 1702 established by the French

Fort Mims

Fort Mitchell 1813-37, Fort Morgan 1834-68, Fort Montgomery 1814-18, Fort Pickins 1834-67

Fort Pierce

Fort Sinquefield

Fort Toulouse built by the French

Mount Vernon Barracks (including Camp Terry) -- Textual records of this post, 1866-1895, 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 Stoddert 1799-1814, Fort St. Stephens 1799-1808, Fort Tombecbe

Revolutionary War (1775–1783)

If a person supported the Revolution, he may be mentioned in records as a rebel, patriot, or Whig. Those who opposed the Revolution were Loyalists or Tories.

Patriots-- Service and pension records and indexes for patriots are available on film at the National Archives and the Family History Library. For lists of Revolutionary War soldiers from Alabama, see:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Revolutionary War Service, 1776–1783. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. (Family History Library film 1462786 item 2.) These alphabetical three-by-five cards mention the soldier’s (or widow’s) name, rank, unit, and enlistment information. They also often list the names of the soldier’s parents, spouse, and children and give his birth date and place. The source of information may be given.

• Gandrud, Pauline Jones. Alabama Soldiers: Revolution, War of 1812, and Indian Wars. 20 volumes. Hot Springs, Arkansas: B.J. McLane, 1975–. (Family History Library book 976.1 M2g.) Volume one starts with surnames beginning with A. Volume 20 ends with the surnames M. The series will continue through surnames with Z. The books often list service, pension, census, land ownership, and probate information, with names of children and sometimes grandchildren.

• Julich, Louise Milam. Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots in Alabama. Montgomery, Alabama: Parchment Press, 1979. (Family History Library book 976.1 M2j.) This source often provides information about military service, burial, pension, residence, spouse, children, parents, and source references.

• Owen, Thomas M. Revolutionary Soldiers in Alabama. 1911. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. (Family History Library book 976.1 M23a 1975; film 928157 item 4. The 1911 edition is also on Family History Library film 962704 item 3.) This book lists Revolutionary War veterans who lived in Alabama. The information was compiled from the pension roll of 1833–1834, the 1840 census of pensioners, local histories, tombstones, and obituaries.

Lineages for Revolutionary War soldiers listing descendants and spouses, are found in:

• Black, Clifford D. An Index to Alabama Society Sons of the American Revolution, Members and Their Ancestors, 1903–1996. Rainsville, Alabama: C.D. Black, 1996. (Family History Library book 976.1 C42b; film 2055307 item 9.) This book contains about 15,000 names and is fully indexed. It includes the National Sons of the American Revolution number. This book also gives birth dates for descendants,birth and death dates for each soldier, and the state of birth and death for each soldier.

The Loyalist Era, 1775–1789--Loyalists are those residents of the British North American Colonies who did not join the American Revolution between 1775 and 1783 but remained loyal to the king of England. In the strictest sense, Loyalists are only those who served in a Loyalist corps in the Thirteen Colonies. The American Loyalists who actually served the Crown must be distinguished from the more numerous "late Loyalists" who came from the United States beginning in about 1790 for land or other economic opportunities.

During the war and especially at its close, some Loyalists went to Britain or other colonies, but many fled to Canada. There is no master list of all the names of American Loyalists who came to Canada. Historians do not agree on the total number. Some sources say fewer than 20,000, others say more than 40,000. A head count in peninsular Nova Scotia in 1784 showed about 17,000 members of Loyalist families in that area alone, but some Loyalists had already left there for other places in British North America, and a few hundred more were to arrive in Nova Scotia in 1785.

 War of 1812 (1812–1815)

For records of War of 1812 soldiers, see Alabama Soldiers: Revolution, War of 1812, and Indian Wars by Pauline Jones Gandrud mentioned above.

• War of 1812 Pensioners Living in Alabama During the 1880s. Cullman, Alabama: Gregath, 1982. (Family History Library book 976.1 M2w.) This book gives the name of the soldier or his widow, the certificate number, and residence.

Indian Wars (1812–1814)

A card index of Indian War soldiers is:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Indian War Service, 1812–1814. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (Family History Library film 1462786 item 3.) This includes alphabetically arranged, typed cards for the Indian wars of 1813–1814 and the War of 1812. The films include each soldier’s name, age, residence, rank, and date enrolled and the date and amount of his pension payments (usually for the years of 1833–1834).
• Creek Wars 1813,1814
• Battle of Burnt Corn July27, 1813

War of Texas Independence (1835–1836)

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Texas War with Mexico, 1835–1836. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (Family History Library film 1462788 item 2.) These cards list, in alphabetical order, the names of Alabama soldiers who served in the War of Texas Independence. The cards contain information about rank, company, regiment, and sometimes enlistment place, dates served, wounds, age, death date, and land grant entitlement. They include the source of information.

Indian Wars (1836–1838)

Indexes to the compiled military service records are available for:

Creek War (1836–1837)

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Indian War, 1836. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. (Family History Library films 1462787 item 2 (A–L) and 1462788 (M–Z).) These cards list the soldier’s name, rank, and company; information from muster rolls and petitions; letters from authorities, death reports, requisitions, minutes of meetings, accounts of battles, and enrollments. The county of residence also may be mentioned.

• United States. Adjutant General’s Office. Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Creek War in Organizations from the State of Alabama. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0244. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1957. (Family History Library films 880845–46.)

Florida War (1836–1838)

• United States. Adjutant General’s Office. Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Florida War in Organizations from the State of Alabama. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0245. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1957. (Family History Library film 880847.)

A transcription of this index is:

• Achee, Benjamin. Index for Compiled Service Records, Alabama Units—Florida War. N.p., 1971. (Family History Library book 976.1 A1 no. 6; film 908132 item2.) This book generally lists the soldier’s name, company, battalion, rank, and Alabama county.

Soldiers Serving in the Cherokee Removal (1838)

• United States. Adjutant General’s Office. Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Cherokee Removal in Organizations from the State of Alabama. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0243. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1957. (Family History Library film 368685.) The Cherokees were removed to the Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma. The compiled military service records have not been microfilmed, but are available at the National Archives.

Mexican War (1846–1848)

To find information about soldiers serving from Alabama see:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Mexican War Service, 1846–1847. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (Family History Library films 1462788 item 3 (A–L), and 1462789 (M–Z).) The cards may include name, rank, muster date and place, regiment, company, and sometimes muster out or medical discharge information.

• Alabama Volunteers in the Mexican War, 1846–1848. Richardson, Texas: Descendants of Mexican War Veterans, 1996. (Family History Library book 976.1 M2bs.) This contains the names of the soldiers, plus historical information about the war and the Alabama companies.

Civil War (1861–1865)

Alabama soldiers served in both the Union and Confederate armies. Indexes and compiled military service records for both armies are available on microfilm.

• Jones, Ken. The Civil War in Alabama. [Internet site]. N.p., 1997. 19 November 1999. [cited 17 March 2000]. Available at www.tarleton.edu/~kjones/alabama.html. This site lists a yearly account of people, events, and battles in the Civil War and includes links to other web sites about these events.
• Civil War Pension Index Cards - A free Internet index to pension applications of veterans who served in the US Army between 1861-1917 is available on FamilySearch Record Search. Each card gives the soldier’s name, application and certificate numbers, state of enlistment, and might include rank and death information. Other wars, of that time period, may be included.
• Alabama Department of Archives and History Civil War Service Databasemay be searched alphabetically amd lists the name, branch, regiment, company unit and unit name.

Union Soldiers

For information about Alabama Union soldiers see:

• United States. Adjutant General’s Office. Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0263. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1958. (Family History Library film 880848.) This gives each soldier’s name, his rank, and the unit in which he served.

For microfilms of the actual compiled service records indexed by the source above see:

• United States. Record and Pension Office. Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0276. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1959. (Family History Library films 1276611–20.) The records are arranged alphabetically.

Pension records for Union veterans are available at the National Archives. For an index see:

• United States. Veteran’s Administration. General Index to Pension Files, 1861–1934. National Archives Microfilm Publications, T0288. Washington, D.C.: Veterans Administration Publications Service, 1953. (Family History Library films beginning with 540757–1300.)

Confederate Soldiers

 For service information see:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Confederate Service Record, 1861–1865. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986–1987. (On 67 Family History Library films beginning with 1462785.) These index cards provide name, rank, company, regiment, promotions, enlistment date and place, re-enlistments, engagements, wounds and hospital records, date of capture or discharge, prison records, if a substitute was furnished, remarks, and the source of the information. They also may contain death date, soldier’s pension number, physical description, age, widow’s name, her pension number, her county of residence, and sometimes letters to relatives.
• United States. Adjutant General’s Office. Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0374. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1962. (Family History Library films 821949–97.)  This index is also available online at the Alabama Department of History and Archives This is an index to the compiled service records listed below.
• United States. Record and Pension Office. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0311. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1961–1962. (Family History Library films 880330–837.) For the index, see the source above. These films include muster rolls, returns, rosters, payrolls, hospital records, and Union prison registers. The records are arranged by unit, then alphabetically.

For pension records see:

• Alabama Pension Commission (Alabama). Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880–1930s. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. (On 276 Family History Library films beginning with 1502476.) The soldiers’ or sailors’ applications are in alphabetical order and contain: name, rank, company, regiment, date and place wounded, post office address, occupation, taxable property, affidavits of witnesses, a schedule of property (number of acres), and a list of personal property (items and value).

After 23 September 1919, a more detailed form called for the soldier’s exact age; how long he had lived in the state; when he had married; names, ages, and occupations of living children; and where the veteran was last registered to vote.

A veteran’s widow who applied for a pension after 1914 used a reclassification form that asked for her exact birth date. Beginning in 1920, the pension applications contain more information such as the widow’s name, post office, number on pension roll, with whom she was living, where and when she was born (month, day, year), the name of her father, his address, and when and where he died. She also had to give the name of her husband, when he moved to Alabama, when he enlisted, a list of his property and yearly income, and when and where they married. She also had to state whether she was living with the veteran, divorced, or widowed. If applicable she provided information about when and where he died or if he lived in another state.

In 1907, 1921, and 1927, the state prepared lists of Confederate veteran pensioners. Additional Confederate pension records are:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Administrators of Confederate Soldiers, 1862–1864. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (Family History Library film 1653243 item 2.) These claims were filed by family members after the death of their husband or son during the war. The claims were usually filed six months to one year after the death of the soldier. The claims are at the National Archives.
• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Applications for Relief by Maimed Confederate Soldiers. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (Family History Library films 1653552–53.) These records mention the soldier’s company and regiment, date and place when wounded, and often the soldier’s occupation.
• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Parents of Confederate Soldiers, 1862–1864. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. Family History Library film 1653242. These records contain an alphabetical listing with name, service, rank, company, county, father’s or mother’s name, and date the claim was filed.
• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Widows of Confederate Soldiers, 1862–1864. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (Family History Library film 1653242 item 2, surnames A–S; film 1653243 surnames T–Z.) The cards list the widow’s name; the soldier’s name; his rank, company, and regiment; the place and date the claim was filed (1862–1864); and the source of information.
• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Miscellaneous Family Relationships of Confederate Soldiers, 1862–1864. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (Family History Library film 1653243 item 3.) This gives the name of the soldier; his rank, company, and unit number of Alabama infantry; the county in Alabama; the date the claim was filed; the name of the relative; and the degree of family relationship.

Presidential Pardons of Former Confederates, 1863–1868

From 1863 to 1868, former Confederates could apply for pardon from the federal government. The voting rights and citizenship of former Confederates were restored when they applied for pardon and signed an Amnesty Oath. In August 1865, stations were appointed in each county in Alabama where men and a few women could sign the Amnesty Oath. The oaths list only the names of the persons who signed and are often found in county records. On 6 June 1868, general amnesty became universal. The 1865–1867 records are available on microfilms:

• United States. Adjutant General’s Office. Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"). National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1003. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1976. (Family History Library films 1578739–50 for Alabama.) Film 1578739 has a name index. These handwritten applications from 1865 to 1867 contain names of persons applying for pardon, the county of residence, date of application, a list of property owned and its value, and often their age and occupation. Sometimes the applications include their state of birth and whether they were married ( spouse’s name not given). A few African-Americans in Alabama took this loyalty oath. The Alabama pardon applications are in alphabetical order.

Some of these records have been published and are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: ALABAMA, [COUNTY]- MILITARY RECORDS

Histories of Alabama Military Units

Regimental Lists. See a list of regiments and links to their histories. 

An important inventory for finding Civil War military histories is:

• A Guide to the Microfiche Edition of Civil War Unit Histories: Regimental Histories and Personal Narratives. Part 1, Confederate States of America and Border States. Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1992. (Family History Library book 973 M2cwu pt. 1.) Alabama units are listed on pages 15–19. The library has the large microfiche collection described in this guide. Use the library catalog to find individual items. This may include correspondence, diaries, memoirs, and regimental histories published before 1920. The guide shows the unit name, counties where it was raised, author, title, publication information, number of pages, and source repository. This guide includes an author index and a major engagements index.

Brief histories of Confederate units can be found in:

• Brewer, Willis. Alabama: Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men from 1540 to 1872. Civil War Unit Histories; Alabama: 5–12. Montgomery, Alabama: Barrett & Brown, 1872. (Family History Library book 976.1 H2b; film 934818 item 3.) This book provides the county the captain is from for most regiments.
• Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History, in Seventeen Volumes, Written by Distinguished Men of the South, and Edited by Gen. Clement A. Evans of Georgia. Extended ed. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Publishing, 1987–1988. (Family History Library book 975 M2e 1978.) Volume eight contains information on the Alabama units. This is a reprint of the 1899 volume published by the Confederate Publishing Company, with additional material.
• Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies. Ten Volumes. New York, New York: Facts of File, 1992–1995. (Family History Library book 975 M2ss.) Volume one has information on Alabama units.

Southern Claims Commission

If a Union sympathizer in Alabama claimed a loss during the Civil War due to Union military confiscation, he could apply to the Southern Claims Commission for reimbursement. Only a few applied per county, but their neighbors were called as witnesses and asked dozens of questions. Hundreds of the residents of all kinds in a county may be mentioned in answers to Commission questions, and their wartime activities described. To learn how to find records mentioning these neighbors in Alabama counties during the Civil War see the Southern Claims Commission.

Spanish-American War (1898–1899)

• Alabama. Adjutant General’s Office. Muster Rolls of Alabama Volunteers in the Spanish-American War of 1898. 1899. Reprint, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1989. (Family History Library film 1404249.) This lists soldiers in the three Alabama Regiments. The lists are alphabetical by company and give mustered-in date (city and state), mustered-out date, rank, and names of those who died.

World War I (1917–1918)

World War I draft registration cards for men ages 18 to 45 may list the person’s address, birth date, birthplace (city and state), race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. All men ages 18 to 45 were required to register. However, not all registrants served in the war. These records are indexed at Ancestry. For Alabama records, also see:

• United States. Selective Service System. Alabama, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987–1988. (On 87 Family History Library films beginning with 1509347.)

Knowing an individual’s name and residence at the time of registration will help you find his draft card. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board, and then alphabetically within each draft board.

Most counties had only one board. The city of Birmingham had six. Find the ancestor’s street address in a Birmingham 1917 or 1918 city directory, then see the map of Birmingham, which shows the draft board registration district boundaries:

• United States. Selective Service System. List of World War One Draft Board Maps. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989. (Family History Library film 1498803.) Birmingham is the third map on the film.

Service records. There are also Alabama World War I service records, prepared after the war:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. World War I Service Records, 1918–1919. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (On 33 Family History Library films beginning with 1644084.) These records are arranged alphabetically and usually contain the person’s name, race, residence, place of birth (city and state), age or date of birth, enlistment or induction date, service and rank information, wounds, date of service overseas, discharge date, disability, and remarks.

Rosters. For a published roster of soldiers who died in the war see:

• Haulsee, W. M. Soldiers of the Great War. Three Volumes. Washington, D.C.: Soldiers Record Pub. Association, 1920. (Family History Library book 973 M23s; fiche 6051244.) Alabama soldiers are listed in volume one, pages 71–95. This section gives the soldier’s name, residence, rank, and cause of death, and includes pictures.

Casualties. The Alabama Gold Star Files is a free database that lists service people who died during the war, or who had been awarded distinguished service recognition. The name "Gold Star" was derived from the gold stars awarded to mothers of service people who lost their lives. Information for this database was supplied by relatives of the deceased individual. Photos and newspaper articles may be included. The amount of information may vary, including:

• Name
• Branch of service
• Race
• Town
• County
• Bulletin information (taken from “Official U.S. Bulletin”)
• Other information

World War II (1941–1945)

• Combat Connected Naval Causalities, World War II, by States. Two Volumes. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946. (Family History Library book 973 M3dc.) This source is alphabetically arranged by state, then within the state by dead, missing, wounded, Prisoner of War (POW), died or killed while a POW, and POWs released.
• Tuskegee Airmen tuskegeeairmen.org  An extimated 16,000 to 19,000 airment including mechanics, parachute riggers and support staff were involved.
• For photos of Tuskegee Airmen americanprofile.com/tuskegee

Militia Records

Besides regular service, Alabama men served in the militia:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Territorial Militia and Civil Service, 1818. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. (Family History Library film 1462787.) This source includes commissions and military appointments for the Alabama Territory.
• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Alabama State Militia, 1820–1865. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. (Family History Library films 1462797–807.) These records give the soldier’s name, company, battalion, and regiment, and include names of witnesses.
• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Alabama State Troops (Militia), 1873–1898. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. (Family History Library films 1462792–96.) The cards are in alphabetical order and may include the person’s date of enlistment, rank, company, regiment, age, and length of service.

Military records are listed in the Place Search of Family History Library Catalog under:

ALABAMA- MILITARY HISTORY

ALABAMA- MILITARY RECORDS

ALABAMA- MILITARY RECORDS- [WAR]

ALABAMA, [COUNTY]- MILITARY RECORDS

ALABAMA, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- MILITARY RECORDS

References

Alabama Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 2001.