Nebraska Military Records

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Many military records are found at the National Archives, the Family History Library, and other federal and state archives. For Nebraska the following sources are also very helpful.

Forts
The following were major military posts within the State of Nebraska. Wikipedia has identified a number of other military camps and forts, many of which were in operation only a short time.

Fort Atkinson -- This was the first fort established by the U.S. west of the Missouri River and was occupied from 1820 to 1827. The Nebraska Historical Society has an archeological study at the site. The remains of soldiers buried at Fort Atkinson were relocated to Fort McPherson National Cemetery in March 1905.

Fort Cottonwood -- The original name of Fort McPherson.

Fort Hartsuff -- This fort was established in 1874 to protect the settlers on the North Fork of the Loup River. It was abandoned in 1881 and today is a state historical park near Burwell, Nebraska. The remains of soldiers buried at Fort Hartsuff were relocated to the Fort McPherson National Cemetery in November of 1881.

Fort Kearny -- Authorized in 1846, this fort was built in 1848 to protect emigrants along the Oregon and Mormon Trails. Is was discontinued as a military post in 1871 and torn down in 1875. A state historical park with interpretive center exists at the site near the city of Kearney (and no, neither of the two spellings are incorrect) and archeological studies of the site have been conducted there. Textual records of this fort, 1848-1871, 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). The remains of soldiers buried at Fort Kearny were relocated to Fort McPherson National Cemetery in 1890.

Fort McPherson -- Established in 1863 as Fort Cottonwood, it was renamed Fort McPherson in 1867. In 1873 a 20 acre tract of the Fort McPherson Military Reservation was set off as a National Cemetery, which remains in use today. The remains of soldiers buried at a number of military posts in the intermountain area were reinterred at Fort McPherson between 1878 and 1947. The fort was abandoned in 1880 and the buildings were sold in 1881. Textual records of this fort, 1865-1880, 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 Mitchell-- Constructed and manned in 1864 as a sod structure on the North Platte River. It served only until 1867 when it was abandoned. The remains of soldiers buried at Fort Mitchell were relocated to Fort McPherson National Cemetery in July 1915.

Fort Niobrara -- This fort was established in 1880, about 4 miles from Valentine, Nebraska, to protect settlers in Cherry County from concerns about possible Sioux uprisings in the Dakota Territory. It was abandoned as an active military post in 1906 and is now part of the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. Textual records of this fort, 1880-1906, 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 Omaha -- Textual records of this fort, 1863-1896, 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 Omaha was originaly named Sherman Barracks then Omaha Barracks and in 1878 changed to Fort Omaha.

Post of Platte Bridge -- Textual records of this fort, 1858-1859, 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 Robinson (Camp) -- Authorized in 1874 as Camp Robinson, it was renamed Fort Robinson in 1878 and remained an active U.S. Army post until 1948. A state historical park with a museum is maintained there today. Fort Robinson was the site of the fatal wounding of Chief Crazy Horse in 1877. Textual records of this fort, 1874-1909, 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).The remains of soldiers buried at Fort Robinson were relocated to Fort McPherson National Cemetery on July 22, 1947.

Camp Sheridan -- Textual records of this fort, 1874-1881, 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 Sidney -- Originally established in 1867 as Sidney Barracks as a temporary camp to protect Union Pacific Railroad workers. It was relocated and renamed Fort Sidney in 1870. The fort closed in 1894. The site is memorialized by a Nebraska Historical Marker. Textual records of this fort, 1869-1894, 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). The remains of soldiers buried at Fort Sidney were relocated to Fort McPherson National Cemetery on August 10, 1922.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)
The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States confirmed the separate existence of the United States and the future Canada. See the Wiki article, Nebraska in the War of 1812, for information concerning military records, histories, links to relevant web sites, etc. for Nebraska.

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

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).

Service Records

 * Nebraska. Secretary of State. Roster of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines of the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the War of the Rebellion Residing in Nebraska, June 1st, 1891. (Lincoln, Nebraska: State Journal Company, 1892). (Free).Google Books . Also at Family History Library and Ancestry ($).

Mexican War (1846-1848)
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). 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:


 * (FamilySearch) Free digital copy. (Learn more.)


 * 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. Digital version available at Internet Archive.


 * Nebraska. Secretary of State. Roster of Veterans of the Mexican, Civil, and Spanish-American Wars Residing in Nebraska, 1915. Lincoln, Nebraska: Secretary of State, [1915]. (Not at Family History Library)


 * Nebraska. Secretary of State. Roster of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines of the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the War of the Rebellion Residing in Nebraska, June 1st, 1891. Lincoln, Nebraska: State Journal Company, 1892. (Family History Library ) (Ancestry)-($) (Google Books)

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

Civil War (1861 to 1865)


See Nebraska in the Civil War for information about Nebraska Civil War records, web sites, etc. with links to articles about the Nebraska 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.

A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:

Nebraska, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers (FamilySearch Historical Records)

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


 * (NARA T288). (FamilySearch) 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. (Learn more.)


 * (FamilySearch) Free digital copy. (Learn more.)

The Nebraska State Historical Society has microfilmed indexes of Spanish-American War service cards and World War I Selective service cards. Several rosters of veterans living in the state have been published. These usually give the veteran's name, rank, military unit, and address. Examples are:


 * Nebraska. Secretary of State. Roster of Veterans of the Mexican, Civil, and Spanish-American Wars Residing in Nebraska, 1915. Lincoln, Nebraska: Secretary of State, [1915]. (Not at Family History Library)
 * Nebraska. Secretary of State. Roster of Soldiers-Sailors and Marines Who Served in the War of the Rebellion, Spanish-American War and World War. Omaha: Waters-Barnhart Printing Company, 1925. (Family History Library .)

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

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. Nebraska World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On Family History Library films beginning with ). Also available at:


 * (FamilySearch) - free

United States World War I Draft Records provides additional information.


 * Nebraska. Secretary of State. Roster of Soldiers-Sailors and Marines Who Served in the War of the Rebellion, Spanish-American War and World War: Waters-Barnhart Printing Company, 1925. (Family History Library .)

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.


 * (FamilySearch) - free
 * (images with partial index) (FamilySearch) - free


 * Also available at:


 * Ancestry ($)
 * Fold3 ($).

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 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 Vietnam War wiki article for information on records and their availability.

Additional Military Records
County clerks have records of discharges, militia lists, military censuses, and rosters of ex-servicemen. Militia lists of all males, ages 18 to 45 and subject to military duty, were taken irregularly from 1903 to 1928.