Nebraska Military Records

U.S. Military Records provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.

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 the 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 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.

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.

Civil War (1861 to 1865)
Indexes to service and pension records for about 3,000 soldiers are at the Family History Library. The service and pension records have not been filmed and are only at the National Archives. Published rosters usually give the soldier's name, rank, regiment, age, and residence. These include:


 * Dudley, Edgar S. Roster of Nebraska Volunteers from 1861 to 1869. Hasting, Nebraska: Wigton &amp; Evans, 1888. (FHL film 370881.)
 * Roster of Nebraska Soldiers. Omaha, Nebraska: Klopp, Bartlett &amp; Company, 1888. (FHL film 164034.)

Burial records of Civil War veterans of the Department of Nebraska, Grand Army of the Republic, are also available in alphabetical order (FHL films 833155-156). The records provide the veteran's military unit, date and place of death, cemetery, and sometimes date and place of birth.

World War I (1917 to 1918)
World War I draft registration cards for men age 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 Nebraska, see:


 * 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 FHL films beginning with 1684016.)

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.

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. There is an alphabetical list of cities that are on the map. For a copy of this map see:


 * United States. Selective Service System. List of World War One Draft Board Maps. Washington, DC: National Archives. (FHL film 1498803.)

Veterans Lists
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 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. (FHL book 978.2 M2n; film 844966 item 4; fiche 6010064.)
 * 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. (FHL fiche 6075974.)

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