Louisiana Military Records

The U.S. Military Records Research Outline (34118) provides more information on federal military records and search strategies. Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more information on federal records. For Louisiana the following are among the many sources at the Family History Library:

Colonial Wars (1787-1794)

Spanish military records are on FHL film 1156353. Published sources include a list of men serving in the militia, found in Winston DeVille, Louisiana Troops, 1720-1770 (Fort Worth: American Reference Publishers, 1965; FHL book 976.3 M2dv).

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

An alphabetical list of soldiers, their rank, and their company is in Marion J. Pierson, Louisiana Soldiers in the War of 1812 (N.p.: Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society, 1963; FHL book 976.3 M23p).

Troop rosters are in Powell A. Casey, Louisiana in the War of 1812 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Casey, 1963; FHL book 976.3 M2c).

An index to compiled service records of Louisiana soldiers who served in the War of 1812 is on FHL films 880010-12. The service records and pension files are at the National Archives.

Indian Wars

Indexes to compiled service records of Louisiana soldiers in the Florida War of 1836 and the War of 1837 to 1838 are on FHL film 880843.

Mexican War (1846-1848)

An index to compiled service records is on FHL films 1205336-57. The service records have not been filmed and are available at the National Archives.

Civil War (1861-1865)

Louisiana soldiers served in both the Union and the Confederate armies. Indexes to the service records and the compiled Confederate service records are at the Family History Library. The service records for both armies are at the National Archives.

Pension records for Confederate veterans are at the Division of Archives, Records Management, and History. Union army pensions are available at the National Archives.

In 1911 a special census was taken of Confederate veterans or their widows. The census is arranged alphabetically by parish and is on FHL film 483489 and 1704157 item 14. The original census and similar records are at the New Orleans Public Library.

The following books also list names of veterans:

Booth, Andrew B. Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands. 3 vols. New Orleans, Louisiana: N.p., 1920. (FHL films 1305383 item 10, 1305383-85.)

Bartlett, Napier. Military Record of Louisiana: Including Biographical and Historical Papers Relating to the Military Organizations of the State. 1875. Reprint. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1964. (976.3 M2b.)

Spanish-American War (1898)

An index to service records of Louisiana soldiers in the War with Spain is on FHL film 880013. The service records are at the National Archives.

World War I (1917-1918)

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 Louisiana, see:

United States Selective Service System, Louisiana. 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 1653576.)

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.)

Additional Records:

The Adjutant General's Office (Building 53, Jackson Barracks Military Library, New Orleans, LA 70146-0330, Telephone: 504-278-8241) has records of state military units from the late 1700s to the present and twentieth century service files, but not federal records.

Websites:

http://www.archives.gov/

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/ARCHIVES/02-99/military.HTM