New Mexico, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of Union service records of soldiers who served in organizations from New Mexico, for the years 1861-1865. The records include abstracts of entries relating to the soldier as found in the following original records:


 * Muster rolls
 * Returns
 * Rosters
 * Payrolls
 * Appointment books
 * Hospital registers
 * Union prison registers and rolls
 * Parole rolls
 * Inspection reports

For each military unit the service records are arranged alphabetically by the soldier's surname. The Military Unit field may also display the surname range (A-G) as found on the microfilm. This collection is a part of RG 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s - 1917, and is National Archive Microfilm Publication M427. Index courtesy of fold3 (Previously known as Footnote.com).

Service records were kept for each soldier. Those records, or their abstracts, were compiled into individual files. Each envelope/jacket contains information and cross references to original records relating to the soldier.

This index was created to provide quick access to compiled service records. The information in this index is quite reliable. However, keep in mind that even though this index is very accurate it still may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings or misinterpretations.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records are in individual files which usually include the following:


 * A jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with name, rank, and unit
 * A card (or cards) with abstracts of entries from original muster rolls, returns, rosters, payrolls, appointment books, hospital registers, parole rolls, and inspection reports
 * The originals of any papers relating to that particular soldier

The index to these records contains the following:


 * Jacket name
 * Soldier’s full name
 * Name of company and regiment
 * Occupation
 * Age
 * Place of birth
 * Physical description
 * Year(s) of service
 * Type of records in file
 * NARA publication number, title, and roll number

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * The company or unit or years of service

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

What Do I Do Next?
If these are indexes, the original records may contain additional information than was not indexed, or the information might have been indexed incorrectly. You may want to search for the original record at the National Archives.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find county or New Mexico Vital Records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records
 * Search for death or burial information in New Mexico Cemeteries and New Mexico Newspapers
 * Use the information found in the record to find New Mexico Land and Property records
 * Use the information found in the record to find New Mexico Probate Records
 * Use the information found in the record to find New Mexico Emigration and Immigration records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in the New Mexico Census records. Witnesses were usually family members
 * New Mexico Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality Arizona Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well
 * Check the info box above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of New Mexico.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * Beginning United States Civil War Research
 * Locating a Union Civil War Soldier (1861-1865)
 * New Mexico Guided Research
 * New Mexico Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step New Mexico Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Walter Earl Pittman. New Mexico and the Civil War. Charleston, South Carolina : History Press, ©2011 FS Library 978.9 M2p
 * Jack D. Rittenhouse, comp. New Mexico Civil War bibliography, 1861-1865 : an annotated checklist of books & pamphlets Houston, Texas : Stagecoach Press, 1960 FS Library 978.9 M23r
 * Compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the territory of New Mexico
 * Headquarters records of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, 1862-1869, NARA pub M1512

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.