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 about these records. For Mississippi, the following sources are also very helpful.

Colonial Wars

Several sets of records of soldiers who served under French, Spanish, and English governments are available on microfilm at the Family History Library. They are in various languages and cover the years 1612 to 1794.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

The service records of soldiers who served in Mississippi units are on film, by regiment, at the Family History Library (FHL film 882819-40). The pension records are available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. An index to the pensions is at the Family History Library and the National Archives. The original service records are at the National Archives.

Mexican War (1846-1848)

The service records, listed alphabetically by unit, are on film at the Family History Library (FHL film 1205446-54). The original service and pension records are available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Civil War (1861-1865)

Mississippi provided soldiers to both the Union and Confederate armies. Indexes to the service records for both armies are available at the Family History Library.

Union service records are at the National Archives and on film at the Family History Library (FHL film 1292659-62). Union pension records are only at the National Archives. The Family History Library has the index to the pension records.

A special census was taken in 1890 of Union veterans of the Civil War. The returns are on film at the Family History Library (FHL film 338185). An index to the Mississippi returns has been published and is available at the Family History Library.

Confederate pension and service records are at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Mississippi pension records for Confederate veterans are arranged alphabetically on film at the Family History Library.

Regimental sketches and rosters of Confederate troops are in John C. Rietti, Military Annals of Mississippi. 1895. Reprint, Spartanburg, S.C.: Reprint Company Publishers, 1976. (FHL book 976.2 M2r; film 1036087 item 8.)

World War I (1917-1918)

An index to World War I army veterans, 1917 to 1918, is available at the Family History Library (FHL film 904445-46). The original index is at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

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 Mississippi, see:

United States. Selective Service System. Mississippi, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On FHL films beginning with 1682699—.)

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, D.C.: National Archives. (FHL film 1498803.)

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