Arkansas Military Records

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U.S. Military Records

Arkansas

Military Records

United States Military Online Genealogy Records

Online Resources

1917-1969 Arkansas, Military Discharge Records, ca.1917 - ca.1969 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index

1775-1783 United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783 at FamilySearch; images — How to Use this Collection

1798-1914 U.S., Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

1815-1926 United States Old War Pension Index, 1815-1926 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection

1861-1934 U.S., General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection

1866-1938 U.S., National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938 at FamilySeqarch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

1887-1942 U.S., Remarried Widows Index to Pension Applications, 1887-1942 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection

1889-1904 U.S., Index to General Correspondence of the Pension Office, 1889-1904 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection

1907-1933 U.S., Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

Indian Wars, dates vary

1892-1926 U.S., Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection .

War of 1812, 1812-1815

1812-1815 U.S., War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection

Mexican War, 1846-1848

• 1846-1848 U.S., Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
• 1887'1926 U.S., Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926 Index — How to Use this Collection .
  
  

Civil War, 1861-1865

• Confederate Pension Records Index at Arkansas Digital Archives
• Confederate Home Records Index at Arkansas Digital Archives
• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database
• United States Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files, 1861-1934 at FamilySearch; index to images on Fold3 ($) — How to Use this Collection
• Arkansas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• U.S., Confederate Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; index and images, ($).
• Arkansas, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• U.S., Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• U.S., Records of Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch; images — How to Use this Collection
• Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch; index and Images — How to Use this Collection ; also at Ancestry; index and images ($)
• U.S., Confederate Navy and Marine Service Records, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch; images — How to Use this Collection
• U.S. Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch; browsable index — How to Use this Collection
• U.S., Remarried Widows Index to Pension Applications, 1887-1942 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
• Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection also at Ancestry ($)
• Service Records of Confederate Soldiers at MyHeritage - index
• U.S. Southern Claims Commission, Allowed Claims, 1871-1880 at Ancestry ($)
• Arkansas, Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1935 at Ancestry; abstract ($)
• Arkansas, Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

Spanish-American War, 1898

• U.S. Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  
  

World War I, 1917-1918

• Arkansas World War I Discharge Records at Arkansas Digital Archives
• Arkansas, World War I Discharge Records at MyHeritage - index ($)
• U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• 1887-1942 U.S., Remarried Widows Index to Pension Applications, 1887-1942 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
• 1917-1919 United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• 1917-1940 United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection

World War II, 1941-1945

• 1938-1946 U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
• 1940-1945 Arkansas, First Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• 1942 United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• 1948-1959 Arkansas, Second Registration Draft Cards, 1948-1959 at MyHeritage — index ($) also at Findmypast ($)
• 1942-1945 United States World War II Prisoners of War of the Japanese, 1941-1945 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
  
  

Korean War, 1950-1953

• Korean Conflict State-Level Casualty Lists - Arkansas at Archives.gov
  
  

Vietnam War, 1964-1972

• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Arkansas
• Vietnam Conflict State-Level Casualty Lists - Arkansas
  
  

Military records identify millions of young men who served in the military or who were eligible for service. Military records can give birth dates, marriage dates, death dates, spouse and children names, localities of residence throughout the life of the family.

Evidence that an ancestor actually served may be found in family traditions, census records, naturalization records, biographies, cemetery records, and records of veterans’ organizations.

For each war listed below, additional federal sources are listed in United States Military Records. It contains search strategies and information to guide you to the best records for your objective.

Online Resources

General

• Ancestry - pay site
• Research in Arkansas Military Records at Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
• Arkansas Records at Fold3.com

Revolutionary War

• American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) information at Revolutionary War101.com

Civil War

• Arkansas Confederate Pensions—browse in alphabetical order at FamilySearch.

• Confederate and Union Arkansas Service Records—search by name at FamilySearch.

• Arkansas Civil War Regiments, Rosters and Muster rolls - Access Genealogy

Also:

• USGenWeb Pensions Project, Arkansas - Civil War
• Arkansas, Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page
• The American Civil War
• Civilwarinfo
• Civil War Buff, The Civil War in Arkansas

World War I

• MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History - ARK Military Heritage

World War II

• World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from: Arkansas - NARA
• Arkansas World War II Casualties Army and Air Force - Access Genealogy

Forts

Battle of Fort Hindman

• Arkansas Post -- Established by the French in 1686. In 1768 the post was transferred to Spain and the name was changed to Fort San Carlos.
• Fort Hindman--Established by the Confederacy; taken by the Union army January 11, 1863.
• Fort Logan H. Roots--First garrisoned in 1896.
• Little Rock Barracks -- Textual records of this post, 1864-1890, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920. (Family History Library book 973 M23) under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
• Fort Minor-- Civil War Fort
• Fort Pinney--Civil War Fort
• Fort Smith-- Established December 1, 1817.
• Post of Washington -- Textual records of this post, 1867-1869, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920. FHL book 973 M23gp under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).

See also:

• Fort wiki(Arkansas) - lists of United States forts
  

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

Some veterans of the Revolutionary War ventured out into Arkansas.

The 1835 Pension Roll

On June 5, 1834, the U.S. Senate required the Secretary of War to submit a statement showing the names of pensioners who were on the pension rolls or had previously been on the pension rolls. For more information on the 1835 Pension Roll see Revolutionary War Pension Records. The 1835 Pension Roll, which includes Revolutionary War pensioners and heirs of War of 1812 casualties, is available online:

• Report from the Secretary of War... Vol. III (Google Books)
• The Pension Roll of 1835, Vol. III (Ancestry) ($)

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. Arkansas was part of the Missouri Territory during the war. Since it did not became its own territory until 1819, all War of 1812 records for that area were kept by the Missouri Territory.

After the war, veterans started moving to the Missouri and Arkansas Territories because of bounty land.

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

Land Records

• Ayers, Linda. Arkansas. Some Military Land Grants For Soldiers of the War of 1812. (Free). The USGenWeb Archives War of 1812 Project - Pensions, Rosters and Land Grants. Search by name under the county. (Accessed 11 May 2012).
  

• Bounty land in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri was issued to soldiers who served in the War of 1812. Copies of the bounty land warrants are on 15 films at the Family History Library. The names of Arkansas patentees are indexed in "War of 1812, military bounty land warrants, 1815-1858" (NARA M848) FHL films 983163-77 (Worldcat). The records provide the name of the soldier and his rank, unit, date of warrant, and the date the land was located.
  

• Christensen, Katheren, compiler. Arkansas Military Bounty Grants, War of 1812. Hot Springs, Arkansas: Arkansas Ancestors, 1971. (FHL book 976.7 R2c) (Worldcat) - Has a list of 6,600 grantees, arranged by county name; Contains the name of the veteran, date, and warrant number.

Explanation of the Major War of 1812 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).

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). FHL films 0537000–13 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:
  

• United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection.
  

• 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. FHL book 973 M2rwh Digital version available at Internet Archive.
  

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

Civil War (1861-1865)

Online Records

• 1861-1865 United States Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

• 1891-1939 Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

• 1901-1929 Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

• Arkansas Confederate Pensions at FamilySearch; alphabetical browse

• Confederate and Union Arkansas Service Records—search by name at FamilySearch.

• Arkansas Civil War Regiments, Rosters and Muster rolls - Access Genealogy

• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System—Search by name or regiment, then see Wiki regiment pages to determine counties, where other records may exist.

See also:

• USGenWeb Pensions Project, Arkansas - Civil War
• Arkansas, Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page
• The American Civil War
• Civilwarinfo
• Civil War Buff, The Civil War in Arkansas
• Arkansas in the Civil War for regiments, web sites—includes lists of companies in a regiment with links to the counties where the companies started. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.

Elkhorn Tavern in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Civil War Battlefield, 7-8 March 1862

Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:

• Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse by surname)
• Arkansas, Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse unindexed images) Includes Pension Board Minutes and Pension Lists
• Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records
  
• Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records
• Arkansas, Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1935 at Ancestry.com ($)
• Report of the Adjutant General of Arkansas, for the period of the late rebellion, and to November 1, 1866 at Ancestry.com ($)

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

• United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at FamilySearch; index and images. 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. — How to use this collection.

• United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898 at FamilySearch; images. (How to use this collection.)

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.

• Arkansas WWI Centennial
• Guide to World War I Resources at the Arkansas State Archives

• United States, World War One Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
• United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
• United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection

United States. Selective Service System. Arkansas, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1987-1988. FHL film with 1522740 (first of 71 films). These cards have been digitized and are searchable online.

United States World War I Draft Records provides additional information.

• Camp Pike, Arkansas, 7.18.1917-1937 Training Camp

World War II (1941-1945)

Draft Registrations

• Arkansas, First Registration Draft Registration, 1940-1945

Fourth Registration

• On April 27, 1942, the Selective Service conducted the fourth of six draft registrations. 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.

• United States Selective Service System. Arkansas Selective Service System Registration Cards [World War II]: Fourth Registration. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2001-2002). FHL film 2139687 (first of 75 films)

• 1942 United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection also see: Ancestry ($); and Fold3 ($).

FamilySearch Catalog

• William E. Maxwell. Arkansas and World War II, 1939-1992, a bibliography. Conway, Arkansas, University of Central Ark. Archivesd and Special Collections, 1992. FHL 976.7 M23m
• 5th Armored Division,Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: A & N Pictorial Pub., 1951?
• Joseph T. Robinson. Thirty-fifth Division, Camp Robinson, Arkansas, 1941. S.L.: s.n., 1941 (Little Rock: Arkansas Print & Lithographing Co.
• Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon. The Williwaw War: The Arkansas National Guard in the Aleutians in World War II. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press, 1992. FHL 976.7 M2g
• Navy Department. Arkansas. State summary of war casualties. Washington, D.C. : Government Printing Office, 1946.

Relocation Records

• 1942-1946 United States, War Relocation Authority centers, final accountability rosters, 1942-1946 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

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.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.