Wyoming Military Records

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

Many of the federal military records are found at the National Archives, the Family History Library, and other federal and state archives. For Wyoming the following sources are also very helpful.

Forts
Fort Bridger -- Fort Bridger, located on Black's Fork, was established in 1842 by Jim Bridger. It was an important supply post for travelers on the Oregon Trail, the California Trail and the Mormon Trail. It's importance was basically terminated with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. It has been partially restored and preserved as an historic site.

Fort Caspar -- In use as a small military post only from 1861 to 1867, the present site is a reconstructed fort, built in 1936, based on drawings done in 1863 by Lt. Caspar Collins, who was stationed at the original fort.

Fort Clay -- This fort was in use only during 1855 and 1856 and was located at the site of the present day Evansville, Wyoming, near Casper.

Fort Connor -- The original name of Fort Reno, it bore the name for only a few months in 1865.

Fort D.A. Russell (now F.E.Warren Air Force Base)

Fort Fetterman-- Built in1867, Fort Fetterman was the last outpost on the Bozeman Trail. It was located 7 miles from Douglas, Wyoming. It played an important part in the Sioux uprising of 1876 and continued in service until 1886, when the railroad's completion to Douglas rendered it basically obsolete. The fort was partially restored in 1990 and now serves as a historic site.

Fort H.W. Halleck -- While this fort was active only during the years of 1862-1866, it was very busy. It was located on the north side of Elk Mountain, on a present-day ranch in Carbon County. Only one building remains, along with a marker identifying the location of the fort's cemetery.

Fort Phil Kearny

Fort Laramie 1834 (near the Oregon, Mormon and Pony Express trails)

Fort McKinerey

Fort Manuel

Fort Peck Dam

Fort Reno

Fort Sanders -- established in 1866 to protect the Overland Trail. Its importance was diminished in 1868 with the completion of Dort D.A. Russell. The buildings were sold in 1882. All that remains is a marker just south of Laramie.

Fort Steele

Fort Supply -- A Mormon outpost used to resupply emigrants coming to the Salt Lake Valley during the years of 1853-1857, it was located about ten miles south of Fort Bridger. Only a marked identifies the site today. It was burnied by the Mormons in 1857 in advance of Johnston's Army, coming to Utah during the "Mormon War."

Fort Union

Fort Yellowstone

Civil War (1861-1865)
The Family History Library and the National Archives have an index to some soldiers from Nebraska Territory (FHL films 821905-6). A special census was taken in 1890 of Union veterans of the Civil War (FHL film 338276). An index to the returns for Wyoming has been published (FHL book 978.7 X22j 1890).

Indian Wars
Enlistment registers are available for soldiers who served in the regular army from 1798 to 1914. Many of these soldiers served in the western states, including Wyoming, during the Indian wars. The enlistment registers provide the soldiers' rank, unit, commanders, physical description, occupation, and birthplace. The records are arranged by year and by the first letter of the surname (FHL films 350307—).

An index is available for soldiers who applied for pensions between 1892-1926, as a result of service in the Indian Wars which were fought between 1817 and 1898 (FHL films 821610-21). The pension records are only available at the National Archives.

Historical accounts of the forts and posts in Wyoming are in Robert A. Murray, Military Posts of Wyoming (Ft. Collins, Colorado: Old Army Press, 1974; FHL book 978.7 H2m).

Spanish-American War (1898)
A published roster of soldiers is in volume one of Ichabod S. Bartlett, Editor, History of Wyoming, Three Volumes. (Chicago, Illinois: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1918; FHL book 978.7 H2b; film 1000826 items 2-4).

World War I (1917-1918)
A published roster of Wyoming soldiers is in volume three of W. M. Haulsee, et al., Soldiers of the Great War, Three Volumes. (Washington, D.C.: Soldiers Record Publishing Association, 1920; FHL book 973 M23s; fiche 6051244). The Wyoming State Archives has files for men killed during the war.

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 Wyoming, see:

United States. Selective Service System. Wyoming, 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 1993029).

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.)

Additional Military Records
Modern discharge records are kept by each county. The Family History Library has copies of these records from a few counties. The records include the individual's date and place of birth, induction and discharge dates, and address after discharge.

The Wyoming State Archives has records of the Wyoming National Guard.

Web Sites
http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/

http://www.archives.gov