Resources for Family & Community History

Military Records

WWI Soldier
Edward L. Bowles and his mother, Julia Johnson Bowles, c. 1917; Westphalia, Missouri

The Archives holds many military records of Missourians who served in domestic and foreign wars between 1812 and World War I. These records primarily consist of individual service cards. In some cases, other information is available, such as payrolls, muster and descriptive rolls, reports, orders, and reparation claims. This collection contains military records exclusively. More information on the wars listed below can be found in other Archives collections.

Search the Soldiers Database: War of 1812 - World War I

Records are available for the following wars:

WAR OF 1812: Index file reflecting period of service, place of muster-in and release, county of residence, and money received

BLACK HAWK WAR, 1832: Service cards with rank, unit, and terms of service

HEATHERLY WAR, 1836: Index with person's name and county

SEMINOLE WAR, 1837: Service cards with rank, unit, and terms of service

OSAGE WAR, 1837: Index with unit and dates entering and leaving service

MORMON WAR, 1838: Alphabetical card file listing the period of service and organization

IOWA OR HONEY WAR OF 1839: Alphabetical file showing the period of service and organization

MEXICAN WAR, 1846: Index and service cards with date and place of enlistment and release

CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865: Indexes for both Confederate and Union armies; service cards for Union and some Confederate; descriptive rolls for some Union artillery, cavalry and infantry units. Confederate applications for pensions and admittance to the Confederate Home are also available.

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, 1898: Alphabetical index available by regiment for those who were members of the Missouri National Guard and entered with their regiment

MISSOURI MILITIA, 1865-1900: County enrollment lists with descriptive information (1865-1866); record with name and county for 1867-1900

WORLD WAR I: Alphabetical list of service cards for Missouri men in the Army and Navy, 1917-1918. There are also claims records for civilian service to the military, 1917-1923.

WORLD WAR II: Reports of Separation (DD 214) for all soldiers who discharged with a Missouri address.