WELCOME

Prior to 1835 the new Army's problems seemed endless. There was no credit with which to purchase uniforms and it lacked provisions and supplies; training and discipline were utterly inadequate due to the lack of N.C.O.s; recruitment was very slow; and the relations between militiamen, volunteers and regulars was difficult. With the evolution of professional Drill Sergeants, our young army started to take shape, and enlistments actually began to out number desertions. Recruitment Adjutants accurately maintained each soldier's Enlistment Register. Thousands of these Federally Trained Regular Soldiers would later use their skills and expertise once again by serving honorably in local volunteer units for the Confederate or Union armies during the upcoming Great Rebellion.

Enlistment Records

The Regular U.S. Army's "Descriptive & Historical Enlistment Registers (1835-1846)," contain very important historical information that is of great genealogical value to family historians worldwide. These extremely precious records have been microfilmed [NARA M233 Series, Rolls-20, 21 & 22] and include approximately 51,000 individual enlistments that were recorded during the Seminole Wars, the Patriots' War and the Mexican War at numerous forts, barracks, and camps. To the right, is a good example of the data that can be discovered about a pre-Civil War soldier. "Was your ancestor one of these men?" >> Submit a Search Request <<

BROOKS, Loomis Age 34 Eyes grey Hair sandy Complexion florid Height 5' 7.5" Birth Place Ira, Vermont Occupation Carpenter Date Oct. 8, 1846 Where The Buffalo Barracks By Lieut. Hays Regiment 2nd Infantry Company C & D Desertions June 16, 1849 Apprehensions October 4, 1850 Discharge Date January 26, 1853 Cause Expiration of Service Remarks and Rank At Benicia Barracks, CA - PRIVATE

Testimonial

"Our ancestor, William Crowley, suddenly became a real person to us when we read his description at enlistment on June 23, 1840 --"age 34, hazle eyes, brown hair, light complexion, height 5 ft.10 1/4 in."--as recorded in the Descriptive and Historical Register. No one in the family had any inkling that this Englishman, who died in Canada in 1847, had ever served in the US Army until these details were made available to us. These clues opened the door to more information we later discovered about his two-hitch army career that ended with his discharge at Buffalo Barracks in 1845."

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