Military Records at the Library and Archives
We have collections of military records for the following subject areas. Click on a link below to read more information about the subject. View Ordering Info here.
World War I : 1914 - 1918
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
Abstract Listing Tennesseans who Served
A microfilmed abstract listing Tennesseans who served in this war is available. It is arranged by county, so the county of residence must be known in order to conduct a search. The abstract provides the name, residence, rank, date and place of enlistment, unit, and date, place of discharge and remarks. Check the Index to Tennessee World War I Veterans to see if there is a listing for your individual. Read more about World War I Veterans
WWI: Draft Registration Forms
Draft registration forms filled out by Tennessee men at the time of World War I are available. The forms list the following information: name, address, date of birth, age, race, citizenship, present occupation, employer's name, place of employment, and the name & address of the nearest relative. These files can be searched and a copy mailed. Provide the name and county of residence when requesting a search.
WWI: Questionnaires
The World War I questionnaire project was part of an effort to gather and preserve the history of Tennessee's involvement in what was then known as the Great War. The questionnaires give information on military service, as well as the home life of the soldier. We can copy an individual soldier's questionnaire. Check the Index to Tennessee World War I Questionnaires on our web site to see if there is a listing for your individual. Read more about WWI Questionnaires.
Gold Star Records
The Gold Star records provide personal and service-related information about World War I soldiers who died in service. We can copy an individual soldier's Gold Star record. Check the Index to Tennessee Gold Star Records on our web site to see if there is a listing for your individual. Read more about Gold Star Records.
Spanish American War : 1898
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
Spanish American War: A typed abstract listing Tennesseans who served
A typed abstract listing Tennesseans who served in this war is available. The abstract provides name, residence, rank, date and place of enlistment, unit, and date, place of discharge and remarks. We can photocopy the entries pertaining to a surname. Check the Index to Service Abstracts of Soldiers in Tennessee Volunteer Units in the Spanish American War on our web site to see if there is a listing for your individual. Read more about the Spanish American War.
Civil War : 1861 - 1865
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
Civil War: Unit History
The Library and Archives has published sources which provide brief histories of each unit from Tennessee, listing officers, marches and battles, etc. If you can identify the unit, we can photocopy the unit history. Please see the Bibliography of Tennessee Civil War Unit Histories at the Tennessee State Library and Archives on our web site.
Civil War: Compiled Service Records
Service records for Confederate and Union soldiers are held by the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. The Library and Archives has purchased microfilmed copies of these records.
Patrons may also order copies of the compiled service records through the National Archives and Records Administration. The National Archives web site has information about ordering military records : Access to Military Service and Pension Records and Genealogy Research into Military Records.
Civil War: Confederate Soldier's/Widow's Pension Application
The Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications contain a great deal of information about the soldier's life before, during, and after the war. The Library and Archives has copies of the applications for Confederate soldiers and widows who applied for pensions in Tennessee. Check the Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications on our web site to see if there is a listing for your individual. Read more about this.
PLEASE NOTE that the National Archives and Records Administration does not have copies of the Tennessee Confederate pension applications.
Civil War: Index of Tennesseans
We have a published list of Tennesseans who served in Confederate and Union units from Tennessee, in separate lists. The name, rank, and unit of the soldier is given. Visit the Ask Us a Question! web page to send us an e-mail with the name of the individual, and we will check to see if there is a listing in the index. We can photocopy the entries for all the soldiers of a surname. The Library and Archives will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.
Civil War: Tennessee Soldier's Questionnaire (mostly confederate)
The effort to record Civil War veterans' experiences, both during the conflict, as well as before and after it, started in 1914. A questionnaire was developed and sent to all known living Tennessee Civil War veterans, asking them to return the questionnaires to Nashville. The responses are rich in detail about pre- and post-war life, as well as military experiences. They include personal and family information; opinions about class and race distinctions; and details of agricultural, business and educational opportunities for the young in nineteenth century Tennessee. Check the Index to Tennessee Civil War Veterans' Questionnaires on our web site to see if there is a listing for your individual.
Civil War: Confederate Soldiers' Home Applications & Ledgers
The Tennessee Confederate Soldiers' Home Applications contain information about the soldier's war experiences, and also information about his economic and family situation at the time of application. Check the Index to Tennessee Confederate Soldiers' Home: Applications and Ledgers on our web site to see if there is a listing for your individual. If there is an application file and an entry in a ledger for one soldier, the Library and Archives will copy both records for one fee. Read more about Civil War Confederate Soldiers' Home Applications & Ledgers.
Mexican War : 1846 - 1848
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
Mexican War: Card File Listing Tennesseans who served
We have a card file listing Tennesseans who served in each of these actions. The cards generally provide name, rank, date and place of enlistment, commanding officer, and date and place of discharge. We can copy the card(s) for an individual soldier from these files.
Cherokee Removal : 1836
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
Cherokee Removal: Card File Listing Tennesseans who served
We have a card file listing Tennesseans who served in each of these actions. The cards generally provide name, rank, date and place of enlistment, commanding officer, and date and place of discharge. We can copy the card(s) for an individual soldier from these files.
Seminole War : 1818 & 1836
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
Seminole War: Card file listing Tennesseans who served
We have a card file listing Tennesseans who served in each of these actions. The cards generally provide name, rank, date and place of enlistment, commanding officer, and date and place of discharge. We can copy the card(s) for an individual soldier from these files.
War of 1812 : 1812 - 1815
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
For copies of original service records, muster rolls, and pension records of War of 1812 soldiers, contact the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. The National Archives web site has information about ordering military records : Access to Military Service and Pension Records and Genealogy Research into Military Records.
War of 1812: Officers and enlisted men
We can check a book which lists each Tennessee soldier's name, rank, regimental commander, company commander, and unit. Visit the Ask Us a Question! web page to send us an e-mail with the name of the individual, and we will check to see if there is a listing in the index. The Library and Archives will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.
War of 1812: Pensions
We have a published list of War of 1812 pensioners, which lists only the pensioner's name and very brief personal information. Contact the Library and Archives with the name of the individual, and we will check to see if there is a listing in the index. The Library and Archives will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.
Revolutionary War : 1776 - 1783
World War I | Spanish American| Civil | Mexican | Cherokee | Seminole | War of 1812 | Revolutionary
For copies of original service and pension records of Revolutionary War soldiers, contact the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. The National Archives web site has information about ordering military records : Access to Military Service and Pension Records and Genealogy Research into Military Records.
Revolutionary War: List of Revolutionary War Pensioners
Tennessee did not have any designated units during the Revolutionary War, as it was not a state at that time. We recommend that you contact the state from which your Revolutionary War ancestor came to inquire about available rosters and records. We have a published list of Revolutionary War pensioners, with detailed information about their pension applications, from which we can copy entries. Visit the Ask Us a Question! web page to send us an e-mail with the name of the individual, and we will check to see if there is a listing in the index. The Library and Archives will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.