This packet of records was known as a Compiled Service Record, and it contained information including rank, military unit, date of admission into service, and discharge, or death. It also may contain other information, such as age, place of birth, and place of residence on enlistment.

Indices to Compiled Military Service Records

In the U.S., the indexed Compiled Military Service Records to many wars are available at the National Archives. They include the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, various Indian wars, and the Civil War. Most of the indices have been microfilmed. If you do find your ancestor's Compiled Service Record, it can mean that you gain access to a lot of other information!

For example, if you learn that your ancestor served in the Revolutionary War, the pension file indices will

As you can see, if you're lucky enough to find your ancestors' pension files, you'll gain an accurate picture of what happened to them during their years of service, so these are definitely files worth seeking.

But don't stop there - go ahead and try to access the complete pension files. Why? Because when war veterans and their widows applied for pensions after various wars, including the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, they had to prove the births, marriages and deaths of their immediate family so they could receive the funds. Often, the only proof they had of these events were pages from family Bibles. So the pages were ripped out and submitted. These pages will still be in the files! Talk about uncovering a piece of your family's history!
About the Author

Chris Simeral is the creator of the 7 Day Family Tree Genealogy Research Toolkit. For more information on <a href="http://www.7dayfamilytree.com/">last name origins, researching your family's past, or a free genealogy mini-course, visit <a href="http://www.7dayfamilytree.com/">www.7DayFamilyTree.com.