1847 Soldier info

[Msmartin]

Hello from New Orleans

The records of specific information on Mexican war soldiers is not very informative

I was looking for help to find information on a Louisiana Volunteer Second Lieutenant William Mitchell who served in the Mexican War.

He was in the St Helena Regiment and then later served in the Civil War. All I see is the Record of service card name only and rank

Not able to find much on him I know this is not a Genealogist site or a Mexican war site but I am at a road block

 

[redbob]

Welcome to the group from middle Alabama and hopefully there is someone here that can assist you in your search.

 

[bdtex]

I was looking for help to find information on a Louisiana Volunteer Second Lieutenant William Mitchell who served in the Mexican War.

He was in the St Helena Regiment and then later served in the Civil War. All I see is the Record of service card name only and rank

Not able to find much on him I know this is not a Genealogist site or a Mexican war site but I am at a road block

There are a number of "William Mitchell"s in fold3 records from Louisiana regiments in the Civil War.

 

[RedRover]

I reckon this is him:

If there are no compiled service records for the men of this organization on microfilm (giving date of muster-into, and muster out, discharge, or death), then the original muster in and muster out rolls at the National Archives would have to be consulted about this officers' specific services rendered. These would really just give the exact dates of service, etc.

 

[lupaglupa]

Welcome from the Researching Civil War Records and Ancestry forum. I see a general index card for William Mitchell, 2nd Mounted Battalion, Louisiana Volunteers, Company C. He entered service as a sergeant and exited as a 2nd Lieutenant. I also see a number of records for pensions granted to men named William Mitchell. Unfortunately the pension cards from the Mexican War don't have unit information on them. Have you looked to see if he (or his widow) applied for a pension? Those applications often have a lot of information on them

 

[Woods-walker]

Hello from New Orleans

The records of specific information on Mexican war soldiers is not very informative

I was looking for help to find information on a Louisiana Volunteer Second Lieutenant William Mitchell who served in the Mexican War.

He was in the St Helena Regiment and then later served in the Civil War. All I see is the Record of service card name only and rank

Not able to find much on him I know this is not a Genealogist site or a Mexican war site but I am at a road block

Welcome from Soldiers who fought on horseback- cavalry forum. I think you will find a great amount of informative folks here that will help with your project

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Welcome to the forum @Msmartin.

 

[Msmartin]

I reckon this is him:

View attachment 491511

View attachment 491513

View attachment 491512

If there are no compiled service records for the men of this organization on microfilm (giving date of muster-into, and muster out, discharge, or death), then the original muster in and muster out rolls at the National Archives would have to be consulted about this officers' specific services rendered. These would really just give the exact dates of service, etc.

Thank you ! I have some of this information but not this specific piece. Amazing you could sign up to serve with such little information , Next of kin or anything
Thank you

 

[Msmartin]

Welcome from the Researching Civil War Records and Ancestry forum. I see a general index card for William Mitchell, 2nd Mounted Battalion, Louisiana Volunteers, Company C. He entered service as a sergeant and exited as a 2nd Lieutenant. I also see a number of records for pensions granted to men named William Mitchell. Unfortunately the pension cards from the Mexican War don't have unit information on them. Have you looked to see if he (or his widow) applied for a pension? Those applications often have a lot of information on them

I have not, my lack of personal information on him has prevented any furtherance of my research

 

[Msmartin]

Welcome to the group from middle Alabama and hopefully there is someone here that can assist you in your search.

Thank you !

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

The National Park Service has a website for researching soldiers who served in the Mexican War. It provides only basic information and confirms that a 2nd Lieutenant William Mitchell served with the Louisiana Mounted Volunteers. Here is the link.

US Mexican War Search Detail - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[Msmartin]

The National Park Service has a website for researching soldiers who served in the Mexican War. It provides only basic information and confirms that a 2nd Lieutenant William Mitchell served with the Louisiana Mounted Volunteers. Here is the link.

US Mexican War Search Detail - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

Thank you ,Sir

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

@Msmartin this is a research Guide for Descendants of Mexican War Veterans.

Descendants of Mexican War Veterans

The DMWV is a non-profit, non-political, national lineage society chartered by the State of Texas and recognized by the U. S. government as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Its purposes are historical, genealogical, educational and charitable in nature.

www.dmwv.org

 

[Stryker65]

This is a list of all William Mitchells in Louisiana service. Hopefully, one or two match the information you have. Most likely, you can eliminate the five and the bottom six, if you are sure that he does not have a middle initial or middle name, leaving you with:

 

[RedRover]

Thank you ! I have some of this information but not this specific piece. Amazing you could sign up to serve with such little information , Next of kin or anything
Thank you

Indeed.

Only on enlisting in the US regular army was it customary to record personal information, etc. The compiled enlistment register gives a physical description, place of nativity, and place of enlistment, etc. etc.

Volunteer troops in the US army service were customarily raised by companies, in a given city, town, or county. The muster-in and out rolls consequently given very little information besides official notice, by name, of their entering US service, mileage pay to reach their point of rendezvous for muster, etc. Muster out rolls show any pay still due outstanding, or any charges against same for any reason (sutler bills, etc.). Where mounted men provided their own horse and horse equipment, which was standard, there was an estimate recorded of the value of same, in case of loss in actual service...

From the General Regulations of the Army of the United States, 1847.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Nice picture of a volunteer. It depicts a member of Alexander Doniphan's 1st Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers as they appeared after capturing Santa Fe in New Mexico. It was drawn by a participant, whose name I've forgotten, but it's in a book that I need a step stool to reach and I'll get in trouble doing so if my wife (bless her) is not around to make sure I don't fall. Getting old's a bummer!

 

[Nathan Stuart]

This is a list of all William Mitchells in Louisiana service. Hopefully, one or two match the information you have. Most likely, you can eliminate the five and the bottom six, if you are sure that he does not have a middle initial or middle name, leaving you with:

If he did twelve months mounted service in the Mexican War, entering as a sergeant and exiting as a 2nd. Lt, then it seems reasonable to expect he might have started (or ascended) in the Civil War to a rank higher than private (and possibly served again in a mounted unit).

But all the relevant names listed show only privates.

 

[Msmartin]

View attachment 491519
This is a list of all William Mitchells in Louisiana service. Hopefully, one or two match the information you have. Most likely, you can eliminate the five and the bottom six, if you are sure that he does not have a middle initial or middle name, leaving you with:
View attachment 491520

Thank you! I concur that I dont understand how he could serve as a second Lieutenant in 1847 and a Private in 1861

:Looks like the service in ponchatoula could be him

 

[Msmartin]

If he did twelve months mounted service in the Mexican War, entering as a sergeant and exiting as a 2nd. Lt, then it seems reasonable to expect he might have started (or ascended) in the Civil War to a rank higher than private (and possibly served again in a mounted unit).

But all the relevant names listed show only privates.

yes The Ponchatoula service looks relevant but a pvt for one month

 

[Nathan Stuart]

yes The Ponchatoula service looks relevant but a pvt for one month

If that's the case, then a further question could be raised as to 'why only one month of service?' More specifically, if he did only one month of service, what were the circumstances of his departure (illness perhaps?) after such a short period?