1847 Soldier info

Msmartin

Cadet
Joined
Dec 1, 2023
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
 
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.
 
I reckon this is him:

1701716972571.png


1701717333066.png


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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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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.

1701730915166.png

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1701730994227.png

1701731211048.png
 
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!
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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?
 

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