State database lists soldiers dating to 1812

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More than 576,000 Missourians who served in the military from the territorial era through World War I are now listed in an Internet-accessible database maintained by the secretary of state's office.

The state database is an expansion of an online listing of World War I service members, which has received more than 234,000 Internet requests since it debuted about two years ago.

The new version, which was online in time for Veterans Day, includes information from 12 wars and military engagements in which Missouri soldiers took part, beginning with the War of 1812.

Included are some relatively obscure conflicts, such as the "Honey War" of 1839. A border dispute between Missouri and the territory of Iowa intensified after a Missouri man cut down three trees that housed honey-producing bees in an area claimed by both sides. Militias were called out but never fought, and a judicial settlement finally established a boundary in 1851.

The bulk of the information -- including excerpts from about 380,000 individual military service cards -- relates to the Civil War, when Missouri was fractured between Union and Confederate allegiances.

The database allows online searchers to find the service cards of particular military members or to get a listing of everyone who served in a particular fighting unit or during a military conflict. A brief summary of each military conflict also appears on the Web site.

"What is most compelling is that the database captures bits of untold military history and grants a human face to turbulent times," Secretary of State Matt Blunt said in a statement. "The legacy our military ancestors left behind is deserving of our tribute."

Blunt graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in history and remains in the Navy Reserves. He was elected governor last week.

The Missouri State Archives, which is a part of the secretary of state's office, is the repository for all state records of permanent and historic value. The military service cards originally were maintained by the Missouri adjutant general's office.

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