Compiled by Larry Van Horn, U.S. Navy Retired
If you do not know if your ancestor served in the military, the year of birth may indicate the possibility. Most people who were in the military were between 18 and 30 years of age. Use the war chronology below to see if your ancestor could have served during wartime.
Our chronology below is a listing of known military campaigns, conflicts, expeditions and wars that colonial Americans, U.S. military and state militia forces have been involved in.
Note: An asterisk next to the name of a conflict indicates a major war during that period. Websites may freely link to this page without permission. This list may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the author. Copyright © 2002-2015, Family Roots and Branches.
Colonial Period
| War/Conflict | Dates | Area Involved in Confrontation/Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| French-Spanish Colonial Attacks | 1565-1567 | Area that is now northeastern Florida - battle between the French colonial settlement on the St. Johns River and the Spanish settlement at St. Augustine. |
| Anglo (Great Britain)-French War | 1613-1629 | Canada |
| Jamestown Conflicts | 1622-1644 | Jamestown, Colonial Virginia - Indian attacks and counter attacks by Jamestown colonists. |
| Anglo (Great Britain)-French War | 1629 | St. Lawrence River Region |
| Pequot Indian War | 1636-1638 | Connecticut - this war involved the Pequot Indians and the settlers of the Pilgrim and the Massachusetts Bay Colonies. |
| First Anglo (Great Britain)-Dutch War | 1640-1645 | New Netherlands |
| Iroquois Indian War | 1642-1653 | Colonial New England and Acadia |
| Battle of the Severn | 25 Mar 1655 | Colonial Maryland - this was the final battle of the Civil War. No not the American Civil War, but the English Civil War. This battle was on and around the banks of the River Severn in what is now the state of Maryland. It was small as battles go with only 400 or so men involved with 19 killed during battle and 4 executed afterwards. |
| Second Anglo (Great Britain)-Dutch War | 1664 | New Netherlands - capture of a Dutch fort at what is now New Castle, Delaware |
| Third Anglo (Great Britain)-Dutch War | 1673 | New Netherlands |
| King Philip's War | 1675-1676 | Massachusetts and Rhode Island - conflict by New England colonists with the Wampanoag Indians |
| Bacon's Rebellion | 1676 | Colonial Virginia - revolt of colonial farmers led by Nathaniel Bacon against oligarchic rule of Governor Sir William Berkeley and his colonial government. |
| War In North | 1676-1678 | Maine |
| Dayves-Pate Uprising | 3 Sep 1676 | Calvert County, Colonial Maryland |
| Culpepper's Rebellion | 1677-20 Nov 1680 | Carolinas - an 'anti-proprietary' party was established on 3 Dec 1677, to counteract Thomas Miller's illegal takeover of the Carolina colony. One of its leaders was John Culpepper. The antiproprietary party captured Miller and imprisoned him. |
| The Glorious Revolution of 1688 | 1688-1689 | Colonial New England - the term "Glorious Revolution" refers to the series of events which culminated in the exile of King James II (reigned 1685-1688) and the accession to the throne of William and Mary. |
| Leisler's Rebellion | 1688-1691 | Colonial New England - an insurrection as part of the overthrow of the Dominion of New England. |
| Maryland Revolution | 1689 | Colonial Maryland - group of Protestant leaders seized control of the colonial Maryland government. |
| King William's War* | 1689-1697 | Colonial New England, Colonial New York - also known as the War of the League of Augsburg. French and Indian attacks on the New England colonies bordering Canada. |
| Queen Anne's War* | 1702-1713 | Colonial Massachusetts, Colonial South Carolina, Florida and Canada - also known as the War of Spanish Succession. A dispute between England, France, and Spain against the English forces in North America. |
| Tuscarora Indian War | 22 Sep 1711-25 Mar 1712 | Colonial Carolinas - the Tuscarora attacks was the worst Indian war in North Carolina. The attacks occurred around New Bern and surrounding communities. |
| Yamassee War | 1715-1716 | Colonial Georgia and Colonial South Carolina - Indians outside Port Rotal, SC conspired to drive all white people from the coast from St. Augustine to Cape Fear. Eventually a military force routed the Indians at the Combahee River and permanent garrisons were established for the protection of the colonists. |
| Battle of Ocracoke Island | 1718 | Ocracoke Island, Colonial North Carolina - resulted in death of the pirate Blackbeard |
| The War of Jenkin's Ear | 1739-1742 | Colonial Georgia and Florida - in 1739 the merchant brig Rebecca, commanded by a Captain Jenkins, was accosted by a Spanish privateer and found to be smuggling goods. After detaining the crew the privateer Captain Juan de leon Fandino then took the liberty of cutting off one of Jenkin' ears. As a result of this incident, England declared war on Spain in what was to be known as the "War of Jenkin's Ear." |
| King George's War* | 1744-1748 | Canada, Northern New England, Colonial New York - also known as the War of the Austrian Succession. Fighting between the French and British colonists. |
| Fortress Louisbourg | 1745 | Canada - this battle that was part of the war between Britain and France. |
| Fort Necessity | 1754 | Southwest Colonial Pennsylvania - fort built by George Washington and surrendered to the French. |
| French and Indian (Seven Years) War* | 1754-1763 | Colonial New England, Colonial Virginia and Canada - English colonist conflict with the French and Indians |
| Anglo (Great Britain)-French War | 1755-1758 | Canada |
| Siege of Quebec | 1759 | Canada - fall of Quebec, the fortified capital of New France, to British forces in 1759 led to the ultimate defeat of French power in North America. |
| Cherokee Uprising | 1760-1761 | Colonial Carolinas - during the French and Indian War, friction between Cherokee Indians and settlers in Virginia and the Carolinas increased. An indian attack prompted an invasion of Cherokee country by a force of 1500, but the invaders were beaten back by an ambush. In 1761 a militia force of 2600 launched another expedition that forced the Cherokee to ask for peace. |
| Pontiac's Rebellion | 1763 | Ohio River Valley (Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania - frustrated by British trading practices, an indian chief named Pontiac organized a massive campaign to drive the Brits out of the west. |
| War of the Regulators | 1771 | Colonial North Carolina - uprising of frontiersman in the western portions of North Carolina that had become incensed over inequitable taxation. They organized into groups known as the Regulators. Several attacks occurred during the year and they were defeated and retreated further into the North Carolina mountains. |
| Lord Dunmore's War | 1774 | Ohio River Valley (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia) - the Battle of Point Pleasant, present-day Mason County, West Virginia, was considered by some as the first engagement of the American Revolution. |
National Period
| War/Conflict | Dates | Area Involved in Confrontation/Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| American Revolution* | 19 Apr 1775-11 Apr 1783 | Colonial America |
| Pennamite-Yankee War | 1782-1787 | Wyoming Valley - conflict fought between the colonists of Connecticut and Pennsylvania for possession of the Wyoming Valley. This period also included many Indian disturbances. |
| Shay's Rebellion | Dec 1786- 2 Feb 1787 | Massachusetts - Revolt by debtor farmers against their creditors over high taxes. Fought by state militia forces. |
| War with Northwestern Indians | Sep 1790- Aug 1795 | Ohio - Warfare with northwest indians of the Chippewas, Delawares, Miamis, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Shawnees and Wyandots tribes. |
| Whiskey Insurrection | 1794 | Pennsylvania - a liquor tax was imposed on the farmers of western Pennsylvania, who made rye whiskey, which was the spark that fired this rebellion. |
| John Fries Rebellion | 1798-1799 | Pennsylvania - the House Tax Rebellion of John Fries. |
| Quasi-War with France | Jul 1798-30 Sep 1800 | Atlantic Coast/West Indies - undeclared naval war carried on by the United States through its navy and privateers. |
| Barbary Wrs | 1801-1805 and 1815 | North Coast Africa - wars with the Barbary Powers conducted by the authority of the United States through its Navy. |
| Sabine Expedition | 1806 | Louisiana |
| Aaron Burr's Insurrection | 1806-1807 | Southern Mississippi Valley |
| Chesapeake Bay | 1807 | Virginia - naval war |
| Northwestern Indian War | Nov 1811-Oct 1813 | Indiana - the Battle of Tippecanoe in November 1811 was the start of the Northwest Indian Wars. |
| War of 1812/War with Great Britain* | 18 Jun 1812-17 Feb 1815 | Great Lakes, Maryland, New Orleans - fought between the United States and Great Britain. This war involved about 60,000 U.S. Army forces supported by 470,000 militia and volunteer troops. |
| Seminole Indian Disturbances | 15 Aug 1812-Oct 1812 | Florida (Georgia Volunteers) |
| Creek Indian War | 27 Jul 1813-9 Aug 1814 | Alabama - conducted by the authority of the United States |
| Peoria Indian War | 19 Sep-21 Oct 1813 | Illinois |
| Lafitte's Pirates | 1814 | Local conflict - expedition against Lafitte Pirates conducted by the authority of the United States. |
| Creek Indian War | 4 Oct 1814-24 Jan 1815 | Alabama - conducted by the authority of the United States |
| First Seminole Indian War | 20 Nov 1817-31 Oct 1818 | Florida and Southern Georgia |
| Yellowstone Expedition | 4 Jul 1819-Sep 1819 | Expedition by Colonel Henry M. Atkinson near Council Bluffs on the Missouri River. |
| Lafitte's Pirates | 1821 | Galveston, Texas - Lafayette attacks an American ship and he finally leaves Galveston Island in May 1821. |
| Arickaree Indian Campaign | 1823 | Upper Missouri River/Dakota Territory - campaign against Blackfeet and Arickaree Indians. |
| Le Fèvre Indian War | Jun-Sep 1827 | Wisconsin - also known as the Winnebago expedition, no fighting |
| Black Hawk Indian War | 26 Apr 1831-21 Sep 1832 | Illinois and Wisconsin - U.S. troops and militia men clashed with the Sauk and Fox indian tribes and expelled them from Illinois. Afterward the famous warrior Black Hawk tried to regain their Rock Island home and failed. |
| Pawnee Expedition | 9 Jun 1834 | Indian Territory |
| Toledo War | 1835-1836 | Ohio and Michigan - boundary dispute |
| War for Texas Independence | 1835-1836 | Texas - the Texas revolution with Mexico. |
| Indian Stream | 1835-1836 | New Hampshire |
| Second Seminole Wars | 28 Dec 1835-14 Aug 1842 | Alabama, Florida and Georgia |
| Heatherly Disturbances | 1836 | Missouri and Iowa |
| Cherokee Indian Disturbances/Removal | 1836-1839 | Southern United States - which resulted in the famous "Trail of Tears." |
| Southwestern Frontier (Sabine) disturbances | Apr 1836-Jun 1837 | Louisiana and Arkansas - no fighting. |
| Creek Indian Disturbances | 5 May 1836-30 Sep 1837 | Alabama |
| Osage Indian Troubles | 1837 | Missouri |
| Mormon | 1838 | Missouri - the Mormon church colony was expelled from Missouri and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. |
| Aroostook/Patriot War Frontier Disturbances | 1839 | Maine - boundary dispute between Maine and New Brunswick. The war brought approximately 10,000 troops into the area in 1838-1839. No actual fighting occurred. |
| Battles of the Republic | 1840-1845 | Texas Republic - clashes between Texas Rangers and the Mexican Army/Indians. |
| Dorr Rebellion | 1841-1842 | Rhode Island - dispute over the old state constitution enacted in 1663 that restricted suffrage to freeholders and their eldest sons. |
| Mormon | 1844 | Illinois - after the Mormon church colony settled in Illinois conflict with local residents continued which led to the death of the church's founder John Smith on 24 Jun 1844. Brigham Young led the colony westward to Utah. |
| Los Diablos Tejanos | 1846-1848 | Texas and Mexico - Texas Rangers who participated in expeditions during the Mexican War (below). |
| Mexican War* | 24 Apr 1846-30 May 1848 | Old Mexico, California, New Mexico and Texas — this conflict between the United States and Mexico resulted from the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. 35,000 U.S. Army troops and 73,000 state volunteers fought in this war. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states such as Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. |
| New Mexico Expedition | 30 Jun 1846-13 Feb 1848 | New Mexico |
| Cayuse Indian War | 1848 | Oregon - Oregon volunteers |
| New Mexico and Texas Indian Disturbances | 1849-1855 | New Mexico and Texas |
| Najavo Indian Troubles | 1849-1861 | New Mexico |
| Texas Indian Disturbances | 1849-1861 | Texas - continuous disturbances with Comanches, Cheyenne, Lipan and Kickapoo indian tribes. |
| Utah Indian Disturbances | 1850-1853 | Utah |
| Pitt River Expedition | 28 Apr-13 Sep 1850 | California |
| Oregon/Washington Indian Wars | 1851-1856 | Oregon and Washington - conflict with the Rogue River, Yakima and Klikitat indian tribes. |
| Yuma Expedition | Dec 1851-Apr 1852 | California |
| Nicaragua Naval Battles | 1854-1858 | Naval War |
| Klamath & Salmon Indian Troubles | 1855 | Idaho and Oregon River |
| Cheyenne and Arapahoe Troubles | 1855-1856 | Western United States |
| Winnas Expedition | 24 May-8 Sep 1855 | Oregon - expedition against the Snake Indians. |
| Sioux Expedition | Jun-Oct 1855 | Nebraska Territory |
| Yakima Expedition | 11 Oct-24 Nov 1855 | Washington Territory |
| Florida Seminole Indian War | Dec 1855-Sep 1857 | Florida |
| Kansas Troubles | 1857-1858 | Kansas - border problems |
| The Utah Expedition | 1857-1858 | Utah - U.S. troops were sent to the state to suppress a rebellion that did not exist. The expedition ended peacefully. |
| Gila Expedition | 16 Apr-16 Sep 1857 | New Mexico |
| Washington Territory Indian troubles | 1858 | Washington Territory - conflict with Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Paloos indian tribes. |
| Expedition against Northern Indians | 17 Jul-17 Oct 1858 | Washington Territory |
| Puget Sound Expedition | 10 Aug-23 Sep 1858 | Washington Territory |
| Navajo Expedition | 9 Sep-25 Dec 1858 | New Mexico |
| Wichita Expedition | 11 Sep 1858-Dec 1859 | Indian Territory |
| Cortina troubles | 1859-1860 | Texas and Mexican border |
| Colorado River Expedition | 11 Feb-28 Apr 1859 | California |
| Pecos Expedition | 16 Apr-17 Aug 1859 | Texas |
| Antelope Hills Expedition | 10 Jun-23 Sep 1859 | Texas |
| Bear River Expedition | 12 Jun-18 Oct 1859 | Utah |
| John Brown's Raid | Nov-Dec 1859 | Harper's Ferry, Virginia |
| Southern Plains Indian Wars | 1860-1879 | Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas |
| Kiowa and Comanche Expedition | 8 May-11 Oct 1860 | Indian Territory |
| Carson Valley Expedition | 14 May-15 Jul 1860 | Utah |
| Navajo Expedition | 12 Sep 1860-24 Feb 1861 | New Mexico |
| Cheyenne Indian Disturbances | 1861-1864 | Local conflicts |
| Apache Indian Wars and troubles | 1861-1900 | Arizona, New Mexico and Texas |
| Civil War - War Between the States/ War of Rebellion* | 19 Apr 1861-20 Aug 1866 | Southern and Border States; Pennsylvania - the Civil War was fought between northern and southern (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia) states. Actual hostilities, however, commenced upon the firing on Fort Sumter, 12 Apr 1861, and ceased by the surrender of the Confederate forces under General Kirby Smith on 26 May 1865. Approximately 3.5 million soldiers fought in the war. The war resulted in almost 600,000 deaths and affected nearly every family in those regions involved in the war. |
| Sioux Indian War | 1862-1867 | Minnesota and Dakota Territory |
| War against Indians | 1863-1869 | Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Indian Territory - conflict with the Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Comanche and Kiowas indian tribes. |
| Fenian Raid | 1865-1866 | New York and Canada - border disturbances |
| Indian Wars | 1865-1868 | Southern Oregon and Idaho, Northern California and Nevada |
| The Frontier Battalions | 1866-1890 | Texas - Texas Rangers units that protected settlers from criminals and indian attacks. |
| Indian Campaign | 1867-1881 | Western United States - campaign against Comanche, Kiowa, Kickapoo and Lipan indians and Mexican border disturbances. |
| Canadian River Expedition | 5 Nov 1868-13 Feb 1869 | New Mexico |
| Yellowstone Expedition | 25 Aug-25 Oct 1871 | |
| The Modac Indian War | Nov 1872-Jun 1873 | Northern California and Southern Oregon |
| Apache Indian Disturbances | 1873 | Arizona |
| Yellowstone Expedition | 4 Jun-4 Oct 1873 | Dakota Territory |
| Red River Indian War | 1874 | Northern Texas |
| Sioux Expedition | 13 Feb-19 Aug 1874 | Nebraska and Wyoming |
| Black Hills Expedition | 20 Jun-30 Aug 1874 | Dakota Territory |
| Indian Campaign | 1 Aug 1874-16 Feb 1875 | Indian Territory - conflict with the Cheyenne, Comanche and Kiowas indian tribes. |
| Big Horn Expedition | 13 Aug-10 Oct 1874 | Wyoming |
| Nevada Indian Expedition | Sep 7-27, 1875 | Eastern Nevada - expedition against Indians in eastern Nevada. |
| Cheyenne and Sioux Indian Wars | 1876-1879 | Dakota Territory, Indian Territory, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming - conflict with northern Cheyenne and Sioux indian tribes. |
| Big Horn and Yellowstone Expedition | 17 Feb 1876-13 Jun 1877 | Montana and Wyoming |
| Powder River Expedition | 1 Nov-31 Dec 1876 | Wyoming |
| Nez Perce Indian War | Jun-Oct 1877 | Idaho and Montana |
| Maryland/Pennsylvania Labor Strikes | Jul-Oct 1877 | Maryland and Pennsylvania |
| Piute Indian troubles | 1878 | Idaho and Nevada |
| Bannock Campaign | May-Sep 1878 | Idaho, Washington and Wyoming Territories |
| Ute Expedition | 3 Apr-9 Sep 1878 | Colorado - White River Campaign |
| Oklahoma Settler and Cherokee Disturbances | 1879-1894 | Indian and Oklahoma Territories - "Oklahoma Boomers" settler and the Cherokee indian strip disturbances. |
| Ute Indian Campaign | 21 Sep 1879-8 Nov 1880 | Colorado and Utah |
| Wyoming Chinese Miner and Labor Troubles | Sep-Oct 1885 | Wyoming |
| Sioux Indian disturbances | Nov 1890-Jan 1891 | South Dakota |
| Garcia Troubles | 1891-1893 | Texas and Mexico - border disturbances |
| Idaho Miner Disturbances | Jul-Nov 1892 | Idaho |
| Various Labor Disturbances | 1894 | "Industrial Army," "Commonwealers," "Coxeyites," and labor disturbances |
| Railroad Strikes | Jun-Aug 1894 | Illinois to Pacific Ocean - Railroad, Pullman and Labor strikes extending from Illinois to Pacific Coast |
| Spanish-American War* | 21 Apr 1898-11 Apr 1899 | Cuba and the Philippine Islands — war between the United States and Spain that was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippine Islands. In the end the United States acquired Puerto Rico and Guam and bought the Philippines. Cuba became independent. The war was fought by U.S. regular forces and state volunteers. About 250,000 enlisted men and 11,000 officers served in this conflict. Most volunteers came from the states of Illinois, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Note: Actual combat did not cease until August 13, 1899. Also see Philippine Insurrection below. |
| Philippine Insurrection* | February 4, 1899-July 4, 1902 | Philippine Islands — more than 125,000 American soldiers were sent to the Philippines. Over 4,000 deaths occurred during this conflict. Also see Spanish-American War above. |
| Boxer Rebellion | May 1900-May 1901 | China |
| Tampico and Vera Cruz Incidents | April 1914 | Mexico - Members of a U.S. Navy ship were arrested in April 1914 by Victoriano Huerta, Mexican dictator. The sailors were released but Huerta further insulted the U.S. over failure to deliver an apology. We bombed Vera Cruz. Huerta abdicated and the conflict ended. |
| Mexican Punitive Expedition | 1916-1917 | Mexico - General John Pershing led 75,000 National Guard troops in the pursuit of the Mexican bandit Francisco "Pancho" Villa in Mexico.
|
| World War I* | 1917-1918 | Europe - the United States entered World War I in April 1917. Over 4.7 million men and women served in the regular U.S. forces, national guard units, and draft units. There were 53,402 killed in action, 63,114 deaths from disease and other causes, and about 205,000 wounded. Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania furnished the most soldiers. |
| World War II* | 1941-1945 | Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific - over 16.5 million men and women served in the armed forces during World War II with 291,557 dead in battle, 113,842 dying from other causes, and 670,846 wounded. |
| Korean War* | 1950-1953 | Korean Peninsula - conflict between North and South Korea involving the United Nations and United States military forces. About six million U.S. servicemen were sent to the conflict with 160,000 casualties. |
| Vietnam War* | 1954-1975 | North and South Vietnam - conflict between North and South Vietnam involving United States forces. This conflict involved nine million servicemen who suffered 200,000 casualties. |
| Desert Shield/Desert Storm* | 1991-1992 | Persian Gulf War - there were 500,000 members of the armed forces who served during the war with Iraq with less than 300 casualties. |
| War on Terrorism | 11 Sep 2001-? | As a result of the Al-Queda terror attacks in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, President George Bush declared a war on terrorism which continues to present time. The only major action so far in the war occurred in Afghanistan. |
Sources:
- U.S. Army Center of Military History, online http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/
- U.S. Army Military History Institute, online http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/
- U.S. Military Academy - History Department, online http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/home.html
- U.S. Military Academy - Officer's Professional Reading Guide, online http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/pdfs/OPRG02FINAL.pdf
U.S. Naval Historical Center, online http://www.history.navy.mil/ - Everton Publishers, The Handybook for Genealogists, 10th edition. Draper, Utah: Everton Publishers, 2002.
- The Readers Digest, Family Encyclopedia of American History. Pleasantville, New York: The Readers Digest Association, Inc, 1975.
- George K. Schweitzer, Civil War Genealogy. Privately published: 1996.
- George K. Schweitzer, Revolutionary War Genealogy. Privately published: 1997.
- George K. Schweitzer, War of 1812. Privately published: 1995.
- James C. Neagles, U.S. Military Records - A Guide to Federal and State Sources. Orem, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 1994.
