Background
Presented on the Aztec Club's web site is a database consisting of the most complete record of Mexican War service by American officers ever prepared. Originally compiled for a publication commemorating the Club's sesquicentennial history, the database is searchable on-line.

Two search engines are provided: the first being a full-name search based on first name and last name, and a second search routine by last name only. Search results will yield a wealth of information, both historical and genealogical in nature. At the end of each record bibliographic source codes are provided. See the bibliography to interpret these codes. To access the search pages directly, click on the appropriate engine link to the left. To run multiple searches, clear the form and then enter your request. Remember, because a search by last name only will yield more results, it is slower. Be patient.

Database Methodology and Bibliography
This list was compiled utilizing fifty-four sources and is undoubtedly the most complete list of officers who served in the Mexican War ever compiled. Thirty-six of these sources were assigned reference codes, defined in Database Bibliography, and appear at the bottom of the soldier's listing, under "References". These citations provide information as to sources of information and, in many cases, where additional information about the officer can be found.

The methodology utilized in compiling this database was exhaustive. As a foundation, the first information entered into the database was the list of officers published in the appendix of Gen. Cadmus Wilcox's History of the Mexican War, published in 1892, long considered the most authoritative source. (Wilcox was an original member of the Aztec Club of 1847.) This data was then carefully compared to each additional source. Changes and additions were made as required.

Wilcox compiled his list by unit and reported naval officers separately by squadron and ship. His list was organized by branch of service and unit: Regular Army, Volunteers, and Navy. Unfortunately, the Marine Corps was largely ignored in the Wilcox list and there was no data on the Revenue Marines, a separate service comparable to today's Coast Guard, which served in the Mexican War. The names of many officers appeared more than once reflecting the different units in which they served. The Navy list was organized by squadron (Home, Pacific and Gulf) by year. In compiling this database, no attempt was made to consolidate multiple listings for an officer as the progression shown is historically significant. Thus, the database has more than one entry for many officers.

Research revealed that the Wilcox list was very incomplete. This database contains information obtained from all available Adjutant-General reports (the official government reports published for state troops) and was compared with authoritative research conducted by others. In this regard, books such as Randy Hackenberg's Pennsylvania in the War with Mexico and Jack Meyer's South Carolina in the Mexican War -- A History of the Palmetto Regiment, which include lists based on research of the muster rolls and other state records, were reviewed. Works such as these are cited as additional sources for proof as to service in the Mexican War. Remarkably, more than 2,000 additional American officers with service in the Mexican War have been identified.

Search results provided under Military Service often include additional information about the nature or character of the military service. This is especially true for data on Naval officers which will often include information about the ship on which he served. For example, "40 guns" describes the class of vessel, that it carried 40 cannon.

Unfortunately, no similar records were kept for the service of Mexican officers serving in the war.

The reader should observe several caveats. Original muster rolls often contained names spelled phonetically, and variations in spelling and or middle initials should be expected. For example, "Schaeffer" could appear in the rolls as Shaifer; "Vanderveer" could appear as Vandaveer, Vandeveers, Vandevers, Vandivers, Vandervoort, etc. Where sources had different spellings for the same individual, these have been noted.

The compilation of this list has been a collaborative effort. It began with the separate efforts of the the Aztec Club's President, Richard Hoag Breithaupt, Jr., and Timothy W. Rodman, a member of the Aztec Club working for the California State Archives. Recognizing the incompleteness of the Wilcox list, Mr. Rodman saw the need for an authoritative, comprehensive effort to compile a list of officers that did not rely on the integrity of secondary sources, recognizing that mistakes or omissions could be made. He began by contacting State Librarians and the Adjutant-General's office of the various states to obtain the most authoritative source of information. Meanwhile, in preparation for his book, Aztec Club of 1847, Military Society of the Mexican War Mr. Breithaupt had begun building a database based on the Aztec Club's own archives and other sources. The historians consulted on a database format and Mr. Rodman began the laborious task of entering information. After merging the two databases, the resulting database was edited and refined, and additional research was completed and entered. Timothy W. Rodman's collaborative effort, benefiting the Aztec Club, is greatly appreciated.

The efforts of two other individuals helped ensure the most authoritative record possible of Marine Corps officers engaged in the war. Special thanks are extended to Colonel Michael F. Monigan, USMC, Director, History and Museums Division, United States Marine Corps, who with his staff provided copies of muster rolls and officer registers. David M. Sullivan, a noted historian specializing on the Marine Corps, ably reviewed and compared our draft list to his own records and compiled a separate list from muster rolls as well.

In many instances, as research was conducted, additional information was found on many officers. Much of it is included herein. This information includes biographical information, such as year or state of birth and/or year of death, military and civilian history. Original members of the Aztec Club are so noted in the Aztec Club field along with additional service, if applicable, as a Club officer.

Bibliography

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