Most of the records dealing with the War of 1812 will be found in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. However, some are located in state archives of the states that existed for the years 1812-15, in private archives in those states, in city and county records, and even in Canadian and British collections. Ancestors who were involved in the War of 1812 may have been members of the volunteer U.S. Army, of the regular Army, Navy or Marines, members of state or territorial militia organizations who were never made members of the volunteer U.S. Army, unofficial or semi- official (city, county, or regional) groups of private citizens who acted against the British or their Indian or Spanish allies. The volunteer Army was made up of soldiers who joined the U.S. forces during this time. They often were members of previously existing state and territorial militia units which were transferred to federal service. The majority of servicemen were members of state militia raised in the states and territories and then subsequently transferred to U.S. service. The regular U.S. Army, Navy and Marines were composed of professionals who made the military their career. During this period each state and territory maintained a militia, an organization of properly qualified male citizens which was trained for emergencies such as insurrections, invasion and outbreaks of lawlessness. The records of these militia units will be found in state archives, private archives and in county and city records; also there are the unofficial, quasi-official and semi-official groups which saw combat action in the war. Among these are the privateers — armed ships owned by private persons which may or may not have had government sanction to attack and capture enemy ships — and a few civilian groups which gave military service especially when the British invaded coastal cities and areas. http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/syft/military/syftrm0004.htm