-colonel, major.
Company Officers: captain (in command of a company) and his subalterns, lieutenant, cornet (cavalry), ensign (infantry). In 1871 cornets and ensigns became second lieutenants.
Other Officers: paymaster, adjutant, quartermaster, surgeon and chaplain.
An example of the more common records used by researchers to find enlisted men are as follows:
Regimental Description and Succession Books: Regimental Description and Succession Books are found in the War Office (WO) files (25) in the Public Record Office (PRO). However, microfilm copies are also available at the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City and on loan to local Family History Centers of the LDS. The dates for the description books cover the period 1778 to about 1878. Not all regiments are well represented in these books for all time periods. The records of some regiments appear to be lost. Only a small percentage of all soldiers are included in these books. Volumes 266 through 688 cover the regular Army regiments.
Some Description Books are arranged alphabetically, other books by date of enlistment. They usually begin with an index, and give a description of each soldier, his age, place of birth, his trade and successive service details. The books can have as many as 39 columns across two pages. Each entry begins with the full name of the soldier, the number of the company in the regiment he was assigned to, his height (at enlistment and at age 24), age at the time of enlistment (in both years and days). The next columns describe the soldier's complexion, the colour of his eyes and hair, the form of his feature (visage), and whether he had any physical marks. Country/town and parish of birth are given. Occupation (if any) outside of the military is noted. Date, place, and period of enlistment are provided (including the name of the person that enlisted the man). Notations of any previous military service and dates of promotion are also noted. Information also included desertion, transfers, discharges, date and place of death (where applicable). The last column includes comments on the man's behaviour and character while in the Army.
It is quite staggering to see how far a man travelled while in the army. The Description and Succession Books are filled with examples of men born in one part of the British Isles, enlisting with a regiment far from home, serving in a variety of regiments across Europe and the far reaches of the British Empire before being pensioned somewhere in England or even Canada.
Muster Rolls: Muster Rolls are held by the PRO. These lists were usually compiled four times a year and are arranged in volumes based on a twelve month period. Although these volumes do not contain as much personal information as the Regimental Description Books, they are helpful in establishing the dates of enlistment and discharge (or death). The first entry in these rolls for each soldier should indicate his age, while the last entry should show his birthplace, non-military occupation, and the date of his enlistment.
There are several series of these Muster Rolls, bearing War Office (WO) numbers 10 through 16. The three most comprehensive are; WO 10, containing Muster Rolls for the artillery for 1708-1878, WO 11, Muster Rolls for engineers for 1816-1878, and WO 12, the general series, with Muster Rolls for the cavalry, foot guards and regiments of foot for 1732-1878.
LDS FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG©:
While many military records are only available directly from the PRO in England, a great many PRO records have been microfilmed by the LDS and are available in their main Family History Library Catalog. When searching the Family History Library Catalogue, begin with BRITAIN---MILITARY RECORDS. The small sample of entries from the online LDS Family History Library Catalogue are listed to illustrate but a few of the many resources available to researchers on loan to a local Family History Center of the LDS.
A list of the officers of the army... 1779-1878 [Great Britain. War Office (Main Author)]. 