Colorado in the Civil War

United States     U.S. Military      Colorado      Colorado Military      Colorado in the Civil War



Introduction
Colorado became a U.S. territory in 1861 shortly before the American Civil War began. The territory supplied men and support for both the Union and the Confederacy. William Gilpin, the first territorial governor, supported the Union and quickly raised a regiment.

Records and Resources
The Family History Library and the National Archives have an Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers (Family History Library ) and an index to pension applications. The actual service and pension records have not been microfilmed and are only at the National Archives.

A roster of Colorado soldiers is in William Clarke Whitford, Colorado Volunteers in the Civil War: The New Mexico Campaign in 1862, (Denver: S.p., State Historical and Natural History Society, 1906; Family History Library ). The Colorado State Archives has put an Index to this record on-line. Read more. There is also a book entitled Colorado Volunteers in New Mexico, 1862, by Ovando J. Hollister ; edited by Richard Harwell, Family History Library book call which is a History of the First Regiment of Colorado Volunteers.

The Colorado State Archives has put a Colorado Civil War Casualties Index on-line. The information was compiled from the Civil War Service Record Index Cards on file at the Colorado State Archives. Read more.

The Colorado State Archives has also put a Colorado Volunteers Transcript of Records Index on-line. This Index is a compiled list of Volunteers from 1861-1865. Read more.

Civil War Pension Index Cards - A free Internet index to pension applications of veterans who served in the US Army between 1861-1917 is available on FamilySearch Record Search. Each card gives the soldier’s name, application and certificate numbers, state of enlistment, and might include rank and death information. Other wars, of that time period, may be included.

Colorado Military Units

 * 1st Regiment, Colorado Cavalry (Union) Regiment organized from 1st Colorado Infantry November 1, 1862 Mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas, November 18, 1865.


 * 2nd Regiment, Colorado Cavalry (Union) Organized at St. Louis, Missouri, by consolidation of the 2nd and 3rd Regiments Infantry to date from October, 1863. Mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas, September 23, 1865.


 * 2nd Regiment, Colorado Infantry (Union) Organized at Fort Garland, Canon City, Fort Lyon and Denver, Colorado, December, 1861. Ordered to Springfield, Missouri, October, 1863, for consolidation with 3rd Colorado Infantry to form 2nd Colorado Cavalry, which see.


 * 3rd Regiment, Colorado Cavalry (Union) Regiment organized at Denver, Colorado, for 100 days' service August 20 to September 21, 1864. Mustered out at Denver December 31, 1864.


 * 3rd Regiment, Colorado Infantry (Union) Organized at Denver and Camp Weld, Colorado, September, 1862, to January, 1863. Moved to St. Louis October, 1863, for consolidation with 2nd Colorado Infantry to form 2nd Colorado Cavalry, which see.


 * Denver City Home Guards, Colorado Infantry (Union) Organized at Denver August to October, 1861. Mustered out April 1, 1862.


 * McLain's Independent Battery, Colorado Light Artillery (Union) Organized at Denver, Colo., December 15, 1862. Ordered to Fort Scott and Fort Gibson, and duty in District of North Kansas until August. Mustered out August 31, 1865.