Maine Civil War Enlistment Papers, 1862-1865 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Index to Volunteer enlistment papers, recruit declarations, and consent in case of minor declarations for Maine Civil War infantry and cavalry regiments and artillery batteries acquired from the Maine State Archives in Augusta.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Enlistment
 * Name of soldier
 * Age
 * Birthplace
 * Residence, town and county
 * Date of enlistment
 * Marital status

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the soldier
 * The residence, at the time of enlistment in Maine
 * Military unit or units from the Civil War

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date from the date of the application
 * Use the soldier's age and residence to find his family in census, church, and land records
 * Use the military service information to obtain a copy of history service and pension file

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. In addition local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military unties, counties, parishes, etc.)
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit
 * If your ancestor used multiple names throughout their life, look for all their names
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Maine.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning United States Civil War Research
 * Locating a Union Civil War Soldier (1861-1865)
 * Maine Guided Research
 * Maine Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * edited by Rhonda R. McClure, Genealogist's handbook for New England research 6th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society®, 2022 FS Library 974 D27mr
 * Hospital lists of Maine Civil War soldiers.
 * Maine, Civil War enlistment papers, 1862-1865
 * Maine, Civil War military rolls, Maine Volunteers, 1861-1866
 * Maine, Civil War Navy enlistment papers, 1864-1865
 * Maine, Civil War colored soldiers enlistment papers, 1863-1865
 * Maine, Civil War colored soldiers assorted correspondence, 1862-1864
 * Hospital lists of Maine Civil War soldiers.
 * State Archives, Maine military records, 1700-1940 Includes Civil War Obituaries; Civil War Soldiers Index; Grave Registrations;
 * Daniel F. Johnson, The American Civil War : the service records of Atlantic Canadians with the State of Maine volunteers 2 volumes, Saint John, New Brunswick : D.F. Johnson, c1995 FS Library 971.5 M2jd v. 1-2
 * William B. Jordan, comp., Maine in the Civil War : a bibliographical guide Portland, Maine : Maine Historical Society, 1976 FS Library 974.1 M23j
 * William E.S. Whitman and Charles H. True, Maine in the War for the Union : a history of the part borne by Maine troops in the suppression of the American Rebellion. Lewiston, Maine : Nelson Dingley, Jr., 1865 FS Library 974.1 M2w

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Annual report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine, 1861-1866
 * Supplement to the Annual reports of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the years 1861, '62, '63, '64, '65 and 1866 Augusta, Maine : Stevens & Sayward, 1867
 * U.S. War Department Library. Bibliography of state participation in the Civil War 1861-1866 3d ed. Washington, D.C. : Government Printing Office (United States), 1913 Maine pp. 216-240

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.