Smith's Battery A, Chicago, Illinois Light Artillery

Brief History
The Smith's Battery A, Chicago, Illinois, Light Artillery entered state service on April 17, 1861, for three months. The unit did duty in District of Cairo, Illinois, until July1861. It mustered out July 16, 1861.

For more information about the Smith's Battery A, Chicago, Illinois Light Artillery, see the following:


 * Wikipedia. (accessed 16 Dec 2010) article for Smith's Battery A, Chicago, Illinois, Light Artillery.


 * The Civil War Archive. (accessed 23 Dec 2010) Brief history of the Smith's Battery A, Chicago, Illinois Light Artillery.

Companies in this Regiment with County of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived, though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However, if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 139 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources
WEBSITES


 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Illinois in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Illinois in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Illinois, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.

BOOKS