1st Regiment, Washington Infantry (Union)

Brief History
Companies "A," "B," "C" and "D," organized at Alcartraz Island, San Francisco, California, January to April, 1862. The other companies organized at San Francisco and in Oregon at various dates. The regiment mustered out December 11, 1865.

For additional informaion, see the Wikipedia articles, 1st Regiment Washington Territory Volunteer Infantry and Washington in the American Civil War.


 * The Civil War Archive section, 1st Regiment Infantry, (accessed 7 November 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties 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.

Company A - many men from San Francisco, California

Company B - many men from San Francisco, California

Company C - many men from San Francisco, California

Company D - many men from San Francisco, California

Company E - many men from San Francisco, California

Company F - many men from Fort Vancouver, Washington or Oregon

Company G - many men from California

Company H - many men from Fort Walla Walla, Washington or California

Company I

Company K - many men from Washington Territory

For additional history, see the Wikipedia article, 1st Regiment Washington Territory Volunteer Infantry.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,521 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * 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 ‘Washington 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.


 * Washington in the Civil War describes many Union sources, specifically for Washington, 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.