53rd Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia (Union)

Brief History
The 53rd Regiment, Enrolled Missouri Militia was enrolled between 28 July 1862 and 21 March 1863 and ordered into service between 28 July 1862 and 13 October 1864. They were discharged between 1 November 1862 and 13 October 1864. They were reordered into service 31 September 1864 and 6 December 1864. They were discharged again between 13 October 1864 and 6 December 1864. The Colonel in charge was Orwin C. Tinker.

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 - Captains John A. Lennon, William M. McClellan - Many men from New London, Ralls County

Company B - Captain Andrew V. E. Johnston - Many men from New London, Ralls County

Company C - Captain John W. McRoberts - Many men from Mexico, Audrain County

Company D - Captains John F. McNeil, John D. Meredith - Many men from Hannibal, Marion County

Company E - Captains David Dubach, John England - Many men from Hannibal, Marion County

Company F - Captains Albert G. Lancaster, Eli W. Southwarth - Many men from New London, Ralls County

Company G - Captain John D. Biggs - Many men from New London, Ralls County

Company H - Captain Richard Drane - Many men from Palmyra, Marion County

Detached Company - Captain Albert G. Lancaster - Many men from New London, Ralls County

Detached Company - Captain John D. Meredith - Many men from Hannibal, Marion County

Detached Company - Captain Eli W. Southerland - Many men from New London, Ralls County

The above information about the companies with partial rosters is found in Kenneth E. Weant's book, Civil War Records: Missouri Enrolled Militia Infantry Regiments

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Missouri 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.


 * Missouri in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Missouri, 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.