United States Civil War 1861 to 1865, Part 2

United States     U.S. Military      Civil War, 1861 to 1865

The Civil War was fought between the Northern and Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia), beginning on 12 April 1861 when troops in South Carolina fired upon the garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Approximately 3.5 million soldiers fought in the war. The war resulted in almost 600,000 deaths and affected nearly every family in those regions of the country.

Armies

 * U.S. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 70 Volumes in 127 parts. 1880–1900. Reprint, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: The National Historical Society, 1985. National Archives Microfilm Publication M262. (FHL book 973 M29u; films 0845306–426.) This is an FHL filming of the original volumes. (Also available on CD #51 and #52.) The four series of this compilation, known as the Official Records (OR), contain correspondence, battle reports of officers, information on prisoners, and activities of the war departments of both governments. The Official Records are arranged chronologically within regions. An online version is available at Cornell University Library's "Making of America" site.

A supplement to the official records is also available:


 * Hewitt, Janet B., et. al., editor. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Part I Reports, Part II the Record of Events. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Publishing, 1994–. (FHL book 973 M29u.) Part II the Record of Events is a transcription of the National Archive Microfilm Publication M594 (Union) and M861 (Confederate) Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in Volunteer Organizations. For more information see the unit histories sections for Union and Confederate military units.

The following is an index to this set:


 * Ainsworth, Fred C., and Joseph W. Kirkley. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. . . . General Index and Additions and Corrections. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1901. (FHL book 973 M29u index; film 0430054.) Contains names of officers who submitted reports and the names of military units. The names of individual soldiers who were killed, captured, wounded, missing, drafted, and pensioned and the names of political prisoners are not found in the index. You must search the index under the names of battles, regiments, prisons, government agencies, and bureaus for such lists. References to the OR series number (a Roman numeral) are followed by the number of the volume (an Arabic number). You must then refer to the index in that volume to get the page number.

Navies

 * U.S. Navy Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. 30 Volumes. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1894–1922. National Archives Microfilm Publication M275. (FHL book 973 M2unr; films 1490058–88.) Similar to the official records of the armies, it is known as the ORN (Official Records . . . Navy). Its two series contain reports and correspondence on the Northern blockade of Southern ports and on matters concerning the Confederate Navy. Volume 1, series II has an index to Union and Confederate ships, statistical data, and muster rolls of confederate vessels.

The following is an index to this set:


 * Knox, Dudley W. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion . . . General Index. . . . 1927. Reprint, New York, New York: Antiquarian Press, 1961. (FHL book 973 M2unr index; film 0924604 item 2.) Alphabetically arranged with reference to series and volume number. The page number is located by searching the index in the specific volume referred to in the general index.

A reference aid to the Official Records is:


 * Aimone, Alan C., and Barbara A. Aimone. User’s Guide to the Official Records of the American Civil War. Shippinsburg, Pennsylvania: White Maine Publishing, 1993. (FHL book 973 M29ua.) Provides a history of the compilation of the official records.

Other Civil War sources

 * Amann, William Frayne, editor. Personnel of the Civil War. Two Volumes. New York, New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1961. (FHL book 973 M2a.) Lists the names of local militias and their Union and Confederate Army designations. It also includes geographical commands of the Confederacy and of generals in the Union Army.
 * Bibliography of State Participation in the Civil War. Third Edition. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1913. (FHL film 1465569.) Lists veterans’ organizations; regimental histories; and state, county, and town histories (Northern and Southern) that have rosters of soldiers.
 * Davis, George B., et al., Calvin D. Cowles, compiler. The Official Military Atlas of the Civil War, 1891–1895. Reprint, New York, New York: The Fairfax Press, 1978, 1983. (FHL book Atlas Stand 973 E7wd.) This atlas was published to accompany the Official Records.
 * Dornbusch, Charles E., compiler. Military Bibliography of the Civil War. Three Volumes. New York, New York Public Library, 1975. Reprint, Volume 4. Dayton, Ohio: The Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1987. (FHL book 973 H2dn; film 1036612 items 1–3.) A bibliography of 8,241 regimental and unit histories, narratives, and biographies for both the North and the South.
 * Faust, Patricia L., editor. The Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War. New York, New York: Harper &amp; Row, 1986. (FHL book 973 H26h.) Over 2,000 entries for war related topics including battles, famous regiments, and numerous biographical sketches of military and civilian leaders.
 * Katcher, Philip. The Civil War Source Book. New York, New York: Facts on File, 1992. (FHL book 973 M2ka.) Biographies of important leaders; a state‑by‑state analysis of state militias; descriptions of the Federal and Confederate forces, U.S. Veteran Volunteers, Signal Corps, Sanitary Commission, and Medical Department; a section on the life of the common soldier; and a general history of the war.
 * Long, E.B., and Barbara Long. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861–65. 1971. Reprint, New York, New York: Da Capo Press, 1987. (FHL book 973 M2leb.) A chronology of important military and political actions.
 * Navy Department. Naval History Division, compiler. Civil War Naval Chronology. 6 parts. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1961–65. (FHL film 1550320.) A chronological listing of the naval war and important events.
 * Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York, New York: Facts on File, 1988. (FHL book 973 H2sif.) This biographical compendium has histories of 2,500 civilian and military notables of the North and South, including 1,008 generals.
 * Silverstone, Paul H. Warships of the Civil War Navies. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1989. (FHL book 973 M2sil.) Gives brief service histories of naval vessels and includes many photographs of naval ships.
 * Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990; original published: Des Moines : Dyer Publishing Co., 1908), 1796 pages. Compiled and arranged from official records of the Federal and Confederate armies, reports of the Adjutant Generals of the several states, the Army registers and other reliable documents and sources. Part 1. Number and organization of the armies of the United States.--Part 2. Chronological record of the campaigns, battles, engagements, actions, combats, sieges, skirmishes, etc., in the United States, 1860 to 1865.--Part 3. Regimental histories. Digital copy at Google Books. Microfiche copy at  Book copies at Other Libraries.
 * Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. American Civil War Newspapers (accessed 1 June 2011). This is an index with digital images of newspapers. The newspapers will include samples of Union and Confederate, urban and small town, Eastern and Western newspapers. It is an on-going project.

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System of the National Park Service is a free Internet index of both Union and Confederate service records. Images and an index of these service records are also available at Footnote.com, ($) a subscription Internet site, also available at selected libraires.

This Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System index was compiled in cooperation with the National Archives, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Genealogical Society of Utah, and numerous volunteers are working together to make a computerized index to Union and Confederate soldiers. When completed, this index will be available at National Park Service Civil War sites. The database will have 5.5 million names (some names will be duplicated because of spelling variations and multiple enlistments). They will also tell whether the soldier was Union or Confederate and will give regiment and rank.

This site contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, identifications and descriptions of 384 significant battles, references that identify the sources of the information in the database, and suggestions for where to find additional information. It also includes a search of the 235,000 names in the “U.S. Colored Troops” database.

Union Service Records
See Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System above. Service records generally give the time and place of enlistment, time served in a particular unit, and date of discharge. Some records also include battles fought and any exemplary service. Usually, if the soldier died in service, this will be included in the service record. For additional information see Union Service and Pension Records.

Union Pension Records
The pension law governing claims based on death or disability from military service was passed on 14 July 1862. Later pension laws were based on length of service and disability not necessarily incurred in the service. Beginning in 1892 women who were employed as nurses by the government were also eligible for pensions.

An index to all Union pension records can now be accessed at Footnote.com($). This database includes images of the original records. Footnote is available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and family history centers worldwide as well as National Archives research rooms. This index, but without images is also available at FamilySearch in the collection. For additional information and sources see Union Pension Records.

Union Draft Records
By 1863 it became necessary for the federal government to enroll and draft men into the Army. The Conscription Act declared that men between the ages of 20 and 45 were eligible for duty. Aliens who had filed their declaration of intention to become citizens were also eligible. Records relating to the draft are at the National Archives in Record Group 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau, and have not yet been microfilmed. See Union draft records for more information.

Union Unit Histories
Many state volunteer regiments had published histories. The histories have biographical data on officers and unit rosters of members, and they often provide clues to the town or county where the soldiers were living when they enlisted. See Union unit histories for sources and more information.

Union Census Records
As part of the regular enumeration of the population in 1890, a special enumeration was also done of Union veterans and widows. The returns are available on the following microfilm:


 * Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War,1890. National Archives Microfilm Publication M123. (FHL 118 films.) The schedules for the states alphabetically from Kentucky through Wyoming are available. They give name, rank, company, regiment or vessel, dates of enlistment and discharge, length of service, residence, disability, and remarks.

To find specific microfilm numbers, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

UNITED STATES ‑ CENSUS ‑ 1890

State indexes to the 1890 census are listed under:

[STATE] ‑ CENSUS ‑ 1890


 * The Thirteenth Population Census of the United States, 1910. National Archives Microfilm Publication T624. (FHL 1,784 films), asked whether an individual was a survivor of the Union Army (UA) or the Union Navy (UN). Some state censuses also identified Union veterans. Examples on microfilm at the Family History Library include the New York census of 1865 and the Wisconsin census of 1885.

Union Cemetery Records
Nearly 359,000 soldiers in the Union forces lost their lives during the Civil War. Records can be found on the national, state and local level. See Union Cemetery Records to begin your search on the national level. Local histories often include information about Civil War veterans. See links to individual states and localities to find more information.

Union Veterans’ and Lineage Society Records
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). This was the major veterans’ organization after the war. It reached its largest membership in the 1890s with about 400,000 members. This organization was formed on April 6, 1866 in Decatur, Illinois. Its origins was that of a benevolent society for Union Civil War veterans but it became a powerful vetrans' organization and membership was open to honorably discharged Union soldiers, sailors, or marines. By 1900 there were 6, 928 posts nationwide with almost half a million members. Read more about them at Carnegie Carnegie.

Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War .

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). This society was organized by officers of the Union Army in 1865.

For more information about each of these societies see Union Veterans' and Lineage Society Records.

Additional Union Sources

 * New York Public Library, "USSC Civil War Soldiers Inquiry Database" on the U.S. Sanitary Commission collection of records of over 9,000 sick, wounded, or missing Union servicemen to answer inquiries from their relatives.
 * Brown, J. Willard. The Signal Corps in the War of the Rebellion. 1896. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Butternut and Blue, 1996. (FHL book 973 M2bt.) Contains a roster of soldiers in the signal corps; includes present address of each soldier and a brief service history.
 * Canney, Don L. Lincoln’s Navy: The Ships, Men, and Organization, 1861–65. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1998. (FHL book 973 M3ca.)
 * Gibson, Charles Dana, and E. Kay Gibson, compilers. Dictionary of Transports and Combat Vessels, Steam and Sail, Employed by the Union Army, 1861–1865. Camden, Maine: Ensign Press, 1995.
 * Holland, Mary A. Gardner. Our Army Nurses. Boston: Press of Lounsbery, Nichols, and Worth, 1896, 1897. (FHL book 973 M2ho; film 1698287 item 9.) Provides brief biographical sketches of women and their service as nurses.
 * Hubbell, John T., and James W. Geary, editors. Biographical Dictionary of the Union. Northern Leaders of the Civil War. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1995. (FHL book 973 D36bh.) Contains short biographical sketches with birth and death information on 872 political, military, and other leaders. It also includes a bibliography.
 * Lord, Francis A. Civil War Sutlers and their Wares. New York, New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1969. (FHL book 973 H2lf.) Contains a list of sutlers’ names.
 * Lord, Francis A. They Fought for the Union. New York, New York: Bonanza Books, 1960. (FHL Book 973 M2lf.) Discusses the various aspect of army life for the common soldier and organization.
 * Prechtel-Kluskens, Claire. “Wagonmasters Serving the Union during the Civil War.” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 85. (Dec. 1997): 295–311. (FHL book 973 B2ng.) Contains information about wagonmasters during the war.
 * Strait, Newton Allen. Roster of Regimental Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons in the U.S. Medical Department During the Civil War. 1882. Reprint, Gaithersburg, Maryland: Olde Soldier Books, 1989. (FHL book 973 M2rr; 1882 ed.) Lists name, unit, residence, and date of service for each surgeon.
 * Valuska, David L. The African-American in the Union Navy: 1861–1865. New York, New York: Garland Publishing, 1993. (FHL book 973 F2vaj.) Contains a roster of African-American sailors.
 * Welcher, Frank J. The Union Army 1861–1865: Organizations and Operations. Two Volumes. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 1989–93. (FHL book 973 M2wf.) Provides historical background on the operations of the military divisions of the army, departments of the army, field armies, army corps, organizations, and battles and campaigns.
 * Wiley, Bell Irvin. The Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the Union. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1980, 1983. (FHL book 973 M2wb.) Provides a historical sketch of the everyday life of a Union soldier.

Confederate Sources
Records of the Confederate Army are located in the National Archives Record Group (RG109). They are described in:


 * Bethel, Elizabeth, compiler. Preliminary Inventory of the War Department Collection of Confederate Records (Record Group 109). Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, 1957. (FHL book 973 A33npi no. 101.)

Additional Confederate records are at state archives and historical societies. For state service records, search the Wiki by state and "military records."

The following archive may also be helpful in researching your Confederate ancestor:

Confederate Research Center P.O. Box 619 Hillsboro, TX 76645 Telephone: 817-582-2555, ext. 242


 * Confederate Citizens Files at Footnote

NARA M346. Known as the "Citizens File," these original records pertain to goods furnished or services rendered to the  Confederate government by private individuals or business firms. For a more complete description see The "Citizens File" of Confederate Papers. This is a useful resource for documenting ancestors who lived in The Cofederate States of America or slave owners.


 * Confederate Amnesty Papers, 1865-1867 at Footnote

When Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates at the end of the Civil War on May 29, 1865, some had to apply for amnesty because they were not granted amnesty in the proclamation issued. To learn more about Amnesty and reasons for exclusion, see "Amnesty Papers," 1865-1867.

Confederate Service Records
See Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Wiki page for Internet indexes and images.

The compiled service records for Confederate soldiers have been indexed and microfilmed. Service records for Confederate soldiers are organized under each state from which the soldier served. 98-100% of Confederate service records are located on Footnote ($). In addition, other master indexes to the compiled service records of Confederate enlisted soldiers and officers are:


 * Consolidated Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers. National Archives Microfilm Publication M253. (FHL films 0191127–661.)
 * Hewett, Janet B., editor. The Roster of Confederate Soldiers, 1861–1865. 16 volumes. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Publishing, 1995–96. (FHL book 975 M2rc.) A transcription of the consolidated index described above. Entries contain name, state, unit, and company.

Confederate Pension Records
Pensions were granted to Confederate veterans, widows, and orphans by the former Confederate states. Many states provide an online index to Confederate service records. In addition, some have links to images of the records. The Family History Library has an excellent collection of available Confederate pension records.For further information see Confederate Pension Records.

Confederate Soldier Homes
Many Southern states maintained soldier homes for needy Confederate veterans. Records of these homes available at the Family History Library include:

Arkansas


 * Pickett, Connie. Old Soldiers Home, Arkansas Confederate and Widows. St. Louis, Missouri: Ingmire Publications, 1985. (FHL book 976.7 M28i.) Arranged alphabetically by name of veteran or widow and includes the county and date.

Georgia


 * Wight, Willard E. Index to Registers of Inmates of the Confederate Soldiers Home of Georgia. Atlanta, Georgia: Georgia Deptartment of Archives and History, 1964. (Volume 1 1901–1913 FHL film 1445835; Volume 2 1913–1927 film 1445836.) Contents include name, occupation, county of residence, date of birth, date and place entered military service, rank, company, regiment, when and where wounded, when and where taken prisoner, when and where put on specific detail, when and where separated from service, commanding officers, branch of service, age upon admission to home, date entered home, relatives, date of death or discharge, and date and place of burial.

Louisiana


 * Soldiers Home of Louisiana (New Orleans). Register Books, 1884–1934; index, 1905–1944. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (FHL film 1685399 items 5–8; film 1685400 items 1–2; film 1703673 item 2; film 1703674; film 1704156 item 1.) Entries include date of admission, name, birth date and place, company, regiment, state, cause of admission, by whom sent, date of leaving, and cause of discharge.

Missouri


 * Missouri Adjutant General’s Office. Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers’ Home Admission Applications. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. (FHL films 1021119–27.) Contents include name, birth date, birthplace, residence, length of residence in Missouri, date of enlistment, rank, unit of service, death date, and burial place.

Tennessee


 * Strange, Judith A. The Tennessee Confederate Soldier’s Home: Marching Out of the Mist Into the Light. . . . Goodlettsville, Tennessee: Tennessee Tracers, 1996. (FHL book 976.8 M2s.) Contains rosters of veterans at the home from 1890 to 1934. Entries typically include date and place of birth, enlistment date, unit served, current residence, occupation, and death date or discharge date from the home. Also contains an index to applications to the home listing name, county of residence, and unit served, as well as cemetery lists for the home cemetery.

Texas


 * Roster of the Residents of the Texas Confederate Old Soldiers Home in Austin, Texas. Austin, Texas: Texas State Library, 1990. (FHL film 1689628.)

Virginia


 * Robert E. Lee Camp Confederate Soldier’s Home. Application for Admission, 1884–1941. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia State Library, 1995. (FHL films 2026354–84 and 2027890–9.)

Confederate Prisoner of War Records
Below is a set of 429 volumes naming Confederate-held prisoners:


 * Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861–1865. National Archives Microfilm Publication M598. Washington, DC: The National Archives, 1965–66, (FHL films 1303301–445.) Consists mainly of registers and lists of captured soldiers and civilians. The records may provide such information as names, rank, unit or residence, dates of capture, deaths, prisoners released, and so on.

Histories
Speer, Lonnie R., Portals to Hell: Military Prisons of the Civil War, (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, c1997), contains the history of Union and Confederate prisons. . Other libraries.

Confederate Unit Histories
Some Confederate military units have published histories. These explain the unit’s role in the war, give biographical data on officers, and usually provide a unit roster of its members. The Family History Library has the following:


 * Civil War Unit Histories: Regimental Histories and Personal Narratives: Part 1: The Confederate States of America and Border States. Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1991. This microfiche set includes all published state adjutant general’s office reports. It also has the unit histories and personal narratives for the Confederate and border states published from 1861 to 1920 as listed in Charles E. Dornbusch’s previously mentioned Military Bibliography of the Civil War (see page 25). Below is a detailed inventory of the collection:
 * Hydrick, Blair D., compiler, Robert E. Lester, ed. Civil War Unit Histories: Regimental Histories and Personal Narratives. Part 1: Confederate States of America and Border States. Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1992. (FHL book 973 M2cwu.)
 * Some unit histories chronicle troop movement by railway. The Tennessee State Library and Archives includes in their online digital map collection Appletons' Railway Map of the United States and the Canadas, circa 1864. The map may be accessed at http://tsla-teva.state.tn.us/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fmaps

Confederate Compiled Military History Records

 * Units in Confederate Organizations. National Archives Microfilm Publication M861. (FHL films 1380856–929.) These records are being transcribed as Part II: Record of Events to Supplement the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. For additional information, look under “General Reference Sources” in this section.
 * Crute, Joseph H. Units of the Confederate States Army. Midlothian, Virginia: Derwent Books, 1987. (FHL book 973 M2crua.) Arranged by state, then by number of unit. Contains brief unit sketches of service. Lists dates and places of organization, counties raised from, and field officers.
 * Evans, Clement, editor. Confederate Military History. 12 Volumes. 1899. Reprint, 19 Volumes. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Publishing, 1987–89. (FHL book 975 M2e 1987.) A comprehensive history of each state’s role in the war with unit histories and biographical sketches of officers and civilian leaders.
 * Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies. 11 Volumes. New York, New York: Facts on File, 1992–95 (FHL book 975 M2ss.) Provides a history of each unit, a list of battles and campaigns in which the unit was involved, and a bibliography of suggested readings.
 * Tancig, W.J., compiler. Confederate Military Land Units, 1861–1865. New York, New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1967. (FHL book 973 M2wj.) Identifies units by their local or militia names and their Confederate service designations.

Confederate Census Records
The following federal and state censuses recorded specific information on Confederate soldiers. See the Family History Library Catalog for complete film numbers.

Federal Censuses


 * The Thirteenth Population Census of the United States, 1910. National Archives Microfilm Publication T624. (On 1,784 FHL films beginning with 1374014.) This census recorded whether an individual was a survivor of the Confederate Army (CA) or the Confederate Navy (CN). Some Southern states took special censuses of Confederate veterans. Those at the Family History Library include:

Alabama


 * 1907 state census. (FHL films 1533727–30.) Includes the name, address, birth date and place, rank, date of entry into service, unit, date and place of discharge.
 * 1921 state census. (FHL films 1533719–23; film 1533730.) Includes name, date and place of birth, length of residency, wife’s age and place of birth, date and place of marriage, living children, place of residence, and occupation.
 * 1927 state census. (FHL films 1533723 item 2 and 1533724.) Includes the veteran’s name, widow’s name, age, birth date, and marriage date.

Arkansas

1911 state census.


 * McLane, Bobbie Jones, and Capitola Glazner, comps. Arkansas 1911 Census of Confederate Veterans. Three Volumes. (S.L.; S.N.), 1977–1981. (FHL book 976.7 X2m; fiche 6019335.) Arranged alphabetically by name of veteran with brief biographical sketches which may contain the following: residence, birth date and place, parents, wife’s maiden name and parents, military service, and children.

Louisiana


 * 1911 state census. (FHL film 0483489 and 1704157 item 14.)
 * Jenks, Houston C. An Index to the Census of 1911 of Confederate Veterans or Their Widows: Pursuant to Act 71 of 1908. Jenks: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; H. C. Jenks, 1989. (FHL book 976.3 M22j; film 1822969 item 12.) Contains name of veteran or widow, parish, age, state where enlisted, regiment and company, property valuation, livelihood (including some relationships), infirmities, date of marriage, and reel number where information is found.

Confederate Cemetery Records
About 250,000 Confederate soldiers died in the war. Most died of disease, but others were killed during battle or died in prison camps or hospitals. Raymond W. Watkins copied Confederate burial records throughout the South, in prison camps, and in some Northern cemeteries.

The following sources are helpful in locating death and burial information:


 * Watkins, Raymond W., compiler. Deaths of Confederate Soldiers in Confederate Hospitals. 14 Volumes. Meridian, Mississippi: Lauderdale County Department of Archives and History, 1989–94. (FHL book 975 V2w.)
 * Watkins, Raymond W., compiler. Confederate Burials. 28 Volumes. Meridian, Mississippi: Lauderdale County Department of Archives and History, 1992–97. (FHL book 975 V3w.)

Many of his unpublished manuscripts are on microfilm at the Family History Library and are listed under his name in the Author/Title section of the library catalog.

Other important sources of information about Confederate burials include the following:


 * Office of the Commissioner for Marking the Graves of Confederate Dead. Register of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Citizens Who Died in Federal Prisons and Military Hospitals in the North, 1861–1865. National Archives Microfilm Publication M918. (FHL film 1024456.) (CD #9, part 119.) These are lists arranged alphabetically by the location of death, then by the name of the soldier.
 * Register of the Confederate Dead, Interred in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia Richmond, Virginia. Jones, Printers, 1869. (FHL book 975.5451 V3r; film 0033625.) Richmond was a major burial site during the war. About 18,000 soldiers are interred there in the Hollywood Cemetery. The register lists the soldier’s name, company, regiment, state, death date, section, and grave number.

Additional burial records available at the Family History Library include:


 * A Descriptive List of the Burial Places of the Remains of Confederate Soldiers: Who Fell in the Battles of Antietam, South Mountain, Monocacy, and Other Points in Washington and Frederick Counties in the State of Maryland. Hagerstown, Maryland: Free Press, 1868. (FHL film 1486525.) Entries give name of soldier, unit, and burial place.
 * Albertson, Charles L. The Elmira Prison Camp. New York, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1912 (FHL book 974.778 M25h; fiche 6048668.) Contains a history of the prison along with a roster of Confederate prisoners buried in the Woodlawn cemetery.
 * Elliot, William. List Showing Inscriptions on Headstones for the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Who, While Prisoners of War, Died at Columbus and Camp Dennison, Ohio, and Were Buried in Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, Those Dying at Camp Dennison Having Been Thence Removed. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1907. (FHL film 1688404.) Lists grave number, name, and soldier’s company regiment.
 * Krick, Robert K. The Gettysburg Death Roster: The Confederate Dead at Gettysburg. Second Edition. Dayton, Ohio: Morningside Bookshop, 1985. (FHL book 974.842/GI V2K 1985.) Alphabetical by name. Some entries list rank. Also lists company and regiment.
 * Register of Confederate Soldiers Who Died in Camp Douglas 1862–1865 and Lie Buried in Oakwoods Cemetery. Chicago, Illinois. 1892. (FHL film 1710607 item 4.) Includes the name, company, regiment, and state for over 4,300 soldiers buried at Camp Douglas. This item was microfilmed as a part of the following:
 * Deaths and Burials of Confederate Soldiers in New Orleans, Louisiana. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (FHL film 1704156 item 2.)

Confederate Veterans’ and Lineage Society Records
United Daughters of the Confederacy. This society was established in 1894. Their address is:

United Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial Building 328 North Boulevard Richmond, VA 23220 Telephone: 804-355-1636 Fax: 804-359-1325 Internet: www.hqudc.org

This website has information about the society’s objectives, membership, library facilities, magazine, and conventions.

The society’s national publication is:


 * United Daughters of the Confederacy Magazine. Richmond, Virginia: United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1937. (FHL book 973 B2ud.) The Family History Library has volumes 54 to the present.

The following state division publications will also be helpful:


 * Georgia Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy. Ancestor Roster. Ten Volumes. Atlanta, Georgia: United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1992–94. (FHL book 975.8 D24g.) Includes name and rank, birth and death dates and places, spouses birth and death, marriage dates and places, UDC member’s name, and her relationship to the soldier.
 * Louisiana Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy. Index, Membership, Applications, 1898–1988 and Patriot Index. Two Volumes. Covington, Louisiana: J. Monroe, 1985–88. (FHL book 976.3 C42u; film 1320946 items 3–4.) Includes names and units.
 * Tennessee Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy. Confederate Patriot Index. Two Volumes. Not published, 1976–78. (FHL book 976.8 M2u; fiche 6046695.) Includes names and units.
 * Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy. Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy Ancestor Roster. Four Volumes. Texas United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1994–96. (FHL book 976.4 D2u.) Includes the soldier’s, name, unit, and UDC descendant. The Family History Library has volumes 2 through 4.
 * Sons of Confederate Veterans. This society was established in 1896. Members who are also descendants of Confederate officers or governmental officials are eligible to join the Military Order of the Stars and Bars.

The address of both organizations is:

Sons of Confederate Veterans Elm Springs Box 59 Columbia, TN 38401-0059 Telephone: 615-380-1844 Internet: www.scv.org/

This web site includes genealogical researcher addresses, a Confederate genealogical research guide, news, organization purposes, membership information, and links to related sites.

A published history of the society is:


 * Sons of Confederate Veterans, 1896. Our First 100 Years. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing, 1997. (FHL book 973 M24sc.) Contains biographical sketches of members and their ancestors.

From 1893 to 1932, the official publication of The United Confederate Veterans and lineage organizations was:


 * Confederate Veteran, 1893–1932. Reprint, Wendell, North Carolina: Broadfoot’s Bookmark, n.d. (FHL book 973 B2cv, Volumes 1–40; films 1697372, 1697375–78, 1425669–75.) The Sons of Confederate Veterans later resumed publication under the same title. (FHL book 973 B2cx.) Features include first‑person historical accounts and obituaries of deceased veterans.

Indexes to the first 40 volumes:


 * The Library of Virginia has an online index. Under the "Images and Indexes" tab, select "Digitzed Military Resources" to search.
 * Manarin, Louis H., and Robert S. Bridges, editors. "Cumulative Index," The Confederate Veteran Magazine, 1893–1932. Three Volumes. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Publishing, 1986. (FHL book 973 B2cva index.)

United Confederate Veterans. This organization was established in New Orleans in June of 1889 by veterans of the Confederate Army. The Family History Library has the following records for their organization:

Rosters, 1895–1899


 * Alabama-Mississippi (FHL film 1710607, item 10–20.)
 * Missouri-West Virginia (FHL film 1710608.)

These are arranged by state and camp. The contents include name, company or rank, number of regiment, state and service, rank of officers and their camps, and remarks.


 * Rosters and Applications, 1892–1896. (FHL films 1685778 item 3, 1685779–80, 1703671–73 item 1.) The rosters include name, company or rank, regiment, state and remarks, and name and location of the camp

Additional Confederate Sources

 * Brock, R.A. The Appomattox Roster: A List of the Paroles of the Army of Northern Virginia Issued at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. 1887. Reprint, New York, New York: Antiquarian Press, 1962. (FHL book 975.5 M23br; film 0896966 item 2.) This is indexed and lists the names, ranks, and units of the soldiers.
 * Clemmer, Gregg S. Valor in Gray: The Recipients of the Confederate Medal of Honor. Staunton, Virginia: Hearthside Publishing, 1996. (FHL book 973 M2cv.) The appendices include information on miscellaneous war decorations of the Confederacy and a roster of the soldiers on the roll of honor.
 * Current, Richard N., editor. Encyclopedia of the Confederacy. Four Volumes. New York, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993. (FHL book 973 M2ec.) Contains historical sketches on campaigns and battles, social and cultural aspects of the Confederacy as well as biographical sketches of both political and military leaders. A bibliography is included at the end of each sketch.
 * Hoar, Jay S. The South’s Last Boys in Gray. Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green University Press, 1986. (FHL book 973 D3ho.) Contains biographical sketches of the last surviving Confederate veterans.
 * Nine, William G., and Ronald G. Wilson. The Appomattox Paroles April 9–15, 1865. Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, 1989. (FHL book 975.5 M2vc, Volume 12.) Lists the name, regiment, and company of those paroled from the Army of Northern Virginia.
 * Still, William N., Jr., editor. The Confederate Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization, 1861–1865. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1996. (FHL book 973 M2cfn.) This book discusses many topics of the Confederate Navy, including chapters on seamen, landsmen, firemen and coal heavers, the Marines, and shipboard life.
 * Wakelyn, John L. Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1977. (FHL book 973 D3wj.) The sketches contain birth, marriage, and death information. Some identify the parents and discuss the professional and military careers.
 * Wiley, Bell Irvin. The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1984. (FHL book 973 M2wl.) This book describes the army life of the Confederate soldier.

External Links of interest

 * National Archives and Records Administration This website introduces basic research sources, how to compile a soldier’s history, where to find records, war photographs and maps, and other records.
 * The American Civil War Center at Tredegar (Richmond, Virginia)
 * Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet This web site provides links to American Civil War genealogical sites, including: African-Americans, battles, forts, general resources, state-by-state resources, hospitals, libraries and archives, mailing lists, pension records, prisoners, publications, researchers, regimental rosters and histories, and societies. You can find valuable information about your ancestor using these records.
 * http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/ Includes lists of Civil War websites.
 * Civil War Soldiers &amp; Sailors System by the National Parks Service.
 * The American Civil War forming a more perfect union by the National Parks Service.
 * American Civil War Photographs Online Catalog The collection includes thousands of photos of soldiers, enlisted men and officers. Ordering a preview copy is no charge. High quality reproductions can be order for $15-25 each. See Dick Eastman's review dated 27 April 2006 of this web site
 * Alexander Street Press provides three (3) great databases through their subscription site available in the Family History Library and at Family History Centers. They are Images of the American Civil War, The American Civil War: Letters &amp; Diaries and The American Civil War Database.
 * Foulk, Beth. Civil War Genealogical Research (46 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center, 2010.
 * Military Records: Civil War (35 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, 2010.
 * The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) "Civil War Collection" includes searchable online images of maps and charts as well as documents, biographies, and documents.
 * Danes in the Civil War A great article describing the contributions and stories of a few Danish men serving in the American Civil War.

Union Regular Troops
Union Regular Army in the Civil War

Union Volunteers in the Civil War

Veteran Reserve Corps in the Civil War

Confederate Regular Troops
Confederate Regular Troops in the Civil War

Ethnic Groups
African Americans, see United States Colored Troops in the Civil War

Native Americans in the Civil War

Norwegians in the Civil War

FamilySearch Historical Recore Collections
Online collections containing these records are located in FamilySearch.org.

Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:


 * Civil War Pension Index Cards
 * United States Civil War Pension Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * United States, Union Provost Marshal's File of Papers Relating to Civilians (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * United States Civil War Soldiers Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)