United States, Missouri, Recruitment Lists of Volunteers for the United States Colored Troops - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains images and index to descriptive recruitment lists of free and enslaved African Americans in Missouri. Lists name, age, color of eyes and hair, height, place of birth, occupation, date and place of enlistment, name of slave owner and remarks.
 * See also Ruth Ann Hager. " Slaves, Soldiers, and Citizens: Special Civil War Recruitment Lists" National Genealogical Society Quarterly 91 (June, 2003): 139-143.

 Related Collections- National Archives
 * Register of U.S. Colored Troop Deaths During the Civil War, 1861 - 1865
 * Provost Marshal General's Bureau. Office of the Acting Assistant Provost Marshal for Missouri. 6th District. Lists of Colored Recruits Enlisted, ca. 1864–ca. 1864

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

Coverage Table
This table shows the number of records in this collection by birthplace. Records where the birthplace could not be determined are listed as Other locality.

Inventory
For a list of all the titles included in this Historical Records publication see United States, Missouri, Recruitment Lists of Volunteers for the United States Colored Troops - Inventory.

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
 * Use the age and location of the military unit to find the soldier’s family in census, church, and land records
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify other relatives
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Missouri.
 * Missouri Guided Research
 * Missouri Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research
 * African American Genealogy
 * Researching African American Genealogy
 * Quick Guide to African American Records

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Descriptive recruitment lists of volunteers for the United States Colored Troops for the State of Missouri,1863-1865 : NARA, pub M1894
 * Slave Claims Commission Records, Delaware, Kentucky
 * Sandra K. Gorin. Kentucky Civil War slave compensation claims.Glasgow, Kentucky : Gorin Genealogical Publishing, 2017. FS Library 976.9 M2gss
 * Kenneth E. Weant, Civil War records : United States Colored troops from Missouri. Arlington, Texas : K.E. Weant, 2013. FS Library 977.8 M2wct v. 10

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * William A. Dobak. Freedom by the sword :the U.S. Colored Troops, 1862-1867. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History. United States Army, 2011
 * Joseph B. Ross, comp., Tabular analysis of the records of the U.S. colored troops and their predecessor units in the National Archives of the United States Washington, D.C. : NARS, 1973

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.