Oregon, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of Union service records of soldiers who served in organizations from Oregon for the years 1861 to 1865. The records include abstracts of entries relating to the soldier as found in the following original records:


 * Muster rolls
 * Returns
 * Rosters
 * Payrolls
 * Appointment books
 * Hospital registers
 * Union prison registers and rolls
 * Parole rolls
 * Inspection reports

For each military unit the service records are arranged alphabetically by the soldier's surname. The Military Unit field may also display the surname range (A-G) as found on the microfilm. This collection is a part of RG 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s - 1917, and is National Archive Microfilm Publication M1816. Index courtesy of fold3 (Previously known as Footnote.com).

Service records were kept for each soldier. Those records, or their abstracts, were compiled into individual files. Each envelope/jacket contains information and cross references to original records relating to the soldier.


 * First Oregon Cavalry, Rolls 1-18
 * Olney's Company Oregon cavalry, Roll 19
 * First Oregon Infantry, Rolls 19-34

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records are in individual files which usually include the following:


 * A jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with his name, rank, and the unit in which he served
 * A card (or cards) with abstracts of entries from original muster rolls, returns, rosters, payrolls, appointment books, hospital registers, parole rolls, and inspection reports
 * The originals of any papers relating only to the particular soldier

The index to these records contains the following:


 * Jacket name
 * Soldier’s full name
 * Soldier's rank, company and regiment
 * Place of birth
 * Physical description
 * Date and place of enlistment
 * Year(s) of service
 * Age (often estimated)
 * Type of records in file
 * NARA publication number, title, and roll number

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the soldier
 * The age or date and place the soldier was born

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.

What Do I Do Next?
If these are indexes, the original records may contain additional information than was not indexed, or the information might have been indexed incorrectly. You may want to search for the original record at the National Archives in Washington D.C..

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for a military pension record
 * Search for land and property records
 * Search for probate records

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

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Oregon.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * Beginning United States Civil War Research
 * Locating a Union Civil War Soldier (1861-1865)
 * Oregon Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1903 | 1900-Present

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * Compiled service records of Volunteer Union Soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Oregon (M1816)
 * Grand Army of the Republic descriptive books and index,1870-1930
 * Compiled records showing service of military units in volunteer Union organizations Roll 163

Related FamilySearch Historical Records

 * General Pension Index

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.