Cultural Groups in the American Civil War

Canadians
More than 50,000 Canadians fought in the U.S. Civil War. The majority fought on the Union side, but many fought with the Confederates.

For additional information, see:


 * Wikipedia article, Canada in the American Civil War
 * J M Ladouceur, Canadians in the American Civil War
 * Archives of Ontario, Ontario During the American Civil War Era
 * Ontario Civil War Round Table, Canadians in the Civil War
 * Genealogy Canada, Canada in the American Civil War

Records

 * Johnson, Daniel F. The American Civil War : the service records of Atlantic Canadians with the State of Maine volunteers. (Saint John, New Brunswick : D.F. Johnson, c1995). 2 volumes.

Hispanics
Hispanics from various states and countries fought on both sides, Union and Confederate. In the Southeast, Hispanics mostly served in the Confederate military. About 2500 fought for the Confederacy and about 1000 for the Union. However, by the end of the war, 10,000 were in the military.

The highest levels of Hispanic participation occurred in the Southwest states and territories.

For additional information, see:


 * The Wikipedia article, Hispanics in the American Civil War
 * The National Park Service article, Hispanics and the Civil War

Alabama
The Spanish Guards company was exclusively men of Spanish ancestry. It served as a home guard for the city of Mobile.

The 55th Regiment, Alabama Infantry Volunteers had many Hispanic soldiers.

Florida
Florida's 2nd Infantry had many Hispanic soldiers.

Louisiana
New Orleans' European Brigade had nearly 800 Hispanics. This was a home guard of 4,500 to keep order and defend the city.

The Louisiana Tigers were the brigades of Brigadier General Harry T. Hays's and Brigadier General William E. Starke. These brigades included Anglo and Creole Louisianans, "plus men from Spain, Cuba, Mexico, and other Latin American countries."

New York
The 39th Regiment, New York Infantry, also known as the Garibaldi Guard, had a company of Spanish and Portuguese soldiers. This was Company D, also called The Spanish Company.

New Mexico
The New Mexico Volunteer Infantry had 157 Hispanic officers. Union commander, Colonel Edward Canby met Confederate forces in New Mexico on February 21, 1862, with 3,800 troops, including 2,500 Hispanic soldiers of the New Mexico Volunteers and militia.

Hungarians
Approximately 800 Hungarian immigrants fought in the Civil War. Many were refugees from the civil unrest in Hungary during the 1840s and 1850s.

Norwegians
There is a searchable database of Norwegians in the Civil War at the Vesterheim Norwegian Historical Museum. To access online visit their website.