United States Civil War 1861 to 1865, Part 2

United States Military Records

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.

General Reference Sources

 * 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.

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.
 * 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 are listed below:


 * 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.

Civil War Soldiers System
The National Park Service, 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.

As completed, the National Park Service will be posting the entries on their Internet web site. The address for the site is:


 * www.itd.nps.gov/cwss

This site also 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
Union Army soldiers may have served in the U.S. Army, local militia units mustered into federal service, or volunteer regiments raised by the individual states. The length of service varied from 90 days to three years. Many soldiers also reenlisted, serving in more than one regiment. The Union Army and Navy enlisted over 2.3 million men, of which nearly 359,000 died in combat or from wounds and disease.

There is currently no master index to the names of soldiers who served in Union volunteer regiments. Individual indexes to state volunteer regiments are available on microfilm for every Northern state and every Southern state except South Carolina. A transcription of the National Archives indexes to compiled Military Service records of Volunteer Union soldiers is:

Hewett, Janet B., editor. The Roster of Union Soldiers, 1861–1865. 33 Volumes. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Publishing, 1997–. (FHL book 973 M29h.) This series is currently in publication.

Most service records have not been microfilmed and are available only at the National Archives. The following service records and indexes are available on microfilm at the National Archives. Most of the filmed records and indexes are also available at the Family History Library. See the Family History Library Catalog for complete bibliographic information:


 * Alabama. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M276. (FHL films 1276611–20). Also, IIndex National Archives Microfilm Publication M263 (FHL film 0880848).


 * Arizona. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M532. (FHL film 0881608.)


 * Arkansas. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M399. (FHL films 1380796–855). Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M383. (FHL films 0881488–91.)


 * California. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M533. (FHL films 0881609–15.)


 * Colorado. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M534. (FHL films 0821998–2000.)


 * Connecticut. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M535. (FHL films 0821909–25.)


 * Dakota. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M536. (FHL film 0881616.) Also available at the National Archives, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the Territory of Dakota: 1st Battalion Cavalry. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1960.


 * Delaware. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M537. (FHL films 0881617–20.)


 * District of Columbia. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M538. (FHL films 0881964–66.)


 * Florida. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M400. (FHL films 1299987‑97.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M264. (FHL film 0821767.)


 * Georgia. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M403. (FHL film 1276608.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M385. (FHL film 0881394.)


 * Illinois. Index National Archives Microfilm Publication M539. (FHL films 0881621–721.)


 * Indiana. Index National Archives Microfilm Publication M540. (FHL films 0881722–807.)


 * Iowa. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M541. (FHL films 0881808–36.)


 * Kansas. Index National Archives Microfilm Publication M542. (FHL films 0881837–46.)


 * Kentucky. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M397. (FHL films 1487066–275; films 1489753–90057.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M386. (FHL films 0881492–521.)


 * Louisiana. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M396. (FHL films 1380930–79.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M387. (FHL films 0821926–29.)


 * Maine. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M543. (FHL films 0881847–69.)


 * Maryland. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M384. (FHL films 1477976–8213.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M388. (FHL films 0881522–34.)


 * Massachusetts. Index National Archives Microfilm Publication M544. (FHL films 0881870–913.)


 * Michigan. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M545. (FHL films 0881914–61.)


 * Minnesota. Index National Archives Microfilm Publication M546. (FHL films 0821930–38 and 0882902.)


 * Mississippi. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M404. (FHL films 1292659–62.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M389. (FHL film 0881535.)


 * Missouri. Compiled Service Records


 * 
 * . National Archives Microfilm Publication M405. (FHL films 1500223–01075.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M390. (FHL films 0881536–89.)


 * Nebraska. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M547. (FHL films 0821905–06.) Also available at the National Archives, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the Territory of Nebraska. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1787.


 * Nevada. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M548. (FHL film 0821939.) Also available at the National Archives, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the Territory and State of Nevada. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1789.


 * New Hampshire. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M549. (FHL films 0882018–30.)


 * New Jersey. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M550. (FHL films 0882031–56.)


 * New Mexico. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M427. (FHL films 0471538–83.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M242. (FHL films 0821883–86.)


 * New York. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M551. (FHL films 0882057–213.)


 * North Carolina. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M401 (FHL films 1473248–72) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M391. (FHL films 0881590–91.)


 * Ohio. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M552. (FHL films 0882214–335.)


 * Oregon. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M553. (FHL film 0821947.) Also available at the National Archives, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Oregon. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1816.


 * Pennsylvania. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M554. (FHL films 0882336–472.)


 * Rhode Island. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M555. (FHL films 0821940–46.)


 * Tennessee. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M395. (FHL films 1482042–261.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M392. (FHL films 0821889–904.)


 * Texas. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M402. (FHL films 1292646–58.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M393. (FHL films 0881592–93.)


 * Utah. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M692. (FHL film 0821588.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M556. (FHL film 1292645.)


 * Vermont. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M557. (FHL films 0882472–85.)


 * Virginia. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M398. (FHL films 1292638–44.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M394. (FHL film 0881594.)


 * Washington. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M558. (FHL film 0821948.)


 * West Virginia. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M508. (FHL films 1478231–475 and 1482026–041.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M507. (FHL films 0881595–607.)


 * Wisconsin. Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M559. (FHL films 0882486–518.)

The indexes include the soldier’s name, rank, and unit.

Additional service indexes for Union soldiers are:


 * Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in the Veteran Reserve Corps. National Archives Microfilm Publication M636. (FHL films 1205358–83.) Indexes the names of soldiers who were no longer able to serve combat duty but who could still perform limited duty, such as being prison guards and hospital stewards.


 * Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with United States Colored Troops. National Archives Microfilm Publication M589. (FHL films 1266617–43 and 1266546–616.) Covers many former slaves from the South as well as free African‑Americans who served in the Union Army between 1863 and 1865.


 * Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations Not Raised by States and Territories. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1290. (FHL films 1604884–920.) Indexes records of special units not raised by the states, such as the U.S. Sharpshooters, Indian Home Guard, and former Confederates.

The following related records are available on microfilm at the National Archives:

Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Troops Who Served with the United States Colored Troops: 1st United States Colored Infantry, 1st South Carolina Volunteers (Colored) Company A, 1st United States Colored Infantry (1 Year). National Archives Microfilm Publication M1819.

Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteers Who Served with the United States Colored Troops: 55th Massachusetts Infantry. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1801.

Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with the United States Colored Troops: 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored).National Archives Microfilm Publication M1898.

Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with the United States Colored Troops: Artillery Organizations. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1818.

Listed below are the service records of former Confederates or “galvanized Yankees” who enlisted from prison camps:


 * Compiled Service Records of Former Confederate Soldiers Who Served in the First through Sixth U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiments, 1864–66. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1017. (FHL films 1315687–751; computer number 122843.)

Copies of compiled service records can be requested from the National Archives by using NATF Form 80. These service records were made from muster rolls, pay lists, hospital records, and record books that have not been filmed. Some of these sources, such as the hospital registers, often give detailed information, such as birthplace. If a compiled service record notes a Bookmark File number, this refers to a separate set of records that must be asked for specifically when requesting copies The records are found in Record Group 94, Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s–1917.

Service Records of Sailors
For records of sailors who served in the Union Navy, contact the National Archives. The weekly returns of enlistments, 1855 to 1891, are the records of most value for sailors, particularly those who served between 1855 and 1865. Entries list the sailor’s name, enlistment date, birthplace, age, occupation, personal description, date of or return of enlistment, and record of previous naval service. The records have not been filmed and are available only at the National Archives in Record Group 24, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

See the following for more information:

Baugh, Virgil E., comp. ''Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel. PI 123''. Washington, D.C. 1960.

An index to sailors who enlisted between 1861 and 1865 is listed below:


 * Index to Rendezvous Reports, Civil War, 1861–65. National Archives Microfilm Publication T1099. (FHL films 1570558–88.) Entries contain the sailor’s name, ship or place of rendezvous, and date of enlistment.

Records of Officers

 * Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force of the United States Army for the Years 1861, 62, 63, 64, 65. 8 vols. 1865–67. Reprint, Gaithersburg, Md.: Olde Soldier Books, 1987. (FHL book 973 M23ua 1987; films 1320524–27) This set lists the names of officers and contains brief organizational information for each regiment. It includes the dates and names of officers promoted, resigned, discharged, dead, missing, and dismissed.

Van Sickle, Ron R. ''General Index to Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force of the United States, 1861–65 Gaithersburg, Md.: Ron R. Van Sickle Military Books, 1987. (FHL book 973 M23ua V.9.) Alphabetically arranged by name of officer with volume and page references.'''

Hamersly, Lewis R. The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps with a History of Naval Operations during the Rebellion of 1861–65, and a List of the Ships and Officers Participating in the Great Battles. 1870.Reprint, Mattituck, New York, New York: J. M. Carroll &amp; Company, 1985. (FHL book 973 M3h.) Contains brief service sketches of living officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps as they appeared in the Navy Register for 1870. Birth or family information is sometimes included. Also contains a history of naval operations of the different squadrons and lists names of officers and vessels involved in naval battles.

Hunt, Roger D., and Jack R. Brown. Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue. Gaithersburg, Maryland: Olde Soldier Books, 1990. (FHL book 973 M2hu.) Contains the name, units commanded, dates of Brevet, date and place of birth and death, education, occupation, and burial information. Includes photos.

Powell, William H., editor. Officers of the Army and Navy (Volunteer) Who Served in the Civil War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: L. R. Hamersly &amp; Company, 1893. (FHL book 973 M2p; film 0599644 item 1.) Contains similar information as Powell’s volume on regular officers described below.

Powell, William H., editor. Officers of the Army and Navy (Regular) Who Served in the Civil War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: L. R. Hamersly &amp; Company, 1892. (FHL book 973 M2po; film 0599644 item 2.) Contains pictures and sketches of officers. Each sketch usually cites birthplace and may give complete birth date. Appointment, tours of duty, battles, and skirmishes are briefly detailed.

Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1964. (FHL book 973 M2war.) Contains many pictures, brief sketches of generals’ military service, and birth and death information.

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 pension claims is listed below:

General Index to Pension Files, 1861–1934. National Archives Microfilm Publication T288. (FHL films 0540757–1300.) The index is arranged by the veteran’s or widow’s name and his unit, rank, date and application number, certificate number if accepted, and state of filing.

The pension files have not been filmed and are only available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. You can obtain photocopies of pension files by using NATF Form 80, available from the National Archives. The archives staff will copy only selected documents unless you request copies of all the documents in a file.

''Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907–1933. National Archives Microfilm Publication M850. (FHL films 1634036–6574.) This index is useful for veterans who were on the pension rolls between 1907 and 1933, except World War I pensioners. About two million cards record payment to veterans and widows. The veteran’s name, unit or branch of service, certificate number, law under which pensioned, rate of pension, pension date, date of certificate, place of residence, death date, former roll number, and widow’s name may be included on the cards.''

Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served between 1861 and 1900. National Archives Microfilm Publication T289. (FHL 765 films.) This index is similar in content to the general index and the pension payment cards, but it may provide death information. The index is alphabetical by state, branch of service, regiment, company, and name of the veteran.

Union Prisoner of War Records
Prisoner of war records of Union prisoners are described in:

Beers, Henry Putney. The Confederacy: A Guide to the Archives of the Government of the Confederate States of America, 1968. Reprint, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Record Administration, 1986. (FHL book 973 A5mb 1986.) Records of the Commissary General of Prisoners are described on pages 247–59.

Prisoner of war records at the Family History Library include:

Selected Records of the War Department Commissary General of Prisoners Relating to Federal Prisoners Confined at Andersonville, Georgia, 1864–65. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1303. (FHL film 1930186–91.) Contains a register of about 30,000 departures from the prison; indexes and registers of prisoners admitted to the prison hospital; registers of prisoner deaths and burials as well as monthly reports of prisoners; and so on.

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. They include the following:


 * Consolidated Lists. These are arranged by state, then by congressional district, and then alphabetically by the first letter of the surname. The lists give name; place of residence; age as of 1 July 1863; occupation; marital status; state, territory, or country of birth; and military service (if any).
 * Descriptive Rolls. These are arranged the same as the Consolidated Lists and include a physical description of the enrollee, birthplace, and whether accepted or rejected for service. Who was subject to the draft: • All males between 20 and 45 were subjected to the draft. • Those who were exempt from service included: - Men who were mentally or physically impaired - The only son of a widow - The son of infirm parents - A widower with dependent children • A few paid a substitute to serve for them. (The going price was around $300, but quickly went to $1,100 or more.) • The unpopular draft lasted until 1865, when the war ended. • Enrollment districts were divided along the same lines as Congressional Districts.

What draft records contain: • Name • Residence • Age as of 1 July 1863 • Place of birth • Marital status • Race • Occupation

INFORMATION FROM: Meier, Michael T. "Genealogy Notes: Civil War Draft Records: Exemptions and Enrollments," Prologue, Quarterly of the National Archives 26:1 (Spring 1994) FHL book 973 B2p.

To find a name in the records, you must first determine the congressional district in which your ancestor lived. Congressional district numbers are listed in the following:

United States Congress. Congressional Directory for the Second Session of the Thirty‑eighth Congress of the United States of America. Washington, D.C.: Philip &amp; Solomons, 1865. (FHL book 973 E4uc 1865; film 1425543 item 6.) This is arranged alphabetically by state, then by Congressional district. The counties are included in each district.

There are also some case files on drafted aliens in National Archives Record Group 59, General Records of the Department of State. These are arranged alphabetically and include name, age, district from which drafted, country of citizenship, and length of residence in the United States.

Civil War draft or enrollment records are discussed in:

Meier, Michael T. “Civil War Draft Records: Exemptions and Enrollments.” Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives 26. (Winter 1994): 282–86. (FHL book 973 B2p.)

• Neagles, James C. U.S. Military Records: A Guide to Federal and State Sources, Colonial America to the Present. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, 1994) FHL book 973 M23nu. This book includes general information about draft records. Draft records are also mentioned in the State Resources section, which begins on page 195. This publication describes various military records available at major repositories of each state, such as archives, libraries, and historical and genealogical societies.

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.

The following sources contain organizational unit names and brief service histories of Union Army regiments:

Dyer, Frederic. Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Two Volumes. 1908. Reprint, Dayton, Ohio: The Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1978. (FHL book 973 M2df.)

[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&amp;columns=*%2C0%2C0&amp;titleno=499078&amp;disp=Compiled+records+showing+service+of+mili++ Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in Volunteer Union Organizations 

].''National Archives Microfilm Publication M594. (FHL films 1488453–677.) Transcribed as Part II Record of Events to Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. For additional information, look under “General Reference Sources” in this section on page 24.''

Fallon, John T. List of Synonyms of Organizations in the Volunteer Service of the United States during the Years 1861, ‘62, ‘63, ‘64, and ‘65. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1885. (FHL film 195490.) Arranged by state, then alphabetical by synonym, with references to its regular or final designation. An additional arrangement of the synonyms alphabetically is included.

The Union Army, a History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861–1865; Records of the Regiments in the Union Army, Encyclopedia of Battles, Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. Nine Volumes. 1908. Reprint, Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Publishing, 1998. (FHL book 973 M2ua.) The first four volumes contain regimental sketches. Volumes five and six are an encyclopedia of battles. Volume seven contains naval information, and Volume eight has biographical sketches of Union generals.

The Family History Library has a large collection of regimental histories. To find specific microfilm numbers look in the Author/Title search of the Family History Library Catalog on microfiche under the name of the author. The library is also in the process of acquiring Civil War Unit Histories: Regimental Histories and Personal Narratives on microfiche from University Publications of America. This collection will include the state adjutant general’s office reports and the unit histories and personal narratives published from 1861 to 1920 that are listed in Charles E. Dornbusch’s previously mentioned Military Bibliography of the Civil War .

The collection is divided into five parts: the Union is covered in parts 2–5; Part 2, New England; Part 3, Mid-Atlantic; Part 4, Midwest and West; Part 5, higher and independent commands and naval forces. A published inventory for each part is available in:

Lester, Robert E., project editor, and Blair D. Hydrick, compiler. A Guide to the Microfiche Edition of Civil War Unit Histories: Regimental Histories and Personal Narratives. Bethesda, Maryland: University of America, 1993. (FHL book 973 M2cwu; Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.)

Unit histories often 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. This map can be accessed at http://tsla-teva.state.tn.us/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fmaps

For additional information look under “General Reference Sources” in the “Civil War" section of this article.

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 war. The following is the best source to begin searching for a Union soldier’s burial place:

Quartermaster General’s Office. Roll of Honor: Names of Soldiers Who Died in Defense of the American Union. 27 Volumes. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1865–71. Reprint in ten volumes., Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1994. (FHL book 973 M2roh 1994.) (FHL CD #9, part 351.) (FHL films 1311589–91.) The records are arranged by the burial place. Each entry generally gives the soldier’s name, rank, regiment, company, and death date.

Reamy, Martha, and William Reamy, compiler. Index to the Roll of Honor. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995. (FHL book 973 M2roh index.) Indexed by name with volume and page reference for the 27 volumes of the roll of honor. Hughes, Mark, compiler. The Unpublished Roll of Honor. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1996. (FHL book 973 M2roha.) Contains additional names not included in the roll of honor.

Hughes, Mark. Bivouac of the Dead. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1995. (FHL book 973 M24h.) Contains a history of the National Cemetery system and burial procedures of the Union army, an index to the original burial site along with final burial site of soldiers (1860–90), and a brief description of each cemetery.

Card Records of Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, ca. 1879–1903. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1845. Contains 166,000 records of veterans buried in private cemeteries. Cards are arranged alphabetically and contain the name of the veteran, rank, company, regiment, place of burial, name and location of cemetery, grave number, date of death, and supplier of headstones.

Additional statewide burial records of Union soldiers and veterans available at the Family History Library include:

Civil War Graves Registration Index Cards, 1861–1930. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994. (FHL 22 films, beginning with 1955405.) This index for the state of Michigan includes name, county of burial, and military unit. Civil War Veterans Buried in Nebraska. Lincoln, Nebraska: State Historical Society, 1970. (FHL films 0833155–56.) Entries contain name, GAR post number; place of burial, including city and county; cemetery name; grave lot and section; date and place of death; place of birth; date of birth; company; regiment; rank; and enlistment and discharge dates.

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. Below is a published history of the organization with biographical sketches of national and state officials:

Beath, Robert B. History of the Grand Army of the Republic. New York, New York: Bryan, Taylor &amp; Company, 1889. (FHL book 973 M2bea; film 1320710 item 2.)

By 1890, about 40 percent of Union veterans were members of the Grand Army of the Republic. The descriptive books of each GAR post usually indicate each member’s name, age, birthplace, residence, occupation, and enlistment and discharge information. Records of GAR posts and of other veterans’ organizations may be found in historical societies, state archives, and state libraries. The Family History Library has records for:


 * Iowa (FHL 69 films).
 * Michigan (FHL 76 films).
 * Nebraska (FHL 2 films).
 * Oregon (FHL film 2167206).
 * South Dakota (FHL film 1598224, item 1.)
 * Utah (FHL 2 films).

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

[STATE] ‑ SOCIETIES

The following publications contain deaths of GAR members:

Concannon, Marie. Grand Army of the Republic, Missouri Division, Index to Death Rolls 1882–1940: Taken from the Proceedings of the Annual Encampments. Columbia, Missouri: State Historical Society of Missouri, 1995. (FHL book 977.8 M22c.) Entries list name, post number and location, age at death, and the year and page numbers in which the death was reported.

Myers, Jane, compiler. Honor Roll of Oregon Grand Army of the Republic, 1881–1935: Deaths [sic Reported in Oregon of Members of the GAR, Extracted from Proceedings of the Annual Encampments of the Department of Oregon, Grand Army of the Republic]. Cottage Grove, Oregon: Cottage Grove Genealogical Society, 1980. (FHL book 979.5 A1 no. 53.) Alphabetically arranged. Entries contain the name of the veteran, company, regiment, date of death, and GAR post number in Oregon.

Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861–65. This organization was established in 1885. The address of their library and museum is:

Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 503 South Walnut Street Springfield, IL 62704 Telephone: 217-544-0616 Internet: http://www.duvcw.org/

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War . Established in 1881, this society has no permanent headquarters. The society has a grave registration committee. Check the current edition of the Encyclopedia of Associations described in the “Veterans’ and Lineage Society Records” within the “Types of Military Records” section of this outline.

The society’s Internet web site is found at:


 * http://suvcw.org

This site includes a history of the organization, membership information, coming events, a Civil War ancestor registration project, grave registration project, state department (chapter) web sites, and links to other related genealogical web sites.

The society publishes the following:

The Banner: The Journal of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Dwight, Illinois: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1897–. (FHL book 973 H25ba.)

For a published history of the society and a roster of some current members see:

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing, 1996. (FHL book 973 C4suv.)

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

Their address is:

MOLLUS 1805 Pine Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Telephone: 215-546-2425 Internet: http://suvcw.org/mollus.htm

This website has announcements, membership requirements, and national and state organization information.

A roster of the society members are located in:

Aubin, Joshua Harris. Register of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Boston, Massachusetts: Commandry of the State of Massachusetts, 1906. (FHL book 973 C4a; 908066 item 4.) Arranged alphabetically by name of officer, rank, unit of service, state, commandery or relationship to officer if heredity member.

Additional Union Sources
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. ''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=376567&disp=Our+Army+nurses%20%20&columns=*,0,0 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. ''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=786572&disp=Biographical+dictionary+of+the+Union%20%20&columns=*,0,0 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, see the state research outlines.

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 Internet: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mscivilw/csa_resc.html

Confederate Service Records
Service Records of Soldiers. The compiled service records for Confederate soldiers have been indexed and microfilmed. The following is a master index to the compiled service records of Confederate enlisted soldiers and officers:

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.

The records have also been indexed by state. The records and indexes available at the National Archives and Family History Library are


 * Alabama. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M311. (FHL films 0880330‑837.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M374. (FHL films 0821949–97.)
 * Arizona. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M318. (FHL film 0536241.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M375. (FHL film 0821837.)
 * Arkansas. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M317. (FHL films 0880849–1104.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M376. (FHL films 0821811–36.)
 * Florida. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M251. (FHL films 0880103–206.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M225. (FHL films 0880001–09.)
 * Georgia. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M266. (FHL films 1499064–670.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M226. (FHL films 0821700–66.)
 * Kentucky. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M319. (FHL films 1447468–603.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M377. (FHL films 0881380–93.)
 * Louisiana. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M320. (FHL films 1447604–975; 1473206–47.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M378. (FHL films 0881457–87.)
 * Maryland. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M321. (FHL films 1292663–84; .) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M379. (FHL films 0821887–88.)
 * Mississippi. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M269. (FHL films 1488026–452.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M232. (FHL films 0821838–82.)
 * Missouri. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M322. (FHL films 1500030–222.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M380. (FHL films 0882002–17.)
 * North Carolina. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M270. (FHL films 1381001–500; 1447001–80.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M230. (FHL films 0821768–810.)
 * South Carolina. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M267. (FHL films 1380691–95; 1447081–467.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M381. (FHL films 0881967–2001.)
 * Tennessee. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M268. (FHL films 1499671–854, 120547, 1499856–1500028, 1527065.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M231. (FHL films 0880055–102.)
 * Texas. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M323. (FHL films 1501077–52.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M227. (FHL films 0880014–54.)
 * Virginia. Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M324. (FHL films 1488678–9752.) Also, Index. National Archives Microfilm Publication M382. (FHL films 0881395–456.)

The following is another important index to service records:

Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations Raised Directly by the Confederate Government and of Confederate General and Staff Officers and Nonregimental Enlisted Men. National Archives Microfilm Publication M818. (FHL films 1205310–35.)

The above source indexes the following two collections:

''Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in Organizations Raised Directly by the Confederate Government. National Archives Microfilm Publication M258. (FHL films 0880207–329.) This series of records includes those units not raised by the individual states.'' Compiled Service Records of Confederate General and Staff Officers and Nonregimental Enlisted Men. National Archives Microfilm Publication M331. (FHL films 0881105–379.) The records include those men performing staff duties.

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

UNITED STATES ‑MILITARY RECORDS ‑ CIVIL WAR, 1861–1865

Below is an alphabetical collection of records that were never indexed nor interfiled with the compiled service records:

Unfiled Papers and Slips Belonging to Confederate Compiled Service Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M347. (FHL films 1402001–442.)

Service Records of Sailors.
The source below is a guide to Confederate naval sources: Moebs, Thomas Truxton. Confederate States Navy Research Guide. Williamsburg, Virginia: Moebs Publishing, 1991. (FHL book 973 M2moe.) Contains biographical sketches of Naval and Marine officers, naval histories of Confederate naval vessels, and a subject bibliography of sources.

The following card collection has information about sailors and Marines abstracted from original documents, such as hospital, prison, and parole records:

Confederate Naval and Marine Personnel Records. National Archives Microfilm Publication M260. (FHL films 0191662–8.)

Published muster rolls and statistical data on ships are in Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies, Vol. 1, Series II. The muster rolls list name, grade, and ship. For additional information look under “General Reference Sources” in this section.

For information about Marines see the following:

Donnelly, Ralph W. Service Records of Confederate Enlisted Marines. Washington, D.C.: Ralph W. Donnelly, 1979. (FHL book 973 M2dr.) Entries list name, company, enlistment date, and place along with brief service histories.

Records of Officers.
For biographical sketches and other information about officers in addition to the service records, see the following:

Allardice, Bruce S. More Generals in Gray. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1995. (FHL book 973 H2all.)

Crute, Joseph H. Confederate Staff Officers, 1861–1865. Powhatan, Virginia: Derwent Books, 1982. (FHL book 973 M2cru.) Arranged alphabetically by general. Includes birth and death year; rank, commands, or positions held; and their staff by name, rank, staff assignment, and date of appointment.

Donnelly, Ralph W. Biographical Sketches of the Commissioned Officers of the Confederate States Marine Corps. Washington, DC: Ralph W. Donnelly, 1983. (FHL book 973 M2do.) Entries include list, name of officer, parents, birth date, service history, marriage, and death information.

Dudley, William S. Going South: U.S. Navy Officer Resignations and Dismissals On the Eve of the Civil War. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Foundation, 1981. (FHL book 973 M2du.) The appendix contains information about officers and is arranged by rank. It includes the following: name, date resignation was tendered, date resignation was accepted or dismissed, state of birth, state appointed, state citizenship, date of Confederate states name appointment, Confederate states navy rank.

Estes, Claud. List of Field Officers, Regiments and Battalions in the Confederate States Army, 1861–1865.1912. Reprint, Mattituck, New York: J. M. Carroll &amp; Company, 1983. (FHL book 973 M2lo.) Contains name, rank, and unit.

Krick, Robert K. Lee’s Colonels: A Biographical Register of the Field Officers of the Army of Northern Virginia. Third Edition. Dayton, Ohio: Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1990. (FHL book 973 D36kca is for the 2nd ed.) Arranged alphabetically and contains name, date, and place of birth; some entries identify wife. The appendix contains an additional list of 3,524 field officers by name, identifying rank, and unit.

Office of Naval Records. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=186510&disp=Register+of+Officers+of+the+Confederate+%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Register of Officers of the Confederate States Navy, 1861–1865. 1931].''Reprint, Mattituck, New York: J. M. Carroll &amp; Company. (FHL book 973 M3ro.) Arranged alphabetically by name. Some entries list the state of birth, state appointed from, service history, and rank.''

Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. (FHL book 973 M2wa.) Contains brief sketches of military service with some pictures and birth and death information.

Confederate Pension Records.
Pensions were granted to Confederate veterans, widows, and orphans by the former Confederate states. The Family History Library has an excellent collection of available Confederate pension records. Those for the following states are available on film at the Family History Library:


 * Alabama (FHL films starting with 1502476).
 * Arkansas (FHL films 1722443–563.) The following are indexes to these films:

Ingmire, Francis T. Arkansas Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications. St. Louis, Missouri: F. T. Ingmire, 1985. (FHL book 976.7 M28f.) Entries include the following information for the veteran or widow or both: name, application number, military unit of service, application date, county, and death date.

Allen, Desmond W. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=638391&disp=Index+to+Arkansas+Confederate+pension+ap%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Arkansas Confederate Pension Applications .. .], Two Volumes. Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, 1991. (FHL book 976.7 M22adl; film 1697962 item 2.) Contains the name of the veteran or widow or both, company, regiment, year of application, and death date.


 * Florida (FHL films 0006717‑6885). These records are indexed in:

White, Virgil D. ''Register of Florida CSA Pension Applications. ''Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1989. (FHL book 975.9 M2w.) Entries are listed alphabetically and include unit of service; widow’s name including maiden name; county of residence, and number of pages in file.


 * Georgia (FHL 634 films). Index. (FHL films 1493047–85.) These records are indexed in:

White, Virgil D. Index to Georgia Civil War Confederate Pension Files. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1996. (FHL 975.8 M22w.) Arranged alphabetically and contain name of veteran, military unit, widow’s name or witnesses, and county of residence. Covers pensions paid to veterans and widows from 1879 to 1960.


 * Kentucky (FHL films 1670795–844). These records are indexed in:

Simpson, Alicia Simpson, compiler. Index of Confederate Pension Applications, Commonwealth of Kentucky. Frankfurt, Kentucky: Division of Archives and Records, 1981. (FHL book 976.9 M2k.) Arranged alphabetically by the name of applicant, veteran, or widow, county of residence, date application was received, and application number


 * Louisiana. Application Record for Pensions, 1898–1944 (FHL films 1412743–44); Record of Pensioners of the State of Louisiana, 1898–1940. (FHL films 1412742–43); and Louisiana Confederate Veterans Pensions, 1912–1936. (FHL film 1704156 item 17.
 * Mississippi (FHL 94 films).
 * Missouri (FHL films 1021101–27). These records are indexed in:

Fox, Peggy Barnes, compiler. and editor. Missouri Confederate Pensions and Confederate Home Applications Index. Hillsboro, Texas: Hill College Press, 1996. (FHL book 977.8 M2fp.) Arranged alphabetically and includes the name of the veteran and the county of residence.


 * North Carolina (FHL 105 films).
 * Oklahoma (FHL films 1001529–48). These records are indexed in:

Index to Applications for Pensions from the State of Oklahoma.. . . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Genealogical Society, 1969. (FHL book 976.6 M24o; fiche 6046932.) Alphabetical by name with application and reel number.


 * South Carolina. The Family History Library has pension-related material for veterans residing in the following counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union, Williamsburg, and York. For film numbers, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

SOUTH CAROLINA - [COUNTY] - PENSIONS

SOUTH CAROLINA - MILITARY RECORDS- CIVIL WAR -PENSIONS

Some veterans received artificial limbs. The following publication provides information on available records.

McCawley, Patrick. Artificial Limbs for Confederate Soldiers. Columbia, South Carolina: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1992. (FHL book 975.7 Al no. 109.) Contains an index to artificial limbs vouchers and applications. The entries include name, county, year, folder number, and item number.


 * Tennessee (FHL 181 films). These records are indexed in:

Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications(not published), 1964. (FHL book 976.8 M24t; film 0873919; fiche 6051232.) Arranged in three parts: veteran, widow, and colored applications. The entries contain the name of applicant, county of residence, unit served, and application number.

Sistler, Samuel, editor. Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications. Nashville, Tennessee: Byron Sistler and Associates, 1994. (FHL 976.8 M22s index; fiche 6125500.) Arranged alphabetically, and includes the name of applicant, application number, county, and unit.

Wiefering, Edna and Charles A. Sherrill, editor. Tennessee’s Confederate Widows and Their Families: Abstracts of 11,190 Confederate Widows’ Pension Applications. Cleveland, Tennessee; Cleveland Public Staff and Volunteers, 1992. (FHL 976.8 M28w.) Indexed. Entries include pension file number, widow’s name, widow’s maiden name, county of residence at time of application, year and place of widow’s birth, name of veteran and year and place of birth, year and place of marriage, and year and place of veteran’s death.


 * Texas (FHL 700 films). These records have the following indexes:

Kinney, John M., compiler. Index to Applications for Texas Confederate Pensions. Revised by Peggy Oakley. Austin, Texas: Texas State Library, 1977. (FHL book 976.4 M22k; fiche 6019976.) (1975 edition is on FHL film 0928040 item 3.) This index is arranged in three parts: approved applications, rejected applications, and residence of the Confederate home. Entries contain name of applicant, county of residence, application number, and book number.

Confederate Pension Index for Texas, 1870–1930. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1996. (FHL film 2031526.)

White, Virgil. ''Index to Texas C.S.A. Pension Files. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1989. (FHL book 976.4 M22w.) Arranged alphabetically by the name of the veteran or widow. A are application numbers; P are pension numbers.'''


 * Virginia. Acts of 1888, 1900, and 1902. (FHL 219 films).

To find specific microfilm numbers for Confederate pensions with the Family History Library Catalog, select microfilm number search from the main menu. You can also find information on the Internet site of the National Archives and Records Administration at:

http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/civil-war/confederate/pension.html

This site provides a state-by-state list of (and links to) Southern state archives with pension records. There is a brief history of pensions from each state, as well as key reference books or indexes. Keep in mind that the veteran was eligible to apply for a pension to the state in which he lived, even if he served in a unit from a different state.

Pensions may also be obtained from the states. Below is a guide for writing to obtain Confederate pension records:

Allen, Desmond Wall. Where to Write for Confederate Pension Records. Bryant, Arkansas: Research Associates, 1991. (FHL book 973 A1 number 307; fiche 6104915.) This pamphlet briefly describes pension files with photocopy cost, date of earliest pension legislation, available indexes, addresses of where files are located in each of the Southern states, and other sources of information on veterans.

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.

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 Records Showing Service of Military
''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=499053&disp=Compiled+records+showing+service+of+mili++ 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 Gary, Clemmitt,  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. ''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=976.4+D2u 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.

Below is an index to the first 40 volumes:

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.
 * 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