West Virginia 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 West Virginia for the years 1861 to 1865. The records include abstracts of entries relating to the soldier as found in the following original records:


 * Name, rank, company and regiment in which served
 * Muster rolls showing when soldier was mustered-in, discharged
 * 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 M508. Index courtesy of Fold3 (previously 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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The index to these records contains the following: • 2

Collection Content
The records are in individual files which usually include the following:
 * A jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with his name, his 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

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the soldier
 * Identifying information such as age

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 children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, check for variant spellings of the surnames

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities
 * 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 with the same family number

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of West Virginia.
 * 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)
 * West Virginia Guided Research
 * West Virginia Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step West Virginia Research, 1880-Present

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Boyd B. Stutler. West Virginia in the Civil War. Charleston, West Virginia : Education Foundation, 1963.975.4 M2s
 * Tim McKinney. West Virginia Civil War almanac. 2 volumes Charleston, West Virginia : Pictorial Histories Pub. Co., c1998;Charleston, West Virginia : Quarrier Press, c2000 FS Library 975.4 M2m
 * Compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of West Virginia
 * Muster rolls for West Virginia, 1861-1864 1st-2nd Regiment of Calvary

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
 * United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933
 * United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Civil War medals available to heirs of West Virginia Union veterans Charleston, West Virginia : West Virginia Division of Culture & History, 19--

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.