Virginia in the Civil War: Difference between revisions

Over 120 battles were fought in Virginia during the Civil War (1861-1865). For more information about these battles, click [[Civil War Battles Fought in Virginia|here]]. <br>

The Family History Library and the National Archives have the:  

*'''Compiled Service Records''' - The [http://go.fold3.com/civilwar_records Compiled Service Records] ($) (Fold3.com) of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Virginia are available online. In the future, these records will be [http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2007/nr07-41.html made available at no charge] through the National Archives web site. The service records are also available at no charge at [http://www.archives.gov/locations/archival-research.html National Archives research rooms]. The compiled service records consist of an envelope containing card abstracts taken from muster rolls, returns, pay vouchers, and other records. Service records may provide rank, unit, date of enlistment, length of service, age, place of birth, and date of death. For more information see [[Union Service Records|Union Service Records]].

*''Pension Index File . . . 1861-1934'' (Family History Library films beginning with {{FHL|184124|title-id|disp=540757}}). The actual pension records are only at the National Archives. Pension records sometimes list other members of the soldier's family and birth, marriage, and death information.

If a Union sympathizer in Virginia claimed a loss during the Civil War due to Union military confiscation, he could apply to the Southern Claims Commission for reimbursement. Only a few applied per county, but their neighbors were called as witnesses and asked dozens of questions. Hundreds of the residents of all kinds in a county may be mentioned in answers to Commission questions, and their wartime activities described. To learn how to find records mentioning these neighbors in Virginia counties during the Civil War see the [[Southern Claims Commission|Southern Claims Commission]]. <br>

*''Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers'' . . . (Family History Library films {{FHL|281165|title-id|disp=881395-456}}).

*''Confederate Service Records of Virginia, 1861- 65'' (Family History Library film {{FHL|409624|title-id|disp=029767-76}}).

*''[http://ajax.lva.lib.va.us/F/?func=file&file_name=find-b-clas10&local_base=CLAS10 Confederate Pension Applications], Virginia, Acts of 1888, 1900, 1902: Index 1888-1934''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (On 219 Family History Library films beginning with {{FHL|474918|title-id|disp=1439763}}.) Indexed by veteran's, widow's, or servant's name. Files are arranged by pension act, then by county, then by surname. Usually gives age, birthplace, and residence. In addition, the<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1213644453671_151" /> Library of Virginia has the [http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/collections/CW.html Confederate Pension Rolls, Veterans and Widows Electronic Card Index].&nbsp;Because not all information is included in either of these pension rolls, both databases should be consulted.

==== Cemetery Records  ====

:- Spratt, Thomas M. ''Men in Gray Interments''. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., c1996-1998&nbsp;; Athens, Georgia&nbsp;: New Papyrus Pub., c1998-2009. (Family History Library book {{FHL|770667|title-id|disp=975.5 V3s}}) This gives name and location of cemetery, soldier's name, regiment, and any other information taken from tombstones, monuments and publications. Many of the soldiers served in regiments other than those from Virginia.

*''Oakwood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, Register of Interments in Confederate Plots''. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia State Library, [19—?] (Family History Library film {{FHL|227306|title-id|disp=1294360}}) Alphabetical by name. Lists company, regiment, state, grave number, row, division, and remarks.

For guidebooks to Virginia's military units for the Civil War, the following sources are helpful: