Begin a search for confederate records: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:48, 8 November 2011

[[United States of America|

United States]] U.S. Military Civil War, 1861 to 1865 Beginning Civil War Research Begin a search for confederate records

If you have a male ancestor who was born in the 1830s or 1840s and who lived in a southern state or the border states of Kentucky, Maryland, or Missouri, he may have served in the Confederate forces in the Civil War. Most who served were in their late teens or early twenties but could have been older or younger. It is helpful to know at least the state where your ancestor lived when the war started in 1861.

1. Search online indexes for possible service or pension records.

The American Civil War Research Database ($) has 4.2 million soldiers' records. Ancestry ($) has an older version of this database with information on 2.1 million soldiers.
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System is sponsored by the National Park Service, the Genealogical Society of Utah, and the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Information in this database is from the National Archives General Index Cards to Union and Confederate soldier's service records. It includes the records of 6.3 million soldiers. Use variant spellings for your surname if you do not locate your ancestor. This site includes regimental histories, battle descriptions, and Union and Confederate prisoner of war records.
Footnote ($) has a consolidated compiled index to all Confederate service records. You can search the file by either the military unit (usually a regiment), then alphabetically by the soldier's last name. Or you may search the database by the last name of the soldier, then his given name. Knowing the state from which your ancestor served is often necessary. Footnote is available at Family History Centers.

Online indexes and some digital records exist for the following southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Make a note of your ancestor's military unit, including type of service(i.e. cavalry, infantry, artillery), the unit number, and the unit commander.

2. Once you have located your ancestor in one of the Confederate service indexes, search the National Archives films for the complete service record. At the Family History Library, these films are organized by state and then by military unit (typically regiment number). These groups of films begin with an alphabetical index which you may skip if you have already located your ancestor's military unit.

Deterimine which film lists your ancestor's military unit, then search the film alphabetically for your ancestor's name. Be sure to use variant spellings if needed. See Alabama,Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Virginia .

3.Some Confederate pension records can be accessed at the Family History Library. See more.

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+''[[United States of America|[[Image:Battle of Gettysburg by Currier and Ives.png|right|200x200px]]United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Military Records|U.S. Military]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|Civil War, 1861 to 1865]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Beginning United States Civil War Research|Beginning Civil War Research]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] Begin a search for confederate records''
-| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
+[[Image:Civil War Battles Map.PNG|right|200x200px]]
-| link2=[[United States Military Records|U.S. Military]]
+If you have a male ancestor who was born in the 1830s or 1840s and who lived in a southern state or the border states of Kentucky, Maryland, or Missouri, he may have served in the Confederate forces in the Civil War.&nbsp; Most who served were in their late teens or early twenties but could have been older or younger.&nbsp; It is helpful to know at least the state where your ancestor lived when the war started in 1861.&nbsp;
-| link3=[[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|U.S. Civil War]]
-| link4=[[Beginning United States Civil War Research|Beginning Civil War Research]]
-| link5=[[Begin a search for confederate records|Begin a search for confederate records]]
-}}
-{{US-civilwar-sidebar}}
-[[Image:Battle of Gettysburg by Currier and Ives.png|right|200x200px|Battle of Gettysburg by Currier and Ives.png]] [[Image:Civil War Battles Map.PNG|right|200x200px|Civil War Battles Map.PNG]] <br><br>If you have a male ancestor who was born in the 1830s or 1840s and who lived in a southern state or the border states of Kentucky, Maryland, or Missouri, he may have served in the Confederate forces in the Civil War.  Most who served were in their late teens or early twenties but could have been older or younger.  It is helpful to know at least the state where your ancestor lived when the war started in 1861.
-.  Search online indexes for possible service or pension records.
+.&nbsp; Search online indexes for possible service or pension records.&nbsp;
-*[http://www.civilwardata.com The American Civil War Research Database]  ($) has 4.2 million soldiers' records.  [http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/military/civilwar/main.aspx Ancestry] ($) has an older version of this database with information on 2.1 million soldiers.
+*[http://www.civilwardata.com The American Civil War Research Database]&nbsp; ($) has 4.2 million soldiers' records.&nbsp; [http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/military/civilwar/main.aspx Ancestry]&nbsp;($) has an older version of this database with information on 2.1 million soldiers.
-*[https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System] is sponsored by the National Park Service, the Genealogical Society of Utah, and the Federation of Genealogical Societies.  Information in this database is from the National Archives General Index Cards to Union and Confederate soldier's service records.  It includes the records of 6.3 million soldiers.  Use variant spellings for your surname if you do not locate your ancestor.  This site includes regimental histories, battle descriptions, and Union and Confederate prisoner of war records.
+*[http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/ Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System]&nbsp;is sponsored by the National Park Service, the Genealogical Society of Utah, and the Federation of Genealogical Societies.&nbsp;&nbsp;Information in this database&nbsp;is&nbsp;from the&nbsp;National Archives General Index Cards to Union and Confederate soldier's service records.&nbsp; It includes the records of 6.3 million soldiers.&nbsp; Use variant spellings for your surname if you do not locate your ancestor.&nbsp; This site includes regimental histories, battle descriptions, and Union and Confederate prisoner of war records.
-*[http://www.fold3.com Fold3] ($) has a consolidated compiled index to all Confederate service records.  You can search the file by either the military unit (usually a regiment), then alphabetically by the soldier's last name.  Or you may search the database by the last name of the soldier, then his given name.  Knowing the state from which your ancestor served is often necessary.  Fold3 is available at FamilySearch Centers.
+*[http://www.footnote.com Footnote]&nbsp;($) has a consolidated compiled index to all Confederate service records.&nbsp; You can search the file by either the military unit (usually a regiment), then alphabetically by the soldier's last name.&nbsp; Or you may search the database by the last name of the soldier, then his given name.&nbsp; Knowing the state from which your ancestor served is often necessary.&nbsp; Footnote is available at Family History Centers.
-Online indexes and some digital records exist for the following southern states: [https://web.archive.org/web/20161024033539/http://www.archives.state.al.us/civilwar/index.cfm Alabama], [https://www.floridamemory.com/collections/pensionfiles/ Florida], [http://docuweb.gsu.edu/CivilWar.htm Georgia], [https://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/ResearchHistoricalRecords/LocateHistoricalRecords/Pages/ConfederatePensionDatabase.aspx Louisiana], [http://www.odl.state.ok.us/oar/docs/pension.pdf Oklahoma], [http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/ South Carolina], [https://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/tennessee-confederate-pension-applications-soldiers-widows Tennessee], [http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/pensions/index.html Texas], and [http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/opac/conpenabout.htm Virginia].
+Online indexes and some digital records exist for the following southern states:&nbsp; [http://www.archives.state.al.us/civilwar/index.cfm Alabama], [http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/PensionFiles/ Florida], [http://docuweb.gsu.edu/CivilWar.htm Georgia], [http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=637 Louisiana], [http://www.censusdiggins.com/nc_civilwar.html North Carolina], [http://www.odl.state.ok.us/oar/docs/pension.pdf Oklahoma], [http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/ South Carolina], [http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/history/military/pension.htm Tennessee], [http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/pensions/index.html Texas], and [http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/mil/index.htm Virginia].
-'''Make a note of your ancestor's military unit, including type of service (i.e. cavalry, infantry, artillery), the unit number, and the unit commander.'''
+'''Make a note of your ancestor's military unit, including type of service(i.e. cavalry, infantry, artillery), the unit number, and the unit commander.'''
-.  Once you have located your ancestor in one of the Confederate service indexes, search the National Archives films for the complete service record. At the FamilySearch Library, these films are organized by state and then by military unit (typically regiment number).  These groups of films begin with an alphabetical index which you may skip if you have already located your ancestor's military unit.
+.&nbsp; Once you have located your ancestor in one of the Confederate service indexes, search the National Archives films for the complete service record.&nbsp;At the Family History Library, these films are organized by state and then by military unit (typically regiment number).&nbsp;&nbsp;These groups of&nbsp;films begin with an alphabetical index which you may skip if you have already located your ancestor's military unit.
-Determine which film lists your ancestor's military unit, then search the film alphabetically for your ancestor's name. Be sure to use variant spellings if needed. See {{FSC|300893|title-id|disp=Alabama}}, {{FSC|1932369|title-id|disp=Florida}}, {{FSC|499014|title-id|disp=Georgia}}, {{FSC|484181|title-id|disp=Louisiana}}, {{FSC|1932376|title-id|disp=North Carolina}}, Oklahoma, {{FSC|515563|title-id|disp=South Carolina}}, {{FSC|1932378|title-id|disp=Tennessee}}, {{FSC|499034|title-id|disp=Texas}}, or {{FSC|499010|title-id|disp=Virginia}} .
+Deterimine which film lists your ancestor's military unit, then search&nbsp;the film&nbsp;alphabetically for your ancestor's name. Be sure to use variant spellings if needed. See {{FHL|300893|title-id|disp=Alabama}},[https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&fed=false&collectionId=&catSearchType=keywords&searchCriteria=Compiled+service+records+of+Confederate+soldiers+who+served+in+organizations+from+the+state+of+Florida&placeName=&author_givenName=&author_surname= Florida], {{FHL|499014|title-id|disp=Georgia}}, {{FHL|484181|title-id|disp=Louisiana}}, [https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&collectionId=&fed=false&page=1&catSearchType=keywords&searchCriteria=Compiled+service+records+of+Confederate+soldiers+who+served+in+organizations+from+the+state+of+North+Carolina&placeName=&author_givenName=&author_surname= North Carolina], Oklahoma, {{FHL|515563|title-id|disp=South Carolina}}, [https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&collectionId=&fed=false&page=1&catSearchType=keywords&searchCriteria=Compiled+service+records+of+Confederate+soldiers+who+served+in+organizations+from+the+state+of+Tennessee&placeName=&author_givenName=&author_surname= Tennessee], {{FHL|499034|title-id|disp=Texas}}, or {{FHL|499010|title-id|disp=Virginia}}&nbsp;.
-. Some Confederate pension records can be accessed at the FamilySearch Library. See [[Confederate Pension Records]] for more information.
+.Some Confederate pension records can be accessed at the Family History Library. [[Confederate Pension Records|See more]].
-[[Category:Beginners]] [[Category:United_States_Civil_War,_1861_to_1865]]
+[[Category:Beginners]] [[Category:United_States_Civil_War,_1861_to_1865]] [[Category:Select_Records_to_Search]]