United States, Civil War Records of Confederate Nonregiment Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records
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Record Description | |
Record Type | Compiled Military Service Records |
Record Group | RG 109: War Department Collection of Confederate Records |
Collection years | 1861-1865 |
Microfilm Publication | M331. Compiled service records of Confederate general and staff officers and nonregimental enlisted men. |
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What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]
The collection consists of Confederate service records of general and staff officers and non-regimental enlisted men who did not serve in any particular regiment, company, or special corps. The records include abstracts of entries relating to the soldier as found in the following original records:
- Muster rolls
- Returns
- Rosters
- Payrolls
- Appointment books
- Hospital registers
- Union prison registers and rolls
- Parole rolls
- Inspection reports
The collection is alphabetically arranged by surname. This collection is a part of RG 109, War Department Collection of Confederate Records and is National Archive Microfilm Publication M331. Index courtesy of Fold3 (Previously known as Footnote.com). The records cover the years 1861 to 1865. The information in this index is quite reliable. However, keep in mind that even though this index is very accurate it still may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings or misinterpretations.
The records are in individual files which usually include the following:
- A jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with his name, 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, Union prison registers and rolls, parole rolls, and inspection reports
- The originals of any papers relating only to the particular soldier
Index and Image Visibility[edit | edit source]
Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.
What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]
The following information may be found in these records:
- Jacket name
- Soldier’s full name
- Year
- Age (often estimated)
- Military unit served in
- Type of records in file
- NARA publication number, title, and roll number
How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
- The name of your ancestor
- The age of your ancestor
- The military unit in which your ancestor served
- The names of additional family members
Search the Index[edit | edit source]
Search by name on the Collection Details Page.- Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
- Click Search to show possible matches
How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]
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.
What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]
I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- 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 other relatives
- When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
- You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination
- Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur
I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
- 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 that may be your ancestor
Research Helps[edit | edit source]
The following articles will help you research your family in the United States.
- US Military Basic Search Strategies
- Beginning Research in United States Military Records
- Beginning United States Civil War Research
- Locating a Confederate Civil War Soldier (1861–1865)
- United States Guided Research
- United States Record Finder
- United States Research Tips and Strategies
Other FamilySearch Collections[edit | edit source]
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.
FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]
- Compiled service records of Confederate general and staff officers and nonregimental enlisted men, NARA publication, M331
- James C. Neagles, Confederate research sources : a guide to archive collections 2nd ed. Ancestry Publishing, c1997 FS Library 973A3ne 1997
FamilySearch Historical Records[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Digital Library[edit | edit source]
Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]
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.
Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection. |
Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information. |