Research Tips for Finding Your Confederate Roots

As the 150^th anniversary of the American Civil War approaches, many families are expressing interest in the role that family members may have played in this pivotal event in history. With more than a million men joining the Confederate cause and twice that many supporting the Union, the odds are that at least one family member played an active part in the conflict. For those searching for their Union relative, primary sources are not that difficult to find. Unfortunately, documenting the ex-Confederate in the family is much more difficult.

Throughout the war, military records from both the Confederacy and the Union were lost; sometimes by accident but often by intent. Documents including induction, service, casualty and prisoner records were routinely burned if there was any threat of capture by the opposing side. The extensive records housed at the depository at the Confederate War Department in Richmond were no exception. The archive was intentionally burned as Richmond fell to the Union in early April 1865.

Census Information

In 1890, the U.S. government commissioned a special census for Civil War veterans and widows. The schedule asked for details of enlistment, service, discharge, injury sustained or the circumstances surrounding the veteran's death. Military service is also indicated on the 1910 and 1930 Census. Those who served with the Confederacy have the letters 'CA' or 'CN' noted on their 1910 profile signifying army or navy affiliation. In 1930, only the initials of the war, not the side on which they fought (CW) are indicated. Census records are available for public review at public libraries, Family History Library branches, and at a variety of online sites such as Ancestry.com and Genealogy.com.

Confederate Pension Records

Although the surviving records for the Confederacy are incomplete, they are not nonexistent. Pension files, burial registers and other such documents pertaining to the service of the men-and women-who participated in the Civil War have been the focus of state archives and historical societies' interest for many years. Because the Federal government did not grant pensions to former CSA soldiers and sailors, applications for war allowances were submitted to the applicant's current State of residence. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has a list of the contact information for each state registry.

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

The National Park Service has dedicated hundreds of man-hours to establishing its online searchable database of the names of both Union and Confederate combatants, regiments, battles, and other details concerning the war. The names have been collected from several sources such as the Compiled Military Service Records maintained first by the U.S. Department of War and then NARA and genealogical societies throughout the country including the vast Family History Library overseen by the Genealogical Society of Utah, an affiliate of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The database allows searches based on name, state, unit, function (sharpshooter, cavalry, artillery, etc) and whether the individual served with the Union or the Confederacy.

Additional Resources

These three sources are just the tip of the information iceberg of what is available to the family historian. Cyndi's List is an excellent index of genealogy websites information of all sorts. Rootsweb, part of the ancestry.com organization, has searchable indexes as well as a user forum for swapping information. Another great resource for those interested in locating generations past is the USGenWeb Project. Volunteers who generously donate their time and information to all who seek their family's past run this compilation of documents, links, and suggestion.

Sources: http://www.genealogybranches.com/civilwar/servicerecords.html; http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/civil-war/confederate/pension.html; http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/; http://www.scv.org/crg.php