Military Records and Genealogy ResearchIt was the greatest war in American history. three million fought - 600,000 died. It was the only war fought on American soil by Americans, and for that reason the American people have always been fascinated with The Civil War. And the premier website on the internet for America's bloodiest conflist is CivilWar.com. Here you will find everything from the Official record (OR) to timelines, battles and interactive maps, and much more.
One of the defining events in American history was the Civil War which involved over 3.5 million men who served the United States and the Confederate States of America.
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System is a computerized database containing very basic facts about servicemen who served on both sides during the Civil War. The initial focus of the CWSS is the Names Index Project, a project to enter names and other basic information from 5.4 million soldier records in the National Archives. The facts about the soldiers are being entered from records that are indexed to many millions of other documents about Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration.
Other information will include: histories of regiments in both the Union and Confederate Armies, links to descriptions of 384 significant battles of the war, and other historical information. Additional information about soldiers, sailors, regiments, and battles, as well as prisoner-of-war records and cemetery records, will be added over time.
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) is a cooperative effort by the National Park Service (NPS) and several other public and private partners, to computerize information about the Civil War.
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors website
Millions of the men who served during the Civil War, or their dependents, applied for pension support from the federal government (Union veterans) and from various southern states (Confederate veterans).
Union pension records should be ordered from the National Archives in Washington using form NATF 85. You can not order the veteran's Military Record and Pension Record on one form.
Confederate pension records cannot be ordered from the National Archives. The agencies listed below are repositories for Confederate pension records. The veteran was eligible to apply for a pension to the State in which he lived, even if he served in a unit from a different State. Generally, an applicant was eligible for a pension only if he was indigent or disabled. In your letter to the repository, state the Confederate veteran's name, his widow's name, the unit(s) in which he served, and the counties in which he and his widow lived after the Civil War. Some repositories also have records of Confederate Homes (for veterans, widows, etc.), muster rolls of State Confederate militia, and other records related to the war. Below are links to all the known online Confederate Pension Indexes.
Alabama Department of Archives and History, 624 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36130-0100, Telephone: 334-242-4363
In 1867 Alabama began granting pensions to Confederate veterans who had lost arms or legs. In 1886 the State began granting pensions to veterans' widows. In 1891 the law was amended to grant pensions to indigent veterans or their widows.
Online Indexes:
Alabama Civil War Service Database - Men from Alabama who served in the Confederate army (A-L)
Arkansas History Commission, 1 Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, Telephone: 501-682-6900
In 1891 Arkansas began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans. In 1915 the State began granting pensions to their widows and mothers. Two published indexes are available in many libraries:
Allen, Desmond Walls. Index to Confederate Pension Applications (Conway, Ark.: Arkansas Research, 1991).
Ingmire, Frances Terry. Arkansas Confederate Veterans and Widows Pensions Applications (St. Louis, MO: F.T. Ingmire, 1985).
Florida State Archives, R. A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahasse, FL 32399-0250, Telephone: 850-487-2073
In 1885 Florida began granting pensions to Confederate veterans. In 1889 the State began granting pensions to their widows. A published index, which provides each veteran's pension number, is available in many libraries:
White, Virgil. Register of Florida CSA Pension Applications (Waynesboro, TN: National Historical Publishing Co., 1989).
Online Indexes:
Florida Confederate Pension Application Files
Georgia Department of Archives and History, Ben W. Fortson Jr. Archives and Records Building, 330 Capitol Avenue, S.E., Atlanta, GA 30334, Telephone: 404-656-2393
In 1870 Georgia began granting pensions to soldiers with artificial limbs. In 1879 the State began granting pensions to other disabled Confederate veterans or their widows who then resided in Georgia. By 1894 eligible disabilities had been expanded to include old age and poverty. A published index is available in many libraries:
White, Virgil D. Index to Georgia Civil War Confederate Pension Files (Waynesboro, TN: National Historical Publishing Co., 1996).
Online Indexes:
Index to Georgia Confederate Pension Applications
Kentucky State Archives, Research Room, 300 Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, KY 40601, Telephone: 502-564-8704
In 1912, Kentucky began granting pensions to Confederate veterans or their widows. The records are on microfilm. A published index is available in many libraries:
Simpson, Alicia. Index of Confederate Pension Applications, Commonwealth of Kentucky (Frankfort, KY: Division of Archives and Records Management, Department of Library and Archives, 1978).
Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809-2137, Telephone: 504-922-1208
In 1898 Louisiana began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans or their widows.
Online Indexes:
Confederate Pension Applications Index Database
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205, Telephone: 601-359-6876
In 1888 Mississippi began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans or their widows. A published index is available in many libraries:
Wiltshire, Betty C. Mississippi Confederate Pension Applications (Carrollton, MS: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1994).
Missouri State Archives, 600 W. Main, P.O. Box 1747, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Telephone: 573-751-3280
In 1911 Missouri began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans only; none were granted to widows. Missouri also had a home for disabled Confederate veterans. The pension and veterans' home applications are interfiled and arranged alphabetically. Typically, the pension file is small, perhaps four to eight pages, containing a standard application form and may include letters of recommendation from family members or others.
North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History
Physical Address: North Carolina State Archives, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807, Telephone: 919-733-7305
Mailing Address: North Carolina State Archives, Public Services Branch, 4614 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4614
In 1867 North Carolina began granting pensions to Confederate veterans who were blinded or lost an arm or leg during their service. In 1885 the State began granting pensions to all other disabled indigent Confederate veterans or widows.
Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Archives and Records Management Divisions, 200 Northeast 18th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, Telephone: 1-800-522-8116 (nationwide) ext. 209
In 1915 Oklahoma began granting pensions to Confederate veterans or their widows. A published index is available in many libraries:
Oklahoma Genealogical Society. Index to Applications for Pensions from the State of Oklahoma, Submitted by Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Their Widows (Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Genealogical Society Projects Committee, 1969)
Online Indexes:
Index to Oklahoma Confederate Pension Records
South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parkland Road, Columbia, SC 29223, Telephone: 803-896-6100
A state law enacted December 24, 1887, permitted financially needy Confederate veterans and widows to apply for a pension; however, few applications survive from the 1888-1918 era. Beginning in 1889, the SC Comptroller began publishing lists of such veterans receiving pensions in his Annual Report. To obtain a copy of the pension application from the 1888-1918 era, the researcher needs to know the exact year in which the veteran or widow applied for a pension. From 1919 to 1925, South Carolina granted pensions to Confederate veterans and widows regardless of financial need. These files are arranged alphabetically. Pension application files are typically one sheet of paper with writing on both sides. Also available are Confederate Home applications and inmate records for veterans (1909-1957), and applications of wives, widows, sisters, and daughters (1925-1955).
Online Indexes:
Index to South Carolina Confederate Pension Applications 1919-1926
Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Service Division, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243-0312, Telephone: 615-741-2764
In 1891 Tennessee began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans. In 1905 the State began granting pensions to their widows. The records are on microfilm. A published index is available in many libraries: Sistler, Samuel. Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications (Nashville, TN: Sistler & Assoc., 1995)
Online Indexes:
Index to Tennessee Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications
Index to Tennessee Confederate Soldiers Home Applications
Tennessee Confederate Physicians
Texas State Library and Archives Commission, web pages: Genealogy and Archives & Manuscripts, P.O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711, Telephone: 512-463-5480
In 1881 Texas set aside 1,280 acres for disabled Confederate veterans. In 1889 the State began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans and their widows. Muster rolls of State militia in Confederate service are also available. A published index is available in many libraries:
White, Virgil D. Index to Texas CSA Pension Files (Waynesboro, TN: National Historical Publishing Co., 1989).
Online Indexes:
Index to Texas Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975
Confederate Indigent Families Lists, 1863-1865
Library of Virginia, Archives Division, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, Telephone: 804-692-3888
In 1888 Virginia began granting pensions to Confederate veterans or their widows. The records are on microfilm.
Online Indexes:
Virginia Confederate Pension Rolls (Veterans and Widows) Database
Virginia Confederate Pension Rolls (Veterans and Widows) Electronic Card Index
Confederate Disability Applications and Receipts (Artificial Limbs)
Thanks to the Savage/Goodner Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1513 website and the Civil War Clip Art Gallery for the graphics used on the military pages of Family Roots and Branches. You can click on the logos above to view more of their collection of civil war era clipart.
Webpage: civilwarmain.html
Last Update: 31 July 2006
Webpage Created: 30 November 2002
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