Brian Rhinehart, who does research and record retrieval at the National Archives is our guest blogger today.
“A common misconception is that most Civil War records have already been digitized and are accessible online. However, this assumption is quite inaccurate. While some records have been scanned and can be found on platforms like Fold3, many others are solely housed at the National Archives.
Regardless of their allegiance, almost every Civil War soldier has a Compiled Military Service Record that summarizes their service journey. These records detail transfers, promotions, demotions, captures, deaths, and desertions, offering valuable insights into individual experiences.
Fortunately, Confederate soldiers’ records are readily available on Fold3. However, accessing Union soldiers’ records can be more complex, as availability varies based on the states they fought for. Generally, states with fewer soldiers in the Union Army may have records on Fold3, while those with larger contingents often require retrieval from the National Archives. Moreover, service records from soldiers in the US Colored Troops are accessible on Fold3. Interestingly, nearly every southern state, except South Carolina, had Union regiments, which can be found among the Union Army records on Fold3.
Let us help you get your ancestor’s military records in your hands! www.CivilWarRecords.com“
You may have a pension index card for your Civil War ancestor that you found through a genealogy site like Ancestry. This gives the information for record retrieval from the National Archives. The one below is from my family tree.
Even if you don’t have the above information, you can contact CivilWarRecords.com and fill out the inquiry form with any information you have. Once they pinpoint the correct soldier, you can decide what information you want retrieved from the National Archives. The Civil War Records can send you the available records quicker and cheaper than ordering from the National Archives.
Finding My Civil War Ancestor 