Civil War Records Blog

What do all those red numbers mean?

What do all those red numbers mean?

What do all those red numbers mean? The short answer is that they are serial numbers. And while the numbers do have meaning behind them, they really aren’t going to...

What do all those red numbers mean?

What do all those red numbers mean? The short answer is that they are serial numbers. And while the numbers do have meaning behind them, they really aren’t going to...

Civil War draft registrations

Let’s talk about Civil War draft registration records. These can be great resources, but they can also be one of the most misused sources when it comes to Civil War...

Civil War draft registrations

Let’s talk about Civil War draft registration records. These can be great resources, but they can also be one of the most misused sources when it comes to Civil War...

Where are the discharge papers?

Where are the discharge papers?

You may be surprised to hear that there is no record group at the National Archives that contains the Civil War discharge papers. These discharges were given to the individual...

Where are the discharge papers?

You may be surprised to hear that there is no record group at the National Archives that contains the Civil War discharge papers. These discharges were given to the individual...

What is a Civil War pension file?

Most Civil War soldiers were eligible to apply for pension benefits after the war. In some cases they were immediately eligible, but in most cases it wasn’t until later in...

What is a Civil War pension file?

Most Civil War soldiers were eligible to apply for pension benefits after the war. In some cases they were immediately eligible, but in most cases it wasn’t until later in...

Civil War enlistment papers

Civil War enlistment papers

Looking for your ancestor’s Civil War enlistment papers? These are kept at the National Archives, but they’d be in one of two record groups there.   If your ancestor was...

Civil War enlistment papers

Looking for your ancestor’s Civil War enlistment papers? These are kept at the National Archives, but they’d be in one of two record groups there.   If your ancestor was...

Civil War soldiers and the Homestead Act

Civil War soldiers and the Homestead Act

Another unusual place to find Civil War information about your ancestor at the National Archives would be Homestead records. The Homestead Act was passed during the Civil War in an...

Civil War soldiers and the Homestead Act

Another unusual place to find Civil War information about your ancestor at the National Archives would be Homestead records. The Homestead Act was passed during the Civil War in an...