Civil War Records Blog

Did he really run away to join the war?

Did he really run away to join the war?

You know the story– great uncle so-and-so ran away from the south, changed his name and joined the Union Army against his father’s wishes. Every family seems to have their...

Did he really run away to join the war?

You know the story– great uncle so-and-so ran away from the south, changed his name and joined the Union Army against his father’s wishes. Every family seems to have their...

Denied pensions

A question I get asked frequently is if it’s still worth it to order the Civil War pension file for a soldier who’s application wasn’t approved. The answer is, absolutely!...

Denied pensions

A question I get asked frequently is if it’s still worth it to order the Civil War pension file for a soldier who’s application wasn’t approved. The answer is, absolutely!...

1804 Enlistment Papers

1804 Enlistment Papers

Another interesting find at the National Archives. John Grant enlisted in the US Army in 1804. His enlistment papers show his birth place, his age, a physical description, his oath...

1804 Enlistment Papers

Another interesting find at the National Archives. John Grant enlisted in the US Army in 1804. His enlistment papers show his birth place, his age, a physical description, his oath...

Letter home from a Mexican War soldier

Another interesting find in a military pension file at the National Archives. George Tarkleson served in the Mexican War in the late 1840s. After he died, his widow Elsie applied...

Letter home from a Mexican War soldier

Another interesting find in a military pension file at the National Archives. George Tarkleson served in the Mexican War in the late 1840s. After he died, his widow Elsie applied...

Soldiers on the Sultana

Daniel Myers, a young soldier from Streetsboro, Portage County, Ohio, enlisted in Company G of the 115th Ohio Infantry in 1862. His Civil War service records from the National Archives...

Soldiers on the Sultana

Daniel Myers, a young soldier from Streetsboro, Portage County, Ohio, enlisted in Company G of the 115th Ohio Infantry in 1862. His Civil War service records from the National Archives...

Letter Home From the Battlefield

Another example of the benefits of getting your ancestor’s Civil War pension file at the National Archives. Marquis Jaquay enlisted in the 151st PA when he was 18 years old....

Letter Home From the Battlefield

Another example of the benefits of getting your ancestor’s Civil War pension file at the National Archives. Marquis Jaquay enlisted in the 151st PA when he was 18 years old....