Step Five - The Search for Resources

If you are unsuccessful in your quest using the web sites recommended above, there are even more sources on the internet in which you may find some information. These are most tedious, time-consuming, and sometimes frustrating or boring; but they can be rewarding in many ways.

As I mentioned earlier, I was successful in finding only about 20% of my total ancestors searching those sites above. The remaining 80% were found by visiting the individual roster links that are becoming more numerous on the internet every day. The hard part was going to each roster listed for both sides in the conflict, and searching each one, one at a time.

As there were approximately 2,800 Union and 1,800 Confederate regiments or units listed, excluding miscellaneous special units, company or battalions, or others, and then an average of ten company rosters per regiment; one can easily see how this can be quite time-consuming in itself.

(Hint) When performing this kind of tedious records search, select the 'search' function on your browser, and then enter the name for which you are searching. This saved roughly about 90% of the time first spent in my Internet research, where before I would visually scan each document for that one word or name. This is particularly effective in searching those long lists of eighty pages or more in non-alphabetical order. Use the built-in features of the browser, and let the computer do the work as much as possible. Quick results are more exciting than tedious reading and scanning hundreds of documents.

Regimental Rosters

The best current overall example of a regimental roster web site would be www.eHistory.com. They have the most complete Civil War unit history and roster list yet found on the internet, and have personally vowed their dedication to continue to be the best overall history site.

This web site allows you a complete site search engine for all of the documents and data within, allowing you to access your family name through online books such as The Official Records of the Rebellion and many others they offer. I was able to locate three previously unknown members of my family here, with official reports, unit strength, after action reports and more, proving to be quite exciting. The information and web links on rosters are currently being updated and should prove to be even more valuable in the near future.

There are numerous other web sites currently available concerning regimental rosters of Civil War units. Some are searchable, however, the majority of them are not. And with the pending exception of eHistory.com; there is currently no one web site with all of the regimental or roster information compiled, so be prepared to hours of web searches. Other recommended web sites with the best current compilation of these sorts of records are listed later.

However, although it sounds like one could just search this site and receive instantaneous results, this is not always the case. As of this writing, out of the approximate 4,600 overall regiments, with a possible average of ten companies per regiment, or a potential of 46,000 company rosters; there is only about 28% of these rosters completed and online.

The majority of original unit or company records are not available, having been lost or destroyed during or after the war. About half of those rosters that are available are partial listings at best, and some are dependent on relatives sending in names to web sites, not necessarily a reliable resource.

This can increase the odds considerably against locating that specific family member, and possibly can increase the frustration level of the searcher. Do not despair, however, as the regimental roster sites are the easiest to perform, and there are numerous other locations to search.

Don't forget to continue to record the information you locate on your spreadsheet and/or within your journals. I found the most effective method of keeping track was to insert another column for each state, county, and city; and by regiment/unit designation, company, and rank. Other columns were listed for enlistment dates, notes, and other information as necessary to insure the ability to prove the relations to the family names.

State and National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration has their own web site (see Resources), and provides a lot of information about what and how to obtain copies of service records for Civil War ancestors of both Union and Confederate. However, they do not provide direct information on the web. If they ever did, this would be a boon to genealogical researching for all military service records.

The service records are available at a nominal cost, which would be well worth it should you have only a few relations to research. However, in my case, 314 requests at minimal $10 per request would be a sizeable investment for anyone.

With the increasing recent interest in genealogy, as well as the influx of government money toward this end, there is currently a large project taking place at the state government level. States are in the process of scanning or inputting data on vital statistics, military records, cemetery information, and just about everything into their official web sites. This is a time-consuming job at best, and researchers should recheck state government sites often to view the latest entries and additions to the information they contain.

These are both great additional resources in locating that relative. In the Texas State Archives, I was able to locate and obtain the Civil War Pension Fund records for a widow who had moved to Dallas, Texas, claiming money on her deceased husband. Through this listing, I was able to locate the records of another hitherto unknown relation that had fought for Tennessee in the cavalry, was captured, and subsequently died and was buried in a prison camp at Rock Island, Illinois.

At the Wisconsin state archive sites, I was able to locate an additional twenty-eight family relations who had served with various units, including their respective individual companies. Further research from this source showed who were brothers who served within the same units, and a lot of other pertinent information that proved valuable in tracking my family as it went west across the country.

Ohio, Vermont, and Indiana state archive web sites were also valuable, as are were some others. However, the reader should keep in mind that there are about half of the states involved in the conflict that currently have any sort of archives or records concerning the Civil War. The others are either in process of posting this information, or not making a visible effort to report this data to the general public.

Copies of verifications or documents still cost, but the fees are very nominal in most cases. I was able to obtain a photocopy of the original pension request document from Texas for only ten cents, although they had a minimum charge of one dollar. Most other states and organizations have similar costs for providing photocopies as well.

County, Town, or Local Information

By the same token, through a large national and international ongoing project, the USGenWeb Project is proving to be an excellent source of genealogical information on the Internet as well. The Project entails a national network of searchable local town or county information web sites posting much of the detailed data that the individual states are currently involved in. However, this information is much more in depth regarding vital statistics, county census figures and names, cemetery listings, and more. I even found a local post office list from 1854 on undelivered mail in which apparently one of my relatives forgot to pick something up.

This newer available information seems to grow each day. The trick is to find the county or the city in which your relation was born, lived, or died. It is a little harder for those farmers who lived outside the 'metro' area, and, as nearly 78% of all Civil War soldiers were farmers, this may become a small chore at times. This is also another resource to check regularly during your research, as it does tend to update as soon as the data is made available.

The connections to all local, county, or state information are available through the USGenWeb site located within the Resources Page. It is fully searchable, although you may have to do some tedious searching for miniscule rewards.

Locating the Unit, the History, and the Ancestor

Having found the city or county information, you are now in a better position to locate the units in which your relatives may have served. During the war, companies were recruited locally within a specific geographic area of a state. Usually a merchant, politician, or local community leader would decide to form a unit for the honor of the area, and subsequently the state. In both the North and the South, it was considered a matter of honor that individual counties supply more brave men to their respective causes, often encouraged by locals or established political influences.

This is where the unit history is important information to have. The above references at eHistory.com and other regimental roster web sites will often have the unit history or at least a web link to where the history may be located on the Internet. Investigating the unit history will usually supply the locations where the unit was originally recruited, and searching through that county using the USGenWeb or other similar sources previously suggested, may reap the rewards that you have been seeking.

Searching that county or city site for the family name is usually best, as it gives you a more generalized background to check. In other words, you may be trying to locate John Smith, but a check for last name Smith in that specific area may allow you more and better information on other family members, that may lead you to John, as well as his brothers, cousins, etc., that may also have joined.

Checking local or county cemetery records is also often fruitful in providing other pertinent information. I found several headstone inscriptions or cemetery records about relatives who were buried or listed as Civil War veterans, often including dates, units, relatives, or other information. This gave me additional names to enter into my spreadsheet to continue the search. These state and localized searches become more intricate and tedious at times, as unfortunately, there is no standardization of listings or accepted protocol that anyone really follows. I have found is to never assume anything, as it seemed each time I would go through a hundred lists to find nothing, only to find a treasure trove of information on list number one hundred and one. Again, it is very important to document as much information as possible, as one of these local resources may lead to a whole new family connection. A lot of information and details remain hidden, with more coming to light every day.

Reenactor Unit Links

Another excellent source of rosters and related information can be found in the hundreds of reenactor unit web site links throughout the Internet.

There are an estimated 120,000 reenactors portraying various units of both sides of the Civil War, and not only within our country. Europeans are venturing into this as well, and I even located a web site originating in Russia for the 5th Texas Infantry.

These are dedicated people preserving the history and rosters of the original units they portray. Most have original or certified copies of rosters, unit documents, maps, diaries, or other similar information that they are proud to share with others. They cooperate fully with requests for information in nearly every case. A search through some of these sites yielded a lot of information about my Civil War relations.

Again, though, keep in mind that these reenactor units portray company levels of command, in other words, 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, Company A. Remember that there were an average of ten companies per regiment, and not every company is portrayed. In some cases you will find this example unit being portrayed in North Carolina, Hawaii, Arizona, or elsewhere with even perhaps the same company designation. Based on the duplication factor and the number of reenactor web sites there are currently on the Internet, I think a good estimate of actual web links would be about 14% of the total units involved in the Civil War, on both sides.

Local Libraries, Museums, and Historical Societies

A more exact source of information never existed within your local county or city organizations. The local library may have original documents, diaries, books, maps, or other items because of what they do. They would also be able to contact other libraries for inquiries, requests, and more. Keep in mind that this is where some of the online data for the USGenWeb Project comes from and is being posted on the web. A direct search will provide direct results.

If you have any county museums or local historical societies, visit them and see if there are any relics that may concern your family. Their purpose is to preserve and study America's past on a local level, and they would be more than happy to share their information with you. People like people who share an interest in what they are interested in.

There may even be a local Civil War Round Table group in your area. These people provide a wealth of information, perform research studies, and provide presentations for the general public. Visit and join them, or start one of your own.

The point is that there is and always has been a potential wealth of information outside of the internet, before computers were even invented. People are proud of their interests, their collections, and are aware that the only way history will be preserved will be to pass it on to other generations.

The documentation that you are keeping is, in essence, a history of your family. Your interest in the American Civil War and the knowledge you are extracting during your research can be passed down through your family's generations. You are also becoming a historian of sorts, and should share that knowledge with others to preserve your family's name.