researching civil war soldiers: an overview
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DNAResearching Civil War Soldiers:
An OverviewJourney Through Hallowed Ground, 18 Jan 2014
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Civil War Soldiers: By the Numbers
• ~3.2 million served in the Civil War
• Chances are good that more than one man with that name served in the war
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Did He Serve?
• Not every man served
• Consider any male born between 1820 and 1845 as a candidate for Civil War service.
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Clues for Service
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Obituaries
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“The members of the G.A.R., George H. Thomas post, will conduct the funeral.”
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Tombstones – Military Symbols
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Tombstones – Military Symbols
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Look at the dates as well. Born 1837: possible Civil War service
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Tombstones
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Government-issued marker for Union veteran:• Rounded top• Shield shape inscribed in the
stone
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Tombstones
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Government-issued marker for Confederate veteran:• Pointed top• Notation of “C.S.A.”
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Flag Holders/Grave Markers
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Use as a clue. These can be moved and might be in front of the wrong tombstone.
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1910 Federal Census
Column 30: “Whether a Survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy.”
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Determining the Correct Service
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As You’re Researching, Remember…
• Need more than a name to make sure you’re researching the right person
– Regiment– Birth date– Location (birth place, residence)– Associated people (parents, spouse, etc.)
• Regiment is key
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Determining the Regiment
• Obituaries
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Determining the Regiment
• Tombstones
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Determining the Regiment
• Units often formed with men from the same area
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Determining the Regiment
• Units Comprised of Porter County Men:
• 9th Indiana Infantry• 11th Indiana Infantry• 12th Indiana Infantry• 13th Indiana Infantry• 17th Indiana Infantry• 18th Indiana Infantry• 20th Indiana Infantry• 22nd Indiana Infantry• 59th Indiana Infantry
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Published Rosters
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Published Rosters
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This roster shows where the man was from. Good clue to help differentiate between men of the same name.
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Research Strategies
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Research Strategies
• By name– Soldier – Soldier’s family– Others in his unit, especially commanding officer
• Unit
• Battle
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Research Template
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Research Template• State Historical Societies
• State Libraries and State Archives
• State and County GenWeb Sites
• Unit/Regimental Sites
• Local Public Libraries
• Local/County Genealogical Societies
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State Archives
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State Archives
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State Libraries
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County Genealogical Societies
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Regimental Sites
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Regimental Sites
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Google Books
• Rosters
• Unit histories
• Regimental reunions
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Searching Online
• Try using different terms
• Battle names– Union: usually named for natural features– Confederates: usually named for man-made features
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Search Terms
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WorldCat.org
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WorldCat.org
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