Civil War Records

YES, some Southern states gave pensions

From: bthreatt@hotmail.com
RE: Accessing Union Civil War Service & Pension files
http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/2007/04/accessing-union-civil-war-service.html

DearMYRTLE,
I have gotten the files for my soldier from the state courthouse in Alabama, but after reading your answer to another's question I was wondering would the records be the same from the NARA? What I got from the state was [soldier's] name, wife's Pension paper, his date of death, wife's name. I want more info if I can get it. What is the difference between the state cards and the National Archives - NARA files?

DearBETTY,
The UNION Civil War Service & Pension Files were the topic of DearMYRTLE's blog on 26-27 April 2007. As you’ve discovered, Alabama is one of the CONFEDERATE states that provided pensions. The scope of the Union pension collection I was describing does not include Confederate states. There are some records of service for Confederate states at the NARA. Ol' Myrt suggests looking at:

Alabama Department of Archives & History
http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/military.html
This website explains there were a variety of records including:

• Alabama Confederate Service Cards
• Index Cards to the Confederate Marines 1861-1865
• National Archives Compiled Service Rolls Index (If you find your soldier in this index, it will refer you to a NARA file. Service files are not as genealogically interesting as pension files.)
• Confederate Military Unit History Files
• Civil War & Reconstruction Subject Files
• Confederate Pension Files
• 1907 Census of Confederate Soldiers in Alabama
• 1921 Census of Confederate Soldiers in Alabama
• Contemporary Newspapers
• Alabama Governors' Records
• Loyalty Oaths
• 1867 Voter Registration Lists
• Letters, Diaries, and Manuscripts
• Documenting the Civil War Period Flag Collection at the Alabama Department of Archives and History
• Confederate Officers Photograph Album
• Photographs
• Maps
• Pamphlets

Ol’ Myrt would also suggest:
Genealogy section - Alabama Department of Archives & History http://www.archives.state.al.us/ge.html

How about feedback from experienced Alabama Civil War soldier researchers?

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
Your friend in genealogy.
Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com
www.DearMYRTLE.com

(c) 2007 Pat Richley All Rights Reserved.