Civil War Cemetery Records
1861â1865
The Civil War is the most thoroughly documented military event in American genealogical history â and the most searched era in cemetery records databases. With over 620,000 deaths, both Union and Confederate record systems were extensive. National military cemeteries were established specifically for this conflict. If you have an ancestor who lived through the Civil War era (1830s-1880s), their burial record is likely findable.
ð Historical Context
The Civil War transformed American record-keeping. The federal government created a massive pension system for Union veterans and their widows â generating millions of detailed personal history files held by the National Archives. The United States Sanitary Commission and other organizations documented soldiers throughout the war. Confederate records are less complete (the Confederate government records were partially destroyed in the evacuation of Richmond in 1865) but state archives in former Confederate states hold substantial documentation. The establishment of national military cemeteries after the war created the first systematic federal burial record system.
Available Record Types
Federal pension applications for Union soldiers and their widows. Among the most genealogically valuable records ever created â often 50-200+ pages.
Burial records for soldiers interred in national military cemeteries (Gettysburg, Arlington, Andersonville, etc.). Most are fully digitized.
Records of the ~180,000 African American soldiers who served in the Union Army. Critical for African American genealogy.
Confederate soldier pension records held by individual Southern states. Quality and availability vary significantly by state.
Muster rolls, casualty reports, and field records for both armies. Union records at National Archives; Confederate records at various state archives.
Most Northern states began civil registration in the 1840s-1860s. Southern states generally began later (1870s-1900s).
â ïļ Research Challenges
- âĒConfederate records are less complete than Union records â the evacuation of Richmond in April 1865 destroyed many central Confederate records
- âĒThe 1890 Census (which would have listed Civil War veterans) was largely destroyed in a 1921 fire â a major genealogical loss
- âĒAfrican American soldiers' family records after the war often passed through Freedmen's Bureau records â a separate archive system
- âĒMany Civil War soldiers were buried in hastily dug mass graves or field graves that were never individually marked
- âĒName variations (spelling inconsistencies) are very common in Civil War records â search with flexible spelling
- âĒSoldiers who died of disease (57% of Civil War deaths) may have died far from their home unit or state
Research Tips for Civil War
Start with the National Archives Civil War pension index â searchable free at fold3.com and familysearch.org. Every Union soldier who applied for a pension has a file.
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) at nps.gov lists every documented Union and Confederate soldier by name
For African American ancestors, the USCT (United States Colored Troops) records and Freedmen's Bureau records are the critical combination
Fold3.com has the most comprehensive digitized Civil War records â worth a subscription for serious Civil War genealogy
State archives for former Confederate states hold pension records, county records, and sometimes regimental histories not in federal databases
The American Battlefield Trust has burial records and maps for major battlefield cemeteries including Gettysburg and Antietam
What Makes Civil War Records Unique
National Military Cemetery system
The Civil War created the national military cemetery system. Gettysburg National Cemetery (dedicated November 19, 1863 â the same day as the Gettysburg Address) was the first. Arlington National Cemetery was established in 1864. These cemeteries have the most thoroughly documented burial records of any cemeteries in American history.
USCT and African American Civil War history
Some 180,000 African Americans served in the Union Army as United States Colored Troops. Their service records and pension files are held at the National Archives and are a critical genealogical resource â often the earliest traceable records for African American families that can be found after emancipation.
Prisoner of war deaths
Andersonville Prison in Georgia (Confederate) and Point Lookout in Maryland (Union) were the largest POW camps. Andersonville's 13,000 Union deaths are documented at the Andersonville National Historic Site. Point Lookout's 3,500+ Confederate deaths have less complete records.
Famous Americans of the Civil War
16th President, assassinated April 14, 1865
Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL
Union General and 18th President
General Grant National Memorial, New York, NY
Confederate General
Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Underground Railroad conductor and Union spy
Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, NY
Sample Records from the Civil War
| Name | Birth | Death |
|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln | 1809 | 1865 |
| Harriet Tubman | 1822 | 1913 |
| Mark Twain | 1835 | 1910 |
| Susan B. Anthony | 1820 | 1906 |
| Doc Holliday | 1851 | 1887 |
| Jesse James | 1847 | 1882 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a Civil War soldier's burial record?
Start with the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) at nps.gov for basic service information. For burial location, check the American Battlefield Trust cemetery databases, national military cemetery records at the National Cemetery Administration (cem.va.gov), and individual national park cemetery records. Ancestry.com and Fold3 also have cemetery records for major Civil War burial sites.
Are Confederate burial records as complete as Union records?
No. Confederate records are less complete than Union records. The central Confederate government records were partially destroyed, and state records vary significantly. Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee have the best Confederate state pension and service records. For the most complete Confederate research, use multiple state archives.
How do I find African American Civil War ancestors?
Two primary sources: (1) United States Colored Troops records at the National Archives (searchable on Fold3 and Ancestry) and (2) Freedmen's Bureau records for the post-war period. The USCT records include service records, pension files, and sometimes detailed personal information. Many USCT pension files also document marriages performed during slavery, providing crucial pre-war genealogical links.
What happened to the 1890 Census Civil War veteran schedules?
The 1890 Census included a special schedule listing all surviving Union soldiers, widows, and dependents. This would have been an extraordinary genealogical resource. Unfortunately, the 1890 Census was largely destroyed in a 1921 fire at the Commerce Department. Only fragments survive for a handful of states. This is one of the greatest losses in American genealogical record history.
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