The state of West Virginia was formed in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War,America’s most traumatic conflict. Persons seeking to learn about their ancestor'sinvolvement in this struggle can find a wealth of information at the WestVirginia State Archives Library. This guide may serve as a starting pointfor researching your Civil War ancestor.
The first step is to determine whether your ancestor fought for the Unionor the Confederacy. This is particularly difficult in West Virginia becauseof the deep divisions in the region. The phrase “brother against brother”is particularly fitting in describing the conflict in West Virginia. Althoughearly estimates noted that Union soldiers from the region outnumbered Confederatesby more than three to one, more recent and detailed studies have concludedthat there were nearly equal numbers of Union and Confederate soldiers.
When researching a Union soldier in the regular regiments you can utilizeeither the West Virginia Adjutant General’s records or the National Archivesrecords, both of which are available on microfilm. Be advised that it isa good idea to check both these because one may have some information thatthe other does not. When going through the alphabetical index the most importantthing to look for is the soldier's regimental number. Then check and seewhether the soldier was with an infantry, cavalry or artillery unit. Youwill normally find the soldier’s regiment, company, age, enlistment date,muster out date and perhaps an enlistment or discharge paper listing thesoldier’s physical characteristics and home county. There may be many differentfacts wedged between the ordinary pay muster records. The soldier may havebeen wounded or sent to the hospital. There may be expenses charged againsthim for losing a cartridge belt or saddle. Occasionally, you may find thesoldier’s death notice, which lists his parents. These everyday facts willhelp you to see the soldier’s daily life much more vividly. The officerswill have many more cards because of papers they had to sign or requisitionsfor supplies they had to report. It should be noted that these “Cards” werewritten out by government clerks using the original muster sheets and medicalrecords during the early 1900s. When you see a discharge or a supply sheet,however, it will be an original document photocopied right into the individual’sfile and may even include an actual signature. In the case of two soldierswith the same name it will be these details that will help differentiatethem and allow you to find your ancestor.
For Confederate records, the best source is the National Archives microfilmof Virginia regiments. After looking at the alphabetical index, you can goto the correct regimental muster cards . These are much like the Union cardsbut usually not as complete or informative. However, one common record foundfor Confederate and not Union soldiers is an oath of allegiance, which Confederatesoldiers who had surrendered were required to sign before they could returnto their homes. These signed oaths can be very descriptive.
There are pension records for both sides but the Union records in the NationalArchives in Washington D.C. are far superior to the Confederate records inRichmond at the Library of Virginia. For Union records you can apply to theNational Archives using NATF form 85. For Confederates you can check theLibrary of Virginia's Web site. The pension records may list family and perhapsdiscuss wounds received in the service. Many West Virginia Confederates neverreceived pensions at all.
Fortunately for researchers, there are possible shortcuts for finding yourCivil War ancestor. For Union soldiers, Broadfoot Publishing has recentlypublished The Roster of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865. The volume which includesWest Virginia alphabetically lists each Union soldier who enlisted in a WestVirginia regiment. Tim McKinney's West Virginia Civil War Almanac also containsa listing of Union soldiers, but by county rather than alphabetical. JackL. Dickinson's Tattered Uniforms and Bright Bayonets lists most Confederatesoldiers who were either born in, enlisted in, or resided in what becameWest Virginia.
Once you know whether your ancestor was a “Yankee” or “Rebel”, you can checkregimental histories for further details. If he was a Confederate soldier,your task will be much easier. H. E. Howard Publishing has produced a setof books on nearly all the Virginia Confederate regiments. Written by differentauthors, these books include a regimental history and an alphabetical listingof the soldiers in the regiment. More helpful are the detailed entries foreach soldier, which often include place of birth, date and place of enlistment,as well as wartime activities, and possibly death and burial notations. Thebibliographies often provide a detailing of primary sources which may providefurther information. There are not as many Union regimental histories, andthey are usually not as thorough in providing information on individuals.You may also wish to check manuscripts collections, wartime newspapers, andother primary sources. You might be surprised to find your ancestor mentionedin a diary or a letter to the local newspaper. County histories may alsoprove beneficial, providing rosters or lists which do not appear elsewhere.
The 45th US Colored Infantry is the one black regiment assigned to West Virginia.Most of these men were from Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Thesesoldiers were either escaped slaves eager to serve to further establish their"free" status, or “freedmen” from different states placed together near theconclusion of the war after African-American troops had proven their effectiveness.There is very little information on these men in our archives and it wouldbe necessary to apply to the National Archives for their full records.
Many soldiers started out in the original Virginia State Militia units, whichhad been functioning since the colonial period. While most secessionistsjoined regular Confederate regiments, many Union men stayed with the countymilitia regiments, which were then dubbed “Home Guards” or “Scouts”. Thesemen were looked down upon by soldiers in regular army regiments but wereuseful in guarding rail lines and as local forces fighting Confederate guerillas.The records of these units were compiled by the West Virginia Adjutant Generaland are listed by county on microfilm accessible at the West Virginia StateArchives Library. Unfortunately, the records only list officers and enlistedmen, with little additional information on individual soldiers or the militaryoperations of most of these militia units. In the southern counties therewere a few active Confederate militia units. Some county histories discussthe role of local Home Guards during the war.
For those who are mainly doing genealogical as opposed to Civil War research,the 1890 Federal Veterans Census should prove helpful. Although the regular1890 census records were burned, the Veterans Census was not damaged andcan serve as one of the only connections to veterans and their widows inthis time period. After finding your ancestor in the index, you can consultthe microfilm to find information such as county of residence and regiment.Union veterans residing in West Virginia at the time of the 1890 census wereincluded even if they had fought for regiments from other states. These recordswere supposed to be just for Union veterans, but many Confederates were alsolisted.
The State of West Virginia voted a handsome bronze medal for its Union veteranswho served in the regular regiments. There are several thousand medals remainingin the West Virginia State Archives. Interested patrons can look over thelist on our Web site to determine if we have a medal for your ancestor. Toapply for these medals, the patron will need copies of official documents,not just family genealogy charts. Remember, Confederate soldiers did notreceive these medals.
The West Virginia State Archives invites researchers to visit the libraryin The Cultural Center at the Capitol Complex in Charleston. The followingbibliography is only a sample of the many books and resources available inour library. Patrons should remember that the call numbers are unique tothis institution and may not be helpful in locating the same titles in otherlibraries. Staff members are available in the search room to assist patrons.
