Researching Civil War Ancestors
The American Civil War was a defining moment for our young country, changing its trajectory forever. Nearly 3 million Americans served, resulting in approximately 750,000 casualties: everyone living in America at that time was affected in some way by the events of 1861 to 1865 and its long aftermath. Whether your ancestor wore blue or grey, this three-week online course led by Chief Genealogist and military history expert, David Allen Lambert will explore the records, resources, and strategies for tracing Civil War veterans in your family tree.
This course includes three 90-minute classes; exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation; and in-depth Q&A sessions with the instructor.
December 1 – Class 1: Service Records: Union and Confederate
This first class will provide a brief history of the Civil War and its impact on each state, communities, and families. David Allen Lambert will then discuss how to determine if your ancestor served—looking for clues in the census, gravestones, family heirlooms, and more—and how to discover the details of his service, examining both Army and Navy records for the Union and Confederacy.
December 8 – Class 2: Filling in the Gaps: Other Records and Resources
Now that you have verified that your ancestor served, it’s time to piece together the story of their service. Using a variety of sources including newspapers, photographs, probate records, and manuscripts, David Allen Lambert will demonstrate how to learn of the battles they served in, time spent as a prisoner of war, and the details of injuries they may have suffered.
December 15 - Class 3: Post-War Records & Strategies
Following the end of the Civil War, several federal initiatives and organizations were created to support Civil War veterans. This final class will look at accessing pension files, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and United Confederate Veterans (UCV) records, and demonstrate several research strategies.
