U.S. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 70 vols. in 127 parts. 1880–1900. Reprint, Gettysburg, Pa.: The National Historical Society, 1985. National Archives Microfilm Publication M262. (FHL book 973 M29u; films 845306–426; computer number 207767.) This is an FHL filming of the original volumes. (Also available on CD #51 computer number 792286 and #52 computer number 789693) The four series of this compilation known as the OR (Official Records) contain correspondence battle reports of officers information on prisoners and activities of the war departments of both governments To find specific volumes look in the Locality search of the Family History Library Catalog under

UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS - CIVIL WAR 1861-1865

Hewitt, Janet B., et. al., ed. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Part I Reports, Part II the Record of Events. Wilmington, N.C.: Broadfoot Publishing, 1994–. (FHL book 973 M29u; computer number 760268.) Part II the Record of Events is a transcription of the National Archive Microfilm Publication M594 (Union) and M861 (Confederate) Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in Volunteer Organizations. For more information see the unit histories sections for Union and Confederate military units.

The following is an index to this set:

Ainsworth, Fred C., and Joseph W. Kirkley. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. . . . General Index and Additions and Corrections. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1901. (FHL book 973 M29u index; film 430054; computer number 459646.) Contains names of officers who submitted reports and the names of military units. The names of individual soldiers who were killed, captured, wounded, missing, drafted, and pensioned and the names of political prisoners are not found in the index. You must search the index under the names of battles, regiments, prisons, government agencies, and bureaus for such lists. References to the OR series number (a Roman numeral) are followed by the number of the volume (an Arabic number). You must then refer to the index in that volume to get the page number.

U.S. Navy Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. 30 vols. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1894–1922. National Archives Microfilm Publication M275. (FHL book 973 M2unr; films 1490058–88; computer number 367656.) Similar to the official records of the armies, it is known as the ORN (Official Records . . . Navy). Its two series contain reports and correspondence on the Northern blockade of Southern ports and on matters concerning the Confederate Navy. Volume 1, series II has an index to Union and Confederate ships, statistical data, and muster rolls of confederate vessels. To find specific film numbers, look in the Locality search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

UNITED STATES - HISTORY - CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865 - NAVAL OPERATIONS

Knox, Dudley W. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion . . . General Index. . . . 1927. Reprint, New York: Antiquarian Press, 1961. (FHL book 973 M2unr index; film 924604 item 2; computer number 367656.) Alphabetically arranged with reference to series and volume number. The page number is located by searching the index in the specific volume referred to in the general index.

A reference aid to the Official Records is:

Aimone, Alan C., and Barbara A. Aimone. User’s Guide to the Official Records of the American Civil War. Shippinsburg, Pa: White Maine Publishing, 1993. (FHL book 973 M29ua; computer number 408638.) Provides a history of the compilation of the official records.

Other Civil War sources are listed below:

Amann, William Frayne, ed. Personnel of the Civil War. 2 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1961. (FHL book 973 M2a; computer number 270835.) Lists the names of local militias and their Union and Confederate Army designations. It also includes geographical commands of the Confederacy and of generals in the Union Army.

Bibliography of State Participation in the Civil War. 3d ed. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1913. (FHL film 1465569; computer number 400980.) Lists veterans’ organizations; regimental histories; and state, county, and town histories (Northern and Southern) that have rosters of soldiers.

Davis, George B., et al., Calvin D. Cowles, comp. The Official Military Atlas of the Civil War. 1891–1895. Reprint, New York: The Fairfax Press, 1978, 1983. (FHL book Atlas Stand 973 E7wd; computer number 316366.) This atlas was published to accompany the Official Records.

Dornbusch, Charles E., comp. Military Bibliography of the Civil War. 3 vols. New York, New York Public Library, 1975. Reprint, Vol. 4. Dayton, Ohio: The Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1987. (FHL book 973 H2dn; film 1036612 items 1–3; computer number 427278.) A bibliography of 8,241 regimental and unit histories, narratives, and biographies for both the North and the South.

Faust, Patricia L., ed. The Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War. New York: Harper & Row, 1986. (FHL book 973 H26h; computer number 443097.) Over 2,000 entries for war related topics including battles, famous regiments, and numerous biographical sketches of military and civilian leaders.

Katcher, Philip. The Civil War Source Book. New York: Facts on File, 1992. (FHL book 973 M2ka; computer number 669029.) Biographies of important leaders; a state-by-state analysis of state militias; descriptions of the Federal and Confederate forces, U.S. Veteran Volunteers, Signal Corps, Sanitary Commission, and Medical Department; a section on the life of the common soldier; and a general history of the war.

Long, E.B., and Barbara Long. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861–65. 1971. Reprint, New York: Da Capo Press, 1987. (FHL book 973 M2leb; computer number 492560.) A chronology of important military and political actions.

Navy Department. Naval History Division, comp. Civil War Naval Chronology. 6 pts. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1961–65. (FHL film 1550320; computer number 467310.) A chronological listing of the naval war and important events.

Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts on File, 1988. (FHL book 973 H2sif; computer number 461907.) This biographical compendium has histories of 2,500 civilian and military notables of the North and South, including 1,008 generals.

Silverstone, Paul H. Warships of the Civil War Navies. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1989. (FHL book 973 M2sil; computer number 540924.) Gives brief service histories of naval vessels and includes many photographs of naval ships.

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