Delaware in the Civil War

United States   U.S. Civil War    Delaware    Delaware Military    Delaware in the Civil War

Introduction
Though Delaware contributed 16 military units to the Union Army, the citizens of Delaware were divided in their feelings about the war. Some were for slavery; others were against it, and still others thought it would fade away if left alone.

Delaware Military Units
Most units were numbered, however, some were named. See the table below for lists of the regiments, battalions, batteries, and unassigned companies.

The information in the lists of Delaware Military Units comes from the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors web site. This web site can also be searched by the name of a soldier. Delaware Military Units by Number or Type of Unit Union Units By Unit Number Infantry Cavalry Artillery Colored Troops

Regiments

 * 1st Battalion, Delaware Cavalry Organized at Wilmington, Del., January 20, 1863. Mustered out June 30, 1865.


 * 1st Regiment, Delaware Infantry (3 months, 1861) Organized at Wilmington, Delaware, May 22, 1861. Mustered out August 30.


 * 1st Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized at Wilmington, Del., September 10 to October 19, 1861. Mustered out July 12, 1865.


 * 2nd Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized at Wilmington, Del., June 12 to October 7, 1861. Mustered out July 1, 1864, expiration of term. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 1st Delaware Infantry.


 * 3rd Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized at Camden December 30, 1861, to May 15, 1862. Mustered out June 3, 1865.


 * 4th Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized at Wilmington, Del., June to November, 1862. Mustered out June 3, 1865.


 * 5th Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized in Delaware at large October 25 to November 26, 1862. Mustered out August 12, 1863.


 * 6th Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized in Delaware at large October 25 to December 18, 1862. Mustered out September 5, 1863.


 * 7th Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized at Wilmington, Del., for 30 days July 12, 1864. Mustered out August 12, 1864.


 * 8th Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized at Wilmington, Del., October, 1864. Mustered out June 5, 1865.


 * 9th Regiment, Delaware Infantry Organized at Wilmington, Del., for 100 days August 30, 1864. Mustered out January 23, 1865.


 * Ahl's Battery, Delaware Heavy Artillery Organized at Fort Delaware July 27, 1863. Mustered out July 25, 1865.


 * Crossley's Half Company, Delaware Artillery "Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" by Frederick H. Dyer contains no history for this unit.


 * Milligan's Independent Company, Delaware Cavalry Organized at Wilmington, Del., for 30 days' service July 15, 1864. Mustered out August 15, 1864.


 * Nield's Independent Battery, Delaware Light Artillery Organized at Wilmington, Del., August 30, 1862. Mustered out June 23, and discharged from service July 5, 1865.


 * Unassigned Delaware "Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" by Frederick H. Dyer contains no history for this unit.

Roster
A roster of Delaware volunteers is given at the end of the following work:


 * Scharf, J. Thomas. History of Delaware, 1609-1888. Two Volumes. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: L.J. Richards, 1888. (Family History Library .) Lists place mustered, officers, and casualties.

Service Records

 * An index to compiled Delaware military service records is available at the Family History Library (Family History Library .)

The service records have not been microfilmed yet and are available only at the National Archives. Service records may provide rank, unit, date of enlistment, length of service, age, residence, and death date.

Pension Records

 * Civil War Pension Index Cards - A free Internet index to pension applications of veterans who served in the US Army between 1861-1917 is available on FamilySearch Record Search. Each card gives the soldier’s name, application and certificate numbers, state of enlistment, and might include rank and death information. Other wars, of that time period, may be included.

Other Sources
Hancock, Harold Bell. Delaware During the Civil War : a Political History. (Wilmington, Del. : Historical Society of Delaware, 2003, ©1961.) Libraries with this book