Identifying Civil War Ancestors in Your Family Tree

Message & Query Boards:

Anderson County SC Confederate Pensioners in 1901, MJR001-A, by Brent H. Holcomb (broken link)

Palmetto Riflemen & New York Zouaves

Sons of Confederate Veterans - A Heritage of Honor:

Confederate Soldier Pension Applications 1888-1960: 

Both the Federal government and Southern state governments continued to provide pensions for Civil War veterans and their widows well into the middle of the twentieth century. In all, billions of dollars were expended by both sides in an effort to "reward" the survivors of America's costliest war. Because of the high rates of expansion in both the Federal and Confederate systems, critics frequently accused pensioners and officials alike of corruption and fraud. Those pensioners most often labeled as frauds were widows, especially young women who had married veterans much older than themselves, supposed "cowards," and, in the Federal system, black veterans. By the mid-twentieth century, both systems were generally considered devoid of original integrity.

Includes: Confederate Pension Application Details, Courthouse Records, Oath-of-Allegiance, United Daughters of Confederacy 1920 Application Forms

Confederate Pension Applications 1902-1919, (Available at Easley Library, 864-850-7077, reference@pickens.lib.sc.us)

Pickens County Confederate Pensioners in 1901, MJR003-P, by Brent H. Holcomb

Rebels in Grey, Soldiers from Pickens District 1861-1865, MJR005, edited by Louise Matheson Bell, published by The Grey's of Oconee of Chapter # 1783, United

Southern Cross of Honor Applications:  ( Set Your Adobe Reader Program to "100% Viewing" when looking at these documents. )

The Southern Cross of Honor is also used as a symbol on the graves of Confederate Veterans who served honorably. It can take two different forms which can sometimes both be seen on the same soldier's grave.

One form is an outline of the Southern Cross engraved on the actual gravestone of the veteran. This symbol is still available to be placed as an optional symbol of belief on a U.S. Veterans Administration issued gravestone. This symbol will only be issued by the V.A. to be placed on the grave of a Confederate Veteran. The symbol is also available to be placed on existing gravestones by some private monument companies and stone carvers.

The second form of the Southern Cross of Honor seen on Confederate graves is a two-sided, cast iron replica of the medal. This cross stands atop a metal rod placed into the ground at the veteran's grave. It is sometimes referred to as the "Iron Cross of Honor" or "SCV Iron Cross." The cross is typically placed on Confederate graves by local chapters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans or by family members or interested parties related to the Confederate Veteran. The iron cross version of the SCH is available for purchase through several SCV chapters as well as several private foundries throughout the United States. The grave of any Confederate Veteran who served honorably is eligible for placement of this symbol.

Miscellaneous References - Publications:

Miscellaneous References:

15 Steps In Military Research - My Journey Back To 1725, Samples of information contained in Confederate, Union and Revolutionary documents provided by State Archives and National Archives & Records Administration.

American Civil War Home Page (broken link)

Civil War in Richmond

Civil War Soldier Interviews, H-41, by The Daily Anderson Intelligencer

Confederate Museum - Greenville, SC

Confederate Museum - Charleston, SC

Confederate Museum - Columbia, SC

Confederate Regimental Histories
Cyndi's List - Military

Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861-65

Furman University's 19th Century Documents (broken link)
Last Battle of the Civil War, H-40, by The Daily Anderson Intelligencer / W.P. Price

Library of Congress - Selected Civil War Photographs

Museum of the Confederacy (broken link)

National Archives of the United States - Civil War Records, General Reference Branch (NNRG-P), National Archives & Records, Administration, 7th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW , Washington, D. C. 20408

National Park Service - SC Battle Summaries

National Park Service Battlefields

National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors

S.C. Department of Archives & History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 , (803) 896-6100, Fax: 896-6198, Staff Directory (broken link)

     - Summary Guide to Records of the Confederate States of America (broken link) 

S.C. Confederate Units
S.C. Historical Society

SC Military Records

Smithsonian Institution

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

U.S. Civil War Center

U.S. National Archives & Records Administration

United Daughters of the Confederacy

WBTS Rosters by state - Including Union

Battles of the Civil War 1861-1865,  by Fairfax, 1979

Battles: Antietam, Atlanta, Bull Run, Champion Hill, Chancellorsville, Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Cold Harbor, Corinth, Fort Donelson, Fort Fisher, Fort Pillow, Fort Sanders,  Fort Wagner, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Kennesaw Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Monitor & Merrimack, Nashville, Olustee, Opequon, Pea Ridge, Petersburg, Resaca, Shiloh, Spotsylvania, Stones River,  Vicksburg, Wilderness, Williamsburg, Wilson's Creek

Library of Congress Photo Search Engine (broken link)

Music & Poetry of the War