Why Research Your Civil War ancestor?You may have a story or two handed down through your family about your Civil War ancestor. So what other info do you need?Was he a northerner called to service by the president? So with honor and the instilled need to preserve the Union he enlisted? Or was he a Confederate soldier fighting for his new country and its rights and freedom? Was he an African American, freedman or slave, fighting for the system with little acknowledgement?Why research? Because your Civil War ancestor's story is a part of our country's history. Yet more than that it's a part of your story. To know your Civil War ancestor, his life and military service, is to know a part of you.Ancestors In A Nation Divided will guide you through the steps of researching your Civil War ancestor. From the beginning if you only have a name - to an in-depth search of his military and post-war life this book will guide you through the process.Packed with the resources you need to research you'll be able to:° Begin even if you don't know where to start° Understand Compiled Military Service Records and Pension Files° Find your Civil War ancestor in little known and under-used censuses° Take a look at Provost Marshall Records° Learn about Confederate Military History and the Official Records ° Take a look at long forgotten resources like the Old Soldiers Home, GAR and UVC membership° And so much more!Whether your ancestor fought for the Union or the Confederacy, Ancestors In A Nation Divided will help you open the doors to his military service. You'll learn about the battles he fought, camp life, injuries he may have sustained and more. Your research will put you alongside your ancestor in his Civil War journey. You'll learn about his experiences and in knowing what he lived through you'll be able to appreciate his service all the more. The Civil War changed this country's path, it shaped our nation into what we know today and your ancestor had a hand in that. Ancestors In A Nation Divided will help you start learning about your Civil War ancestor today.

Have you wondered if someone in your family served in the U.S. Civil War? Are you curious to learn more about an ancestor who fought for the Union or Confederate side? This book, written by a professional historian and genealogist, provides step-by-step instructions detailing how to * determine which of your ancestors might have worn the blue or grey uniform * find information specific to your soldier ancestor * make sense of the documents you uncover * turn your research into a story that your entire family will enjoy. Filled with examples from real historical documents, Discover the Story of Your Civil War Soldier Ancestor, is a must-have for any family historian, genealogist, or Civil War enthusiast.

Explains procedures for searching birth and marriage certificates, wills, land records, maps, tax records, newspaper obituaries, church and cemetary records, old letters, and diaries.

The years 2011 through 2015 mark the Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary of the great American Civil War. This historic event will generate a renewed interest in all things Civil War and now is a good time to research and learn about your Civil War ancestors. If any of your ancestors were living in America at the time of the Civil War, chances are very good that your great grandfather or great great-grandfather (you have eight of them) was one of the 3.5 million soldiers who fought for either the North or South. If this is the case, the good news is that there probably is a wealth of information about your Civil War Confederate or Union ancestor and his military unit waiting for you in some dusty archive. And, getting your own copy of these records is as easy as going online to the Web sites listed in this book. This book gives you the information needed for your own Confederate or Union Civil War genealogical research. Chapter 2 provides a "Quick Start" method using the Internet to get you started on your research with a minimum effort. Other chapters explain how and where (Web sites and addresses are provided) to get information about your ancestors from the National Archives, State Archives, the census records, the Internet, local libraries and many other sources. This book also provides background information on the Civil War and how military units were raised and organized.