In the course of their genealogy research, many Americans will eventually come across an ancestor who served in the Civil War. The 1861 - 1865 battle between North and South left nearly half a million soldiers dead, and just as many wounded. Millions more wore the blue or the gray.

Finding information on Civil War ancestors has not always been an easy process, especially if you don’t know where he enlisted, or for what state he fought. That’s one reason why we recommend a look at a growing online database devoted to the subject.

The Civil War Research Database is the brainchild of Massachusetts-based Historical Data Systems, Inc. It boasts of being the first such online database, and says it will eventually contain the military records for the 4 million plus soldiers who fought in the conflict.

The only downside we see to this project is that free searching is not made available. To get into the database, individuals have two options: pay $10 for 7-day access to the genealogy/military record side of the database, or pay $25 for an annual subscription, with access to the entire database.

Researchers will want to know what sources have been used in compiling this database, and the list is impressive. The primary source is given as the state rosters that were published by the Adjutants General for each state involved in the War. These rosters include the military records for each member of that state’s military forces. Other sources include: the Official Records, pension index records, 1860 census records, GAR records, Roll of Honor records, Medal of Honor Records, and Regimental histories. Coming soon to the database, images of battle maps that accompany the Official Records.

Individuals can expect to find information like this: name, residence, date of entry, regiments, companies, rank, promotions, transfers, events such as POW, wounded, etc. and how and where the soldier exited the military - discharge, desertion, muster out, death (and the cause of death, if available). Some states include birthplace, age at enlistment, occupation and physical description in their official record.

The database appears to be at the halfway point, with 2 million records already entered, and another two million to go. So far, Union entries out-number Confederate listings.

Historical Data Systems says the Civil War Research Database is updated on a bi-weekly basis. A Database Status link is offered on the home page for checking to see if your ancestor’s state is listed.

URL: http://www.civilwardata.com/