This database contains Compiled Military Service Records for the following Colored Troops that served in the American Civil War:
All of these units were part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT). The USCT was comprised of:
The Compiled Service Records consist of service cards that contain information extracted from muster rolls, regimental returns, descriptive books, and other records. A new card was created each time a soldier’s name appeared on a new document. The Compiled Service Records also consist of original documents that pertain to individual soldiers. These documents could include enlistment papers, casualty sheets, death reports, and correspondence, among others. A typical packet for each soldier will include a jacket-envelope that lists his name, rank, unit, and card numbers, followed by the extract cards and original documents. A section called “bookmark” may also be included. This “bookmark” was used to cross reference the packet with other related records.
Miscellaneous cards not associated with a packet are also included. These records were collected with the intent that they would become part of the Compiled Service Records. However, insufficient or contradictory information made it difficult to link these records to a particular soldier.
What information is included in this database?
The amount of information included in this database varies according to the type of records included in each packet. However, when available, the following pieces of information are provided:
Additional information about a soldier, such as a physical description, may be found by viewing the associated images.
Some of the above information was taken from the Publication Details of National Archives Microfilm Publications M1801, M1817-M1824, M1898, and M1992, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
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