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Civil War Regimental Histories: A Guide to Finding Unit Information

Regimental histories personalize and bring to life the history of the American Civil War. This guide highlights selected print resources and accessible digitized primary source materials from the Library of Congress collections.

Introduction

Regimental histories are valuable research sources that offer a unique perspective for the study of the Civil War. They provide details on the organization and achievements of a particular unit, focusing on wartime activities. A regimental history can provide context and clarity to the personal history of an individual soldier for a researcher. Additionally, personal narratives such as diaries, letters, and personal war accounts written by veterans, and related materials such as reunion proceedings and veterans’ periodicals, add depth to the study of a particular unit. These narratives personalize and bring to life the history of a Civil War regiment.