Civil War unit sources that provide comprehensive or distinct information about a regiment are usually organized in several ways. They can be organized by the state of a unit's origin, by the unit's allegiance, or by the type of unit. State governments produced statistical and narrative compilations of the units organized in a given state. Most commonly this took the form an annual report produced by the state's top military official, the State Adjutant General. Each year this official managed and reported on the condition of a state's militia and military preparedness. This took on special importance during the Civil War when states provided a substantial portion of both Union and Confederate military forces. After the war, regardless of North or South, state government and state-focused Civil War publications reflected the pride felt in the contributions and sacrifices made by home state soldiers and sailors.

Using a keyword phrase search in the Library of Congress Online Catalog (such as “Adjutant General Report [State Name]”) you will find the various state reports. Online catalog subject browse searches will also find compiled sources and individual unit histories. "[State Name]. Militia--Registers" or "United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Regimental histories--[State Name]" or "[State Name]--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives" are correct formats when searching with these subject headings.