Alabama, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865
Confederate service records of soldiers who served in organizations from Alabama. The records include a jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with his name, his rank, and the unit in which he served. The jacket-envelope typically contains card abstracts of entries relating to the soldier as found in original muster rolls, returns, rosters, payrolls, appointment books, hospital registers, Union prison registers and rolls, parole rolls, inspection reports; and the originals of any papers relating solely to the particular soldier. For each military unit the service records are arranged alphabetically by the soldier's surname. The Military Unit field may also display the surname range (A-G) as found on the microfilm. This collection is a part of RG 109, War Department Collection of Confederate Records and is National Archive Microfilm Publication M311. Index courtesy of Fold3.
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About Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers
What Are Civil War Service Records?
Civil War service records are official papers that the Union and Confederate armies created to keep track of soldiers during the American Civil War (1861–1865).
Service records include various kinds of information:
- Muster rolls (lists of soldiers in a unit)
- Hospital and medical records
- Casualty and prisoner-of-war sheets
- Enlistment and discharge papers
- Personal papers and notes
These documents give a clear picture of what life was like for soldiers during the war.
Alabama’s Role in the American Civil War
Alabama played an important part in the Civil War. The state sent more than 120,000 soldiers to the Confederate Army. Montgomery was the first capital of the Confederacy in 1861, making Alabama a key location for the early war effort.
Alabama soldiers fought in major battles, including the following:
- Shiloh
- Chickamauga
- Chattanooga
- Atlanta
Inside the state, events such as the Battle of Mobile Bay and the Battle of Spanish Fort affected communities across Alabama. The Alabama Civil War Service Records let you trace your ancestors through these important moments.
What's Included in the Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers
These records can tell you a lot about your Alabama ancestors who served in the Confederate Army, such as:
- The unit they served in and their rank.
- Enlistment dates and service history.
- Battles they fought in and any injuries they received.
- Age, place of enlistment, and sometimes physical descriptions.
- Personal notes about their experiences.
This information can help you trace your ancestors’ movements, understand their roles in the war, and connect their story to key events in history.
Accessing the Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers
Search the index to the service records for free with a free FamilySearch account.
View high-quality images through Fold3 (subscription required), or request copies directly from United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Collection Details
These records were originally created by the Confederate Army (1861–1865) and later compiled by the United States War Departmentto document the service of Alabama soldiers.
Language
English
Location of original records
"Alabama, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 11 February 2025. From "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama." Database. Fold3.com. http://www.fold3.com : n.d. Citing NARA microfilm publication M311. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961.
