footnotes vs state archives

[tbaker]

I was wondering if there is any benefits of ordering a soldier's service record from the state archives versus what's on footnotes.com for the state of Texas? Would the archives have anything that footnotes.com does not have available?

 

[Robtweb1]

I don't know about the state archives of Texas, but the national archives has microfilm that includes an officers's papers. I don't think Footnote has that. They do seem to have everything from the "compiled soldiers records" and "misc papers".

 

[JRT3]

Can you visit the state archives or make an appointment? Visiting is well worth trip, but I know Texas is very big.

 

[TerryB]

Texas is very reasonable in what they charge to copy, and they get back to you right away. DC can take forever. I'll also say that Texas will have pension claims, too. Some of these are now on Ancestry.com, so check that site out, too.

 

[atuttle32]

I feel fortunate that I was able to get a copy of an approved pension claim for my second great-grandfather off ancestry.com - which is how I found out he was injured at Chickamauga. The pension record states "Wounded Battle Chickamauga - has suffered some." It also verified his company, regiment, etc., for me. He didn't apply for a pension until 1920 when he was 79 years old ... pretty amazing in my opinion! Curious that as late as 1920 the Civil War is referred to on this SC state pension form as the "late war between the States". I wonder when it started being called the "Civil War"?

 

[Freddy]

I got both sets from the MA State Archives and from the National Archives. Mostly the same overall records, but there were several records that were from one but not the other.