I need some basics

[CraftyMauiMamma]

So, I'm seriously addicted here. Why didn't anyone warn me?!
I'm coming across lots of genealogy info-which is awesome!-but I'm having difficulty knowing what to do and where to go from there. I'm starting to read "Battle Cry for Freedom" to get me going, as I know very little about the details of the Civil War. (Shame on me, as I go through my ancestry tree!)
Does anyone know where I can get a general overview of researching Civil War genealogy? I asked a question about pensions earlier, I have no idea how they were set up. Now I'm coming across different sections that men served in and I have no clue about battle units. Is there a book out there, or an internet site, that could break it down for me?

In the meantime, maybe someone could help with this. This is a pension card for one of my 3rd Gr Grandfathers. I don't understand what service he was in. I know it's written clearly, but when I search the NPS website I can't find any James West with a battle unit that would "match". Man, I'm so new at this. Thanks for your patience!

 

[Cumpston1862]

Crafty-

Well this seems to be a rare bird. Your James West even though he was living in Georgia during the Civil War appears to have enlisted in the Union Army as this is a US Pension record. Confederate soldiers after the war were issued pensions through their states. So James looks to have been a Unionist.

Although I am not completely sure but it seems his unit was Company D, 1st Battalion Georgia State Troops. I found a website with some information about this organization.

http://northagainstsouth.com/georgia-unionists/

Another website about this unit;

http://northagainstsouth.com/georgia-unionists/

 

[DJenne]

Wow.. Thought I would take a look and was also immediately confused as well. There are many options here as the card is written in brief notations. Someone else here with Georgia ancestors may also be able to help, but in the meantime....
First, be sure you have as much info on your ancestor as you can gather, particularly if he used a middle initial. When was he born, when did he die? Check Find a grave.com, and confederate cemeteries.
Secondly, if you know where he lived at the time the war began, his county or town, that will help figure his unit, as many of them mustered in in groups from towns and counties.

Because so many records were destroyed during the war, the state has made huge gains in gathering and digitizing which is wonderful for genealogists . More and more is now online than ever before and much of it is free. (Don't pay for public records).
With that in mind, a quick search of the Georgia archives brought up three James Wests.

http://cdm.georgiaarchives.org:2011...n/TestApps/searchterm/West, James/order/title

I tend to go old school as that's where I started my research (pre-internet). Look to your county and state archives for regimental histories. And, if you know his town, local histories and reunions will help you pinpoint his role. If you have a library card, your library system may have online resources, so one or two libraries are designated genealogy centers and have subscriptions and dedicated work stations and archives. Yes you can get lost, but you'll learn so much in the process.
I hope this helps a bit. NPS is not an easy system to search, I think your state will be easier to work from first.

 

[DJenne]

Crafty-

Well this seems to be a rare bird. Your James West even though he was living in Georgia during the Civil War appears to have enlisted in the Union Army as this is a US Pension record. Confederate soldiers after the war were issued pensions through their states. So James looks to have been a Unionist.

Although I am not completely sure but it seems his unit was Company D, 1st Battalion Georgia State Troops. I found a website with some information about this organization.

..and there's this, which I did not realize either, though I figured the designation...fascinating!

 

[kholland]

Now I'm coming across different sections that men served in and I have no clue about battle units. Is there a book out there, or an internet site, that could break it down for me?

Here is a website explaining basic unit structure in the Civil War.
http://www.angelfire.com/wv/wasec5/formations.html

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

So, I'm seriously addicted here. Why didn't anyone warn me?!
I'm coming across lots of genealogy info-which is awesome!-but I'm having difficulty knowing what to do and where to go from there. I'm starting to read "Battle Cry for Freedom" to get me going, as I know very little about the details of the Civil War. (Shame on me, as I go through my ancestry tree!)
Does anyone know where I can get a general overview of researching Civil War genealogy? I asked a question about pensions earlier, I have no idea how they were set up. Now I'm coming across different sections that men served in and I have no clue about battle units. Is there a book out there, or an internet site, that could break it down for me?

In the meantime, maybe someone could help with this. This is a pension card for one of my 3rd Gr Grandfathers. I don't understand what service he was in. I know it's written clearly, but when I search the NPS website I can't find any James West with a battle unit that would "match". Man, I'm so new at this. Thanks for your patience!
View attachment 67596

As Cumpston says he was a Union Man. He may have been a captured Confederate that took the oath and joined the Union Army at the very end to escape prison. There were 17 James West in the Confederate Army from Georgia. Do you have a middle initial, might find him that way ?

GEORGIA VOLUNTEERS.
1st BATTALION INFANTRY.

Organized at Marietta, Ga., October 31, 1864. Served unattached, Dept. of the Cumberland,
to March, 1865. 1st Brigade, 2nd Separate Division, District of the Etowah, Dept. of
the Cumberland, to July.

SERVICE.-Railroad guard duty at Dalton, Ga., and in the District of the Etowah till
July, 1865. Mustered out July 19, 1865.

Frederick A. Dyer "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" vol. 3

 

[18thVirginia]

So, I'm seriously addicted here. Why didn't anyone warn me?!
I'm coming across lots of genealogy info-which is awesome!-but I'm having difficulty knowing what to do and where to go from there. I'm starting to read "Battle Cry for Freedom" to get me going, as I know very little about the details of the Civil War. (Shame on me, as I go through my ancestry tree!)
Does anyone know where I can get a general overview of researching Civil War genealogy? I asked a question about pensions earlier, I have no idea how they were set up. Now I'm coming across different sections that men served in and I have no clue about battle units. Is there a book out there, or an internet site, that could break it down for me?

In the meantime, maybe someone could help with this. This is a pension card for one of my 3rd Gr Grandfathers. I don't understand what service he was in. I know it's written clearly, but when I search the NPS website I can't find any James West with a battle unit that would "match". Man, I'm so new at this. Thanks for your patience!
View attachment 67596

CraftyMM, you might want to look at his relatives, brothers, father, nephews to get some idea of where they enlisted/served. I had a North Georgia ancestor who went back to Tennessee and served with a unit there and died of disease. Found that his father served with a Tennessee unit, also died of disease.

Some other ancestors from Texas went back to Tennessee and served with Confederate Tennessee units.

So, I'd say poke around and look at various relatives, wife's relatives to get an idea of who they served with, who recruited their unit. Eventually it starts to make sense.

 

[CraftyMauiMamma]

Thanks for all the helpful links and such! It has definitely put me on the right track.

You guys are so helpful