Is it just me...problem with NPS database.

[bdtex]

Until lately, I often used this NPS "Search for Battle Units" link to get information on the units and to search unit rosters looking for individual soldiers. I use(used?) it a lot to cross-check information found in fold3 and Ancestry. Sometimes though, I am(was?) able to find stuff there that I can't find anyplace else.

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units.htm

Much to my surprise, I couldn't access unit soldiers' rosters/lists when searching the "Search for Battle Units" section over the past weekend. There is no longer even a link to click on for the unit rosters/lists. I thought maybe it was just a temporary glitch. Those happen from time to time and I usually just try again later. Tried again today with the same result. It's gonna be a real blow to my research if that situation is permanent.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

It seems to be in a loop. This is a new resource to me, so I hope it is available soon. Nice to have the link!

 

[NedBaldwin]

I think some agencies are preparing for the government shutdown on Friday. I noticed some USGS sites not functioning as well

 

[bdtex]

I think some agencies are preparing for the government shutdown on Friday. I noticed some USGS sites not functioning as well

I hope you're right. After I posted the OP, I accidentally found a back door way to get to the unit rosters but it's too cumbersome. The other way was fairly quick.

 

[lupaglupa]

I hope you're right. After I posted the OP, I accidentally found a back door way to get to the unit rosters but it's too cumbersome. The other way was fairly quick.

I have always found the NPS database cumbersome to use. I appreciate that they have it but other sources are more user friendly IMHO

 

[bdtex]

I have always found the NPS database cumbersome to use. I appreciate that they have it but other sources are more user friendly IMHO

It's never my first choice but it has been helpful even when cumbersome. If the situation I described is permanent, it won't be much help going forward.

 

[Gary Morgan]

It's not just you - I've been having similar issues with the NPS Database of Andersonville and Fort McHenry Prisoners for about a week now. I can search it and get the index listing of prisoners soldiers with that name, but if I click on a name, it takes me back to the original list of every known prisoner held there at at the two prisons.

Very annoying.

 

[bdtex]

It's not just you - I've been having similar issues with the NPS Database of Andersonville and Fort McHenry Prisoners for about a week now. I can search it and get the index listing of prisoners soldiers with that name, but if I click on a name, it takes me back to the original list of every known prisoner held there at at the two prisons.

Very annoying.

Same thing happens when you click on a unit in "Search for Battle Units". It takes you to the beginning of the list starting with Alabama Militia. I was trying to research a soldier in a Texas regiment when I first encountered the issue. Yesterday, it was a Georgia soldier.

 

[lupaglupa]

Sounds like they are working on the system and it's causing issues.

 

[Bob Velke]

If you want to see the unit description for the 129th Ohio Infantry, for instance, the proper link is:

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UOH0129RI

...where "UOH0129RI" is the NPS' unit code. (This example: U=Union, OH=state, 0129=four-digit reg#, R=regiment, I=infantry.). If you can figure out the unit code that you want from this, just use the link above and change the code.

Unfortunately, the NPS' system is currently generating:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UOH0129RI

That is, it is adding an errant "/subjects" folder to the URL. So until/unless they fix it, another solution (still a terrible hack) is to use their system to find your unit but don't click on it. Point to its name in the list, right click and copy the URL, paste it into the URL line, edit it to remove the "/subjects", and then press Enter.

Of course, the unit descriptions are just quoted from these two publications:

Union:
Dyer, Frederick H., Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Co., 1908).

Confederate:
Crute, Joseph H., Jr., Units of the Confederate States Army (Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987), 2nd Edition.

I'm sure that you can find other electronic copies of them online.

===============

To get the list of soldiers in a unit, the proper link is (for the same example):

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm#q=UOH0129RI

===============

If you have trouble with these, let me know the details and I'll help as time permits. I have a personal copy of the NPS database.

 

[bdtex]

If you want to see the unit description for the 129th Ohio Infantry, for instance, the proper link is:

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UOH0129RI

...where "UOH0129RI" is the NPS' unit code. (This example: U=Union, OH=state, 0129=four-digit reg#, R=regiment, I=infantry.). If you can figure out the unit code that you want from this, just use the link above and change the code.

Unfortunately, the NPS' system is currently generating:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UOH0129RI

That is, it is adding an errant "/subjects" folder to the URL. So until/unless they fix it, another solution (still a terrible hack) is to use their system to find your unit but don't click on it. Point to its name in the list, right click and copy the URL, paste it into the URL line, edit it to remove the "/subjects", and then press Enter.

Of course, the unit descriptions are just quoted from these two publications:

Union:
Dyer, Frederick H., Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Co., 1908).

Confederate:
Crute, Joseph H., Jr., Units of the Confederate States Army (Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987), 2nd Edition.

I'm sure that you can find other electronic copies of them online.

===============

To get the list of soldiers in a unit, the proper link is (for the same example):

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm#q=UOH0129RI

===============

If you have trouble with these, let me know the details and I'll help as time permits. I have a personal copy of the NPS database.

I just tried it again and it appears that glitch is gone...temporarily at least.

 

[bdtex]

Spoke too soon. It's glitching up again.

 

[Niagara1864]

I never found the NPS database as user friendly. Might a recommend a website?
After discovering this site it has been my go to for roster research and I really appreciate the user friendly interface.
http://civilwardata.com/active/product.html

 

[bdtex]

I never found the NPS database as user friendly. Might a recommend a website?
After discovering this site it has been my go to for roster research and I really appreciate the user friendly interface.
http://civilwardata.com/active/product.html

Thanks for the link. I bookmarked it and will explore it in detail later. Time crunch right now.

 

[bdtex]

I accidentally found a workaround on the NPS "Search for Battle Units" glitch. I google the regiment first. The link to the NPS regiment description is in the first few hits. The link to the unit rosters/lists works there. Clicking on it doesn't take you back to the unit search home page.

 

[bearsfeat]

If you want to see the unit description for the 129th Ohio Infantry, for instance, the proper link is:

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UOH0129RI

...where "UOH0129RI" is the NPS' unit code. (This example: U=Union, OH=state, 0129=four-digit reg#, R=regiment, I=infantry.). If you can figure out the unit code that you want from this, just use the link above and change the code.

Unfortunately, the NPS' system is currently generating:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UOH0129RI

That is, it is adding an errant "/subjects" folder to the URL. So until/unless they fix it, another solution (still a terrible hack) is to use their system to find your unit but don't click on it. Point to its name in the list, right click and copy the URL, paste it into the URL line, edit it to remove the "/subjects", and then press Enter.

Of course, the unit descriptions are just quoted from these two publications:

Union:
Dyer, Frederick H., Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Co., 1908).

Confederate:
Crute, Joseph H., Jr., Units of the Confederate States Army (Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987), 2nd Edition.

I'm sure that you can find other electronic copies of them online.

===============

To get the list of soldiers in a unit, the proper link is (for the same example):

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm#q=UOH0129RI

===============

If you have trouble with these, let me know the details and I'll help as time permits. I have a personal copy of the NPS database.

Hi folks - Bob Velke, thanks for citing the books that this info comes from. I want to share a resource I use for finding old books like this. Here is a link to one of the books Bob cited above. Most of the selections on Hathitrust are searchable. Here's the link to get you started:
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007123888
Hope it helps, and thanks to all of you for the interest, effort, and contributions.

 

[lupaglupa]

Hathi trust is wonderful!

 

[bayouace]

Hats off to all of you skilled sleuths. You are all amazing.

 

[steamboater]

I never found the NPS database as user friendly. Might a recommend a website?
After discovering this site it has been my go to for roster research and I really appreciate the user friendly interface.
http://civilwardata.com/active/product.html

This is my favorite site for CW info. The search engine is much easier to use than the NPS, as well as more features, ie, I once had the first name (luckily, uncommon) and state served of a soldier. I clicked on Confederate, or US, added the state, added the given name. It came up with five options, and I was able to narrow the listing to the specific combatant. It is also much more accurate, in my experience, than the NPS. With the NPS, I might ask for Confederates only, yet NPS gives me all soldiers from both sides. With Civilwardata, the few errors I find I send in a suggestion as to a correction, they review, and soon update the info. For only 25 bucks a year, I find this the best paid site.

CWD also provides lots of photos of soldiers, and good info on military units, lots of supporting data on history, as well as a Generals specific listing.

I never found the NPS database as user friendly. Might a recommend a website?
After discovering this site it has been my go to for roster research and I really appreciate the user friendly interface.
http://civilwardata.com/active/product.html

 

[Shovellovin]

Great information here. Thank you all for sharing. I entered my family name and came up with a potential match.