Where do fold3 records come from?

[Capt. Glasgow]

Good afternoon,

Where would I look to get more on this record from fold3? I know this is just an index record so there has to be an actual document attached to it.

Thanks?

 

[Dave D]

There are several service records for a sgt/later promoted to 3rd Lt. Aaron A. Inman of Co. D, 18th NC Infantry. Go to the Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - North Carolina and select the Eighteenth Infantry under Military unit, then lookup "Inman, Aaron"
[ see https://www.fold3.com/image/35952381 once you are logged in to Fold3]

 

[Capt. Glasgow]

There are services records for a sgt/later promoted to 3rd Lt. Aaron A. Inman of Co. D, 18th NC Infantry. Go to the Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - North Carolina and select the Eighteenth Infantry under Military unit, then lookup "Inman, Aaron"
[ see https://www.fold3.com/image/35952381 once you are logged in to Fold3]

Yes that is my guy. I just want to see the original document regarding his leave.

 

[Dave D]

Yes that is my guy. I just want to see the original document regarding his leave.

Someone once told me that the original source documents used to create the Compiled Military Service Record cards are still held somewhere in the National Archives - this person told me he got access to the documents years ago but they were stored in thousands of cardboard boxes and were not well catalogued. I guess a call to the National Archives might provide some insight.

 

[Bob Velke]

This is a Special Order for the Army of Northern Virginia dated 15 Jan 1863. It should be in RG 109, "War Department Collection of Confederate Records" at NARA.

You might also find it here. Type in your zip code to see where to find the closest copy.

I don't think that I'd expect to find much. It is probably just an approval of leave.

 

[OldSarge79]

I would contact the National Archives. You can request a copy of the original document and it's preferable if you have the citation information, which fold3 has. I have done that on several occasions.

One in particular comes to mind. I spoke to a live person there (yes, you can do that) who tried to talk me out of a copy of the original document, saying, "All the information from the original document is on the fold3 cards." I persisted and they sent a copy. There WAS additional information on the original (the names of three men captured with my ancestor) which made it possible to clear up a family mystery. It was priceless to me.

I've attached the card and the original document. The card is difficult to read but it says exactly what the original document says about my ancestor, C.P. Snell. But look at all the additional information on the original document.

Bob Velke is right, though. Chances are you won't find anything new or exciting, but ya never know.

 

[Bob Velke]

I don't think that I'd expect to find much. It is probably just an approval of leave.

To be clear, I'd still get the document. I wouldn't hold your breath for anything earth-shattering … but you might be surprised.

 

[Dave D]

I would contact the National Archives. You can request a copy of the original document and it's preferable if you have the citation information, which fold3 has. I have done that on several occasions.

One in particular comes to mind. I spoke to a live person there (yes, you can do that) who tried to talk me out of a copy of the original document, saying, "All the information from the original document is on the fold3 cards." I persisted and they sent a copy. There WAS additional information on the original (the names of three men captured with my ancestor) which made it possible to clear up a family mystery. It was priceless to me.

I've attached the card and the original document. The card is difficult to read but it says exactly what the original document says about my ancestor, C.P. Snell. But look at all the additional information on the original document.

Bob Velke is right, though. Chances are you won't find anything new or exciting, but ya never know.

Sarge,

Do you recall which archive office / location you talked to for the copy of the original documents?

 

[OldSarge79]

Sarge,

Do you recall which archive office / location you talked to for the copy of the original documents?

I was afraid you were going to ask that. It's buried somewhere in some boxes in my closet among piles of research material. It was about six years ago. Will make some time today to look.

Meanwhile, you might try to contact them with a question here: https://www.archives.gov/contact
That will probably be what you need.

UPDATE: I just found it in a binder in my bookshelves. it was five years ago.

I have written on their letter the following: "For requests:
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001

Attn: Old Military Records"

I do have an email and phone for two of the staff who helped me, but that's probably not how they want you to begin. We all know that the Federal government has its procedures. You could start either by sending a letter to the above, or send a message on their contact page. I would suggest the latter, to begin with.

 

[Capt. Glasgow]

Sure enough they have it digitized!!!
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18257255

 

[Capt. Glasgow]

I would contact the National Archives. You can request a copy of the original document and it's preferable if you have the citation information, which fold3 has. I have done that on several occasions.

One in particular comes to mind. I spoke to a live person there (yes, you can do that) who tried to talk me out of a copy of the original document, saying, "All the information from the original document is on the fold3 cards." I persisted and they sent a copy. There WAS additional information on the original (the names of three men captured with my ancestor) which made it possible to clear up a family mystery. It was priceless to me.

I've attached the card and the original document. The card is difficult to read but it says exactly what the original document says about my ancestor, C.P. Snell. But look at all the additional information on the original document.

Bob Velke is right, though. Chances are you won't find anything new or exciting, but ya never know.

View attachment 406116

View attachment 406117

Thank you for your inspiring answer! It gave me enough hope that a detailed search would be worth it and I did find a digitzed book on NARA with what I assume is the source doc. Anyway, it DID have additional information. I am grateful!

 

[lupaglupa]

Huzzah! Sometimes I forget to check back on things that were not digitized when I last looked. Though we sometimes get frustrated at the slow pace, things get added online all the time.

 

[OldSarge79]

Thank you for your inspiring answer! It gave me enough hope that a detailed search would be worth it and I did find a digitzed book on NARA with what I assume is the source doc. Anyway, it DID have additional information. I am grateful!

That's awesome!!!
Kinda makes my day, and I'm very happy for you! I think we all are.

 

[OldSarge79]

Huzzah!

Exclaimed like a true history addict!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

" Where do fold3 records come from"

Great question ! @Capt. Glasgow
The above answers are very accurate .

I've been a subscriber to fold3 for many years.
It's a great resource !

However ... always consult the State archives as well.

It's my personal experience the individual States will have additional records (for whatever reason) that never made it
to the National Archives.

While I don't think anyone was trying to intentionally withhold information , it was a hard job to record EVERYTHING once the War was over,

Actually I think the clerks back then did a stellar job recording what was available , only with an ink pen and paper.

 

[lupaglupa]

However ... always consult the State archives as well.

@7th Mississippi Infantry that is such good advice. I think people often make the mistake of stopping when they run out of options on an otherwise helpful source. Yes, the National Archives have a lot. But - they don't have everything. I know @Fairfield would say - yes, there's a lot online. But - there's a lot still on paper, especially at local archives. You can log on to one of the big genealogy websites and get a good amount of info. That's enough for most folks. But if you want details, you have to dig. You may have to travel and pore over hand written documents. When you've really got the bug, that one new fact after five hours in an archive feels like victory.

 

[Fairfield]

@7th Mississippi Infantry that is such good advice. I think people often make the mistake of stopping when they run out of options on an otherwise helpful source. Yes, the National Archives have a lot. But - they don't have everything. I know @Fairfield would say - yes, there's a lot online. But - there's a lot still on paper, especially at local archives. You can log on to one of the big genealogy websites and get a good amount of info. That's enough for most folks. But if you want details, you have to dig. You may have to travel and pore over hand written documents. When you've really got the bug, that one new fact after five hours in an archive feels like victory.

If one is going to rely only on online records, it is just about a given that something is going to be missed (how significant that omission is, varies). It is possible to minimize this probability by checking several genealogy sites. And to always, always go into the scanned original (even the most seasoned transcribers make mistakes--fooled by unfamiliar names, poor handwriting, or simply by confusing lines of information). The sites we use are very much a function of what we are doing: personally, I don't use Fold3 very much but I'd never even start an online project (outside Maine) without FamilySearch's WikiResearch.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I know @Fairfield would say - yes, there's a lot online. But - there's a lot still on paper, especially at local archives.

Absolutely !

I found the basic records of one of my immediate ancestors, an officer in the 9th Louisiana ( Army of Northern Virginia ).
He was injured at Marye's Heights during Fredericksburg.

OK, . . . so far a "hero".

But after I received the official copies of "paper records" from the State of Louisiana, everything changed.

Seems he went he went AWOL, and married a rich doctor's widow.
My point ... go beyond the National Archives for records & and never assume your ancestor was a perfect person.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

If one is going to rely only on online records, it is just about a given that something is going to be missed

You are so right !

 

[Dave D]

UPDATE: I just found it in a binder in my bookshelves. it was five years ago.

I have written on their letter the following: "For requests:
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001

Attn: Old Military Records"

I do have an email and phone for two of the staff who helped me, but that's probably not how they want you to begin. We all know that the Federal government has its procedures. You could start either by sending a letter to the above, or send a message on their contact page. I would suggest the latter, to begin with.

Thanks Sarge - I've stumbled onto the "Old Military Records" section name in the past but was looking for WWII records at the time so, I didn't get into the contents. I forgot all about them; I'll try them out.