Where do I find regimental casualty stats...?

[Bruce Vail]

Can anybody help by telling me where to to look for regimental casualty statistics covering the whole War?

I'm specifically interested in the 3rd NC Infantry.

 

[Jimklag]

Can anybody help by telling me where to to look for regimental casualty statistics covering the whole War?

I'm specifically interested in the 3rd NC Infantry.

The CD-rom from Guild Press of Indiana titled The Civil War CD-ROM has not only the complete Official Records, but a section titled "Regimental Losses In The American Civil War 1861-1865."

 

[Jimklag]

Bruce, I bought the CD on eBay for $29.95.

 

[Bruce Vail]

The CD-rom from Guild Press of Indiana titled The Civil War CD-ROM has not only the complete Official Records, but a section titled "Regimental Losses In The American Civil War 1861-1865."

Thanks. What sort of detail do they offer? Year by year? Battle of battle? Cumulative?

 

[Jimklag]

Thanks. What sort of detail do they offer? Year by year? Battle of battle? Cumulative?

As soon as I get home and light up my laptop I'll look. I think it's battle returns, but I'll check and let you know.

 

[SWMODave]

The NPS Soldiers and Sailors Database shows individual regimental histories and typically lists total casualty figures.

Depending on what you are researching in North Carolina, there is a 3 volume set called Roster of North Carolina Troops in the War Between the States that is free to download or read oline - here is the link to all 3 volumes (link)

Also, there is a free book online called "Numbers and Losses in the Civil War' by Thomas Livermore (1900) that offers more general numbers for Civil War researchers - it does not go down to regimental level however so would not be helpful in your particular question. More state level and battle casualty numbers.

I believe the Regimental Losses book that Jim is referring to is online here or you can download it here

Good luck in your research.

 

[AUG]

You could search the OR, which can be viewed online here: http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/waro.html

However, regimental losses were not always recorded fallowing a battle.

 

[lelliott19]

Bruce... for the later part of the war, get Alfred Youngs book numerical study of ANV. Al has reviewed all the inspection reports and determined the strength of each regiment at specific points in the Overland campaign. Good stuff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0807151726/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[Bruce Vail]

The NPS Soldiers and Sailors Database shows individual regimental histories and typically lists total casualty figures.

Depending on what you are researching in North Carolina, there is a 3 volume set called Roster of North Carolina Troops in the War Between the States that is free to download or read oline - here is the link to all 3 volumes (link)

Also, there is a free book online called "Numbers and Losses in the Civil War' by Thomas Livermore (1900) that offers more general numbers for Civil War researchers - it does not go down to regimental level however so would not be helpful in your particular question. More state level and battle casualty numbers.

I believe the Regimental Losses book that Jim is referring to is online here or you can download it here

Good luck in your research.

Thanks. I've seen the NPS summary and am looking for more detail.

I'm also aware that there are numerous problems with Confederate casualty stats and am hoping to identify some numbers where there is a consensus as to accuracy.

I looked briefly at Fox's and seems to be a gold mine. Is Fox regarded as reliable, even after all these years?

 

[rpkennedy]

Can anybody help by telling me where to to look for regimental casualty statistics covering the whole War?

I'm specifically interested in the 3rd NC Infantry.

With Confederate records, I'll just say "good luck". I tend to rely on state roster records when they are available as those have at least given me a pretty good idea and a base set to work with in the past. That being said, they are often not incomplete. Regimental histories are generally ok to work with as well. The OR records are pretty vague at the best of times and they tend not to give great information anyways.

Ryan

 

[rpkennedy]

You could search the OR, which can be viewed online here: http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/waro.html

However, regimental losses were not always recorded fallowing a battle.

And, in many cases, they only count those that the medical director is aware of. For several battles, they only give the dead and wounded, and only those that were recovered.

Ryan

 

[Deleted User CS]

Bruce Vail. I know of several Confederate reference sources that might help with your research: 1- "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War: 1861-1865" edited by Walter Clark. (5 total volumes) 2- "North Carolina Troops: 1861 to 1865: A Roster" (18 total volumes-These volumes include biographies of each soldier including cemetery records and newspaper accounts) 3- "Confederate State Roster" 27 total volumes of individual Confederate states. I think North Carolina has three total volumes. 4- "Roster of Confederate Soldiers: 1861-1865" 16 total volumes. These volumes are a cumulative index of all Confederate soldiers transcribed from 535 microfilm rolls. If you live close to a college or university library they should be able to provide you with these resources. I know the first reference volumes mentioned above can be found on archives.org. David.

 

[lelliott19]

Or just do like I did and start making spreadsheets by name, date, casualty type, and specifics (if provided) for each battle for the regiment you are working on.

You can get the names from lists sent to the newspapers, names mentioned in diaries and letters, and the roster of soldiers from NC mentioned by @christian soldier . Eventually youll have them all - and even better - youll know WHO they were.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Or just do like I did and start making spreadsheets by name, date, casualty type, and specifics (if provided) for each battle for the regiment you are working on.

You can get the names from lists sent to the newspapers, names mentioned in diaries and letters, and the roster of soldiers from NC mentioned by @christian soldier . Eventually youll have them all - and even better - youll know WHO they were.

I'm thinking it might be a good idea to make my own chart. I think I'll do the 1st NC Infantry at the same time. Maybe do a third also of cavalry or artillery regiment from the same end of NC.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Bruce Vail. I know of several Confederate reference sources that might help with your research: 1- "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War: 1861-1865" edited by Walter Clark. (5 total volumes) 2- "North Carolina Troops: 1861 to 1865: A Roster" (18 total volumes-These volumes include biographies of each soldier including cemetery records and newspaper accounts) 3- "Confederate State Roster" 27 total volumes of individual Confederate states. I think North Carolina has three total volumes. 4- "Roster of Confederate Soldiers: 1861-1865" 16 total volumes. These volumes are a cumulative index of all Confederate soldiers transcribed from 535 microfilm rolls. If you live close to a college or university library they should be able to provide you with these resources. I know the first reference volumes mentioned above can be found on archives.org. David.

I'm lucky to live in Baltimore. The Enoch Pratt Free Library is great and they have smoothly functioning cooperative lending agreements with University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins here.

 

[Bruce Vail]

And, in many cases, they only count those that the medical director is aware of. For several battles, they only give the dead and wounded, and only those that were recovered.

Ryan

Who is the medical director in a situation like the 3rd NC?

Would that be at the brigade or division level? Or elesewhere?

 

[lelliott19]

I'm thinking it might be a good idea to make my own chart. I think I'll do the 1st NC Infantry at the same time. Maybe do a third also of cavalry or artillery regiment from the same end of NC.

Yep, sounds like a plan. You might as well. As long as you are already perusing the newspapers for casualty lists, you may as well get them all done at once. For the names mentioned in letters and diaries - you can, at a later time, focus on each specific regt and add them as you find them.

 

[Deleted User CS]

I'm lucky to live in Baltimore. The Enoch Pratt Free Library is great and they have smoothly functioning cooperative lending agreements with University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins here.

I am sure Johns Hopkins would have all of these volumes. They have a fantastic history department and library and are especially great when studying colonial era history with professors like Jack Greene. David.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Bruce Vail. I know of several Confederate reference sources that might help with your research: 1- "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War: 1861-1865" edited by Walter Clark. (5 total volumes) 2- "North Carolina Troops: 1861 to 1865: A Roster" (18 total volumes-These volumes include biographies of each soldier including cemetery records and newspaper accounts) 3- "Confederate State Roster" 27 total volumes of individual Confederate states. I think North Carolina has three total volumes. 4- "Roster of Confederate Soldiers: 1861-1865" 16 total volumes. These volumes are a cumulative index of all Confederate soldiers transcribed from 535 microfilm rolls. If you live close to a college or university library they should be able to provide you with these resources. I know the first reference volumes mentioned above can be found on archives.org. David.

I love the Clark books. Unfortunately they leave a lot of the bad stuff that happened out.

 

[White Flint Bill]

Here is a regimental casualty analysis for the 3rd NC that might be helpful to you:

http://civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?RegimentCasualty?107&C