More than just a pistol and razor: Civil War ancestry records show Confederate soldier's great-great-grandson why he fought
- Ancestry.com Civil War records go online to help 17 million Americans search archives to discover more about relatives
- Film director Ken Burns says significance 'can't be overstated'
Gary Compton’s grandfather used to show him an old pistol and razor belonging to his great-great-grandfather, who fought as a Confederate soldier in the Civil War.
But he was ashamed David Reuben Compton had been on the wrong side of the war to end slavery in America - until his genealogy research answered many questions.
Mr Compton discovered his relative was probably not a slave owner and only fought twice after Union troops passed near his home, burning and pillaging along the way.
Archives: David Compton fought in the Civil War - and ancestry records have revealed more to his great-great-grandson Gary Compton about why he enlisted
The Minneapolis resident is one of around 17 million Americans with an ancestor who fought in the battle between North and South, as its 150-year anniversary is marked.
More than 40 million Civil War records documenting the lives and service of Union and Confederate soldiers are being made available online to the public for the first time.
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David Reuben Compton fought for the Confederacy in Arkansas after Northern troops had passed near his home in Woodruff County, burning and pillaging as they went.
Gary is next in line to inherit the pistol and razor that once belonged to his great-great-grandfather and will pass them on with a better understanding of what they represent.
Famous: Civil War Draft registration records served as a virtual male census in the North during the conflict, and include future President Grover Cleveland
1862: The Battle of Antietam in Maryland was the single bloodiest day on U.S. soil, with thousands of Confederate and Union soldiers dying in the battle
WHAT'S BEING RELEASED?
NATIONAL ARCHIVE RECORDS
- U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865
- U.S. Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865
- 1860 and 1870 Censuses
UNION RECORDS
- New York Civil War Muster Rolls
- New York Civil War City Registers
- Kansas Civil War Enlistment Papers
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
- Confederate Pension Applications from four states
- Georgia Civil War Correspondence
- Alabama Census of Confederate Soldiers
- Register of Officers of the Confederate States Navy
The entire Civil War draft registration records from 1863 to 1865, as well as the 1860 and 1870 censuses, have been digitised as part of a new collection. It's part of a joint project between the National Archives and Ancestry.com.
The draft registration records are among the most viewed National Archives Civil War holdings and were a virtual male census in the North during the conflict.
They include Americans from the 19th century such as businessmen Andrew Carnegie and Aaron Montgomery Ward, and future President Grover Cleveland.
Ancestry.com’s full collection of 42 million records, including 25 million from the National Archives, will be freely accessible for one week from Thursday.
‘The 1863 draft was one of the most tenuous moments in the Union outside of the battles fought on Northern soil,’ an Ancestry.com spokesman said.
‘Most of the concern was due to the draft riots that took place in New York in 1863. These records include more than 630 volumes of registries and are lists of individuals who registered for the draft.’
Filmmaker Ken Burns, who produced award-winning documentary The Civil War, said he is excited about the release and has found out more about his great-great-grandfather.
Amazing: Film director Ken Burns said he is excited about the release and has made 'multiple discoveries' about his great-great-grandfather, Abraham Burns
‘The significance of these records, which document one of the most important events in American history, cannot be overstated,’ Mr Burns said.
‘I've been able to make multiple discoveries about my own great-great-grandfather Abraham Burns through these and other records from the National Archives.’
Ancestry.com is also launching the new interactive Military Headstone Archives, which will let users virtually explore 33 national Civil War cemeteries .
Other Union record additions include New York Civil War muster rolls, New York Civil War city registers and Kansas Civil War enlistment papers
Confederate records have been added such as pension applications from four states, Georgia Civil War correspondence and an Alabama census of Confederate soldiers.
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