Research on the Civil War is an on-going undertaking and exists at almost every library,  The Davidson College Library is fortunate to have two invaluable primary sources for researchers; "The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" and the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion".

The "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" was published over a period of twenty years spanning ten Congresses.  Four series comprise the 128 volumes, each sequentially numbered with some volumes encompassing several parts.

Series I

Formal reports of military campaign including correspondence, orders, and returns for both Union and Confederate Armies.  Series I  follows the order of campaigns (chronological order) and the various theaters of operation.  Union Reports appear first with confederate reports following. An Atlas was also published for the Series.

Series II

Union and Confederate correspondence, orders, reports, and returns pertaining to prisoners of war and to state or political prisoners.

Series III

Other correspondence, orders, reports, and returns not included in Series I and II for the Union authorities.

Series IV

Other correspondence, orders reports, and returns not included in Series I and II for the Confederate authorities..  Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789-1909, 3rd Ed., compiled under the direction of the Superintendent of Documents, 1911.

Davidson College Library's holdings include all four series and are shelved on the Ground floor with the Government Documents Collection.

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Maintained by: Sara Lee Enders
E.H. Little Library
URL: http://www.davidson.edu/administrative/library/govdoc/government_information.asp
Last Modified: 10/01/2009