Stephen McManus of Exton, Pennsylvania, Donald Thompson of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Thomas Churchill of Summerville, South Carolina have joined forces and written the first “comprehensive guide to tracing and researching Civil War ancestors” to be published in more than forty years.The three Civil War buffs used to bid against each other on eBay and, over time, realized they were conducting similar research on their ancestors’ regiment, the 18th Massachusetts. The three men then pooled their resources and shared information about their research, and, before long, had written a guide on how to conduct such work. Their aptly-titled book, The Civil War Research Guide, provides what they call “a nuts-and-bolts approach to researching an ancestor who served in the Civil War and his military unit.”
Researching the Civil War in this personalized manner gives researchers a new understanding of the war and the men who fought it. ”Rather than focusing on the big picture, you are looking at a very small cog in the wheel, generally composed of regular people, with ordinary problems and concerns, who found themselves swept into a turning point in American history.”
One of these “regular people” was Edmund Churchill, the color-sergeant of the 18th Massachusetts and the great-great-grandfather of coauthor Thomas Churchill. Churchill “finds it ironic that the college he attended - The Citadel - and the place where he lives” are located in the heart of the former Confederacy, “yet he spends much of his time seeking information on a Union regiment from Massachusetts.” Due to the distance between South Carolina and Massachusetts, conducting research can be problematic at times, but by using the methods discussed in The Civil War Research Guide, Churchill can effectively get the information he needs.
In a very concise, well-organized format, McManus, Thompson, and Churchill’s book discusses how to organize research materials on paper and within a computer database. Their guide also explains where to look for historical documents concerning Civil War soldiers, their regiments, and the actions of their regiments. The authors explain how to use the National Archives, (for Union regiments), State Archives (for Confederate regiments), historical and genealogical societies, Civil War shows, books, auctions, and web sites.
There are thousands of websites dedicated to the Civil War, which can make wading through them a timely process. The authors have already done the wading, however, and in their book they list only the most helpful sites. In and of itself, their “Internet Websites” chapter could save a Civil War researcher hours - if not days - of valuable research time.
But surfing the web is just the beginning. In order to gain additional insight, the authors suggest visiting battlefields where the soldiers fought. They recommend taking along personal correspondence of the soldiers and reading it on the battlefield. “The experience of reading [the soldiers’] words while standing where they stood and looking over the ground on which they fought is nothing short of incredible.” And once you have a good understanding of the soldiers’ experience in battle, “it can be very interesting to do a search on any opposing regiments to learn what they had to say…” This process gives the researcher a greater understanding of the battle as a whole.
In addition to providing sound research methodology, the The Civil War Research Guide has many appendices that provide an array of helpful research materials. The authors include a sample letter for material requests and multiple charts on which to track correspondence, battles, and contacted organizations. The appendices also contain contact information for museums, libraries, and archives - all organized by state.
In short, McManus, Thompson, and Churchill have already done much of the legwork for anyone who wants to start their own Civil War research project. Their book is an effective time-saver and a valuable resource for people interested in investigating their ancestor’s Civil War experiences. The Civil War Research Guide is must-have for amateur historians and a useful tool for those already conducting research.
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*Originially Published in the Charleston City Paper on October 15, 2003.
