Civil War soldiers often left a rich genealogical paper trail.  Many of these records are tucked away at the National Archives in Washington DC.  Learn what records are available for your ancestors only at the National Archives, what records are online already, and how to access all of them.  These records may unlock some of the family stories that have been forgotten over time, as well as break down a brick wall or two!   

Through CivilWarRecords.com, Brian Rhinehart provides on-site research and record retrieval at the National Archives in Washington DC, focusing primarily on 19th century military records (Civil War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Indian Wars, Spanish American War) and federal land records (bounty land, homestead land). He holds a Certificate of Genealogical Research from Boston University. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and a volunteer and former trustee of the Portage County (Ohio) Historical Society. Brian recently attended the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI) and is a regular researcher for the PBS television show "Finding Your Roots" with Henry Louis Gates Jr.