Wars for America

Revolutionary War (1776-1783)

Notable Revolutionary War Battles
Continental Navy Names (A Work in Progress)

Interwar Years (1784-1811)

1790 Army Establishment Act of 30 April 1790 (PDF)
1796 Army Establishment Act of 30 May 1796 (PDF)
1802 Army Establishment Act of 16 March 1802 (PDF)

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

Primary Sources

Declaration of War on Britain, 18 June 1812 (PDF)

Secondary Sources

Notable War of 1812 Battles

Interwar Years (1815-1845)

“Regulations for the Uniform and Dress of the Army of the United States” – General Order 36 of 21 June 1839

Mexican War (1846-1848)

Notable Mexican War Battles

Civil War (1861-1865)

Secondary Sources

“Civil War Naval Ordnance” by Eugene B. Canfield

Regimental Losses in the American Civil War, 1861-1865 by William F. Fox (1889)

Numbers and Losses in the Civil War in America, 1861-65 by Thomas L. Livermore (1900)

Compendium of the Confederate Armies by Stewart Sifakis (1992-Present?) – This series is an attempt to produce a Confederate version of Dyer's Compendium. Ten volumes in the series have been published over the last 20-30 years. Being “in print” and with the author still alive; copyright still applies. The reason it's listed here is to answer that question that arises...“where's the Confederate version of Dyers?”

Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick Dyer (1908) (130 MB PDF)– This massive tome was written by Frederick H. Dyer, who joined the Union Army as a Drummer Boy with the 7th Connecticut (Company H) on 25 July 1863 at the age of fourteen. Post-war, from 1904 to 1909, he wrote the 1,796 pages of the Compendium; and it has remained in print ever since as a quasi primary/secondary source hybrid.

In the table below are carefully curated selections from Dyer's Compendium:

Primary Sources (arranged chronologically)

The best source of primary records for the American Civil War is the 128 volume Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion, which was printed from 1880 to 1900.

Abraham Lincoln's Call For Troops; 15 April 1861

Ironclad Act of 3 August 1861 (PDF) – This congressional bill appropriated $1.5M to construct one or more armored warships (equivalent to about $50.9M today in 2023).

U.S. Army of Virginia G.O. #5 of 18 July 1862

U.S. Army of Virginia G.O. #7 of July 1862

U.S. Army of Virginia G.O. #11 of 23 July 1862

U.S. Army of Virginia G.O. #19 of 14 August 1862

War Department G.O. #58 of 10 March 1863 (PDF) – This General Order implemented Lincoln’s Proclamation offering Amnesty to AWOL Troops (which is also reprinted here for clarity).

War Department G.O. #100 of 24 April 1863 – This General Order is essentially “The Lieber Code” for conduct.

War Department G.O. #143 of 22 May 1863 (PDF) – This General Order authorized the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT).

1st Bde, 2d Div, 23d Corps, G.O. #23 of 30 July 1863 (1.24 MB PDF) – This General Order involved the “Loyalty Oath” that was to be taken by citizens of Kentucky before they were allowed to vote in elections.

War Department G.O. #297 of 3 December 1864 – This General Order authorized the creation of XXV Corps.

South Atlantic Blockading Squadron G.O. #2 of 7 January 1864 (1~ MB PNG) – This General Order is Admiral Dahlgren's initial response to rumors of a new Rebel torpedo boat (the H.L. Hunley) being soon ready.

Indian War(s) (1776-1890)

TBD

Post-Bellum Period (1866-1897)

Grand Army of the Republic G.O. #11 of 5 May 1868 (Establishing Memorial Day)