Civil War Veteran Questionnaires

The following explanation of these records is from the Tennessee State Library and Archives web site:

The effort to record Civil War veterans’ experiences, during the conflict and before and after it, started in 1914. Dr. Gus Dyer, Tennessee State Archivist, developed a questionnaire and contacted all known living Tennessee Civil War veterans, asking them to return the questionnaires to Nashville.

In 1920 the project was continued by John Trotwood Moore (pictured at right) of the Tennessee Historical Commission and also State Librarian and Archivist. The 1,650 completed forms were returned by 1922 and were made available for historical research. They are on file in the TSLA and have been microfilmed for security and ease of use.

The responses are rich in detail about pre- and post-war life, as well as military experiences. They include personal and family information; opinions about class and race distinctions; and details of agricultural, business and educational opportunities for the young in nineteenth century Tennessee.

I’ve copied these questionnaires from the book they were printed in. I have not seen the original questionnaires, as I do not have access to them on microfilm. I have copied them, as they were typed up in the book, which stated they were transcribed as written, mistakes and all.