I found the following 4 records that revealed his military service, most of which were available on Ancestry:

1. 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census

Although the vast majority of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census was destroyed in a fire, the 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census has largely survived. This special census was intended to enumerate Union veterans of the Civil War and their widows, but some Confederate veterans were also included. You can expect to find the following information in this source:

• Veteran’s ame
• Place of residence
• Rank
• Company
• Name of Regiment or Vessel
• Date of enlistment
• Date of discharge
• Length of service
• Disability incurred

2. New York, U.S., Town Clerks’ Registers of Men Who Serviced in the Civil War, ca. 1861-1865

This is a wonderful source related to Civil War veterans from New York. This database is the only source where I’ve found the parents’ names (including mother’s maiden name!) of two of my Civil War veteran ancestors. This source provides the following details:

• Veteran’s Name
• Residence
• Time and Place of Birth
• Rank
• Regiment
• Company
• When Enlisted
• When Mustered
• Rank
• Number of Months in Service
• Place of Enlistment
• Names of Parents
• Promotions, Resignations, Discharges, Deaths, etc. with Dates, Causes, etc.

3. U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934

This record collection provides pension application numbers, which can be useful when requesting the soldier’s full application.

Two of these sources, the New York Town Clerks’ Register and the obituary, stated that Hiram had been wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. The 1890 Veteran’s Census described his wound as a “cut on left knee.” I was intrigued by this, and wanted to learn the details about how he sustained his wounds. To do this, I turned to offline sources. I eventually discovered the truth of what really happened, and the real story was somewhat different than what was reported in these records.

Civil War Veteran Resources at the National Archives

I first ordered Hiram’s Military Service records online from the National Archives using form number NATF 86. To order these records, an account needs to be created, which can be used to check the status of any requests. You can choose to get the records via CD or DVD, electronic transfer (email), or paper copy. The cost is $30 and is estimated to ship in 60-90 calendar days. Make sure if you request to receive the records via email that you download them as soon as you receive them because the link will expire!

I discovered more information from his service records, but ultimately, these records left me with even more questions. Much of his service records consisted of muster rolls, but I also received a Certificate of Disability for Discharge and letters written by Hiram requesting to be transferred to a hospital in Elmira, New York, closer to his home. According to this record collection, Hiram’s wound did not occur during the Battle of Gettysburg, but a few days before the battle started. He was wounded in Frederick City, Maryland on 26 June 1863, and he had accidentally injured himself in his left knee. He was discharged from the army in the summer of 1864 because of these wounds. However, details of exactly how he injured himself were missing.

Next, I returned to the National Archives website to order Hiram’s pension application. Military pension application files prior to World War I are also stored at the National Archives. I submitted a request for Hiram’s pension records with form number NATF 85D. The fee for these records is $80. If you’re researching a Civil War ancestor and can only order one record type from the National Archives, I recommend ordering the pension file instead of service records. The pension file is more expensive, but is also a richer source of genealogical data.

Hiram’s pension file amounted to 78 pages. About halfway through the file, I found this story:

“While said Regt. Was on the march to Gettysburg, PA near the City of Frederick, Md, he received injuries from which he became a cripple, as follows. That as the Regt. Halted for the purpose of cooking dinner near the city of Frederick, Md in attempting to build a fire for the purpose of making coffee he cut himself with a hatchet through the knee, while in the act of splitting wood. That he was standing on his knees on the ground attempting to split a hard wood chunk and the handle of the hatchet being short and straight and difficult to hold onto firmly slipped from his hand and struck into his knee. That he was taken from there to Hospital at Baltimore and from there to Elmira N.Y. and mustered out the service at General Hospital Elmira on or about June 10, 1864.”

Check out this how-to video about ordering Civil War pension records online from the National Archives: https://youtu.be/v3FAHYJZ7Dc