Civil War Biographies
Pathfinder:
Reference Materials
Encyclopedias
Biographical Dictionaries
Ref: 973.7
Nonfiction
973
973.7
Topic/Keywords:
Civil War
Slavery
Reconstruction
Battleground
Underground Railroad
Library Webpage
Pathfinder
Multnomah County Library
Databases: World Book Encyclopedia & OSLIS: Ebsco
920: Collective Biographies
The Doubleday Book of Famous Americans. Suzanne LeVert.
Susan B Anthony
Robert E. Lee
Clara Barton
Abraham Lincoln
Elizabeth Blackwell
Harriet Tubman
Frederick Douglass
Our Blood and Tears: Black Freedom Fighters. Ruth Wilson.
William Carney
Frederick Douglass
William Lloyd Garrison
Herstory: Women Who Changed the World. Ruth Ashby and Deborah Gore Ohran,
editors.
Sojourner Truth
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Dorothea Dix
Susan B Anthony
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Elizabeth Blackwell
Harriet Tubman
Clara Barton
921: Individual Biographies
Government
Davis, Jefferson
**Confederate President of the US.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/jdavisbio.htm
Good history.
Jefferson Davis.net http://www.jeffersondavis.net/
Detailed information. Includes letters.
Congress Bioguide http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000113
Official Website.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/jefferson%20davis
Information from several sources.
Douglas, Stephen A
**Senator. Presidential nominee.
Illinois Civil War http://www.illinoiscivilwar.org/douglas-sa.html
Short article with list of accomplishments.
Congress Bioguide http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000457
Official Website.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/stephen-a-douglas?cat=biz-fin
Information from several sources.
Lincoln, Abraham
**US President. Politician. Lawyer.
White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/al16.html
White House official Biography.
RJ Norton http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln23.html
Detailed Timeline.
White House Kids http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidents/abrahamlincoln.html
Brief details.
Stanton, Edwin M
**Secretary of War. US Attorney General.
Civil War Contribute http://www.civil-war-tribute.com/edwin-stanton-bio.htm
Detail biography.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/edwin+stanton?cat=biz-fin
Information from several sources.
Military
Anderson, Bill (Bloody Bill)
**Confederate.
State of Missouri
http://shs.umsystem.edu/famousmissourians/folklegends/james/jamesbloodybill.html
Short article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/william-t-anderson
Information from several sources.
Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant
**Confederate General.
About Famous People http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/article1040.html
Short article.
History of War http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_beauregard.html
Detailed information.
Answers.com
http://www.answers.com/Beauregard%2C%20Pierre%20Gustave%20Toutant
Information from several sources.
Burnside, Ambrose Everett
**Union General.
About Famous People http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/article1156.html
Short article.
Civil War Indianna
http://civilwarindiana.com/biographies/burnside_ambrose_everett.html
Short article.
Encarta http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761558761
Short article.
Carney, William H
**Union. First African American Medal of Honor winner.
Medal of Honor http://www.medalofhonor.com/WilliamCarney.htm
Detailed information.
History Net http://www.historynet.com/william-h-carney-54th-massachusetts-soldierand-first-black-us-medal-of-honor-recipient.htm
Short article.
Home of History
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfa_hist5carney.html
Detailed information.
Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence
**Union.
Curtis Library http://community.curtislibrary.com/pejepscot/joshbiog.htm
Detailed article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Chamberlain%2C%20Joshua%20Lawrence
Information from several sources.
Clem, John Lincoln “Johnny”
**Union. Youngest soldier—age 9.
About Famous People http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/article1191.html
Detailed article.
Arlington Cemetry http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jlclem.htm
Short article.
Ohio History http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=85
Short article.
Custer, George Armstrong
**Union.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/custerbi.htm
Short article.
PBS http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/custer.htm
Detailed information.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/george-armstrong-custer
Information from several sources.
Doubleday, Abner
**Union General.
Arlington Cemetry http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/doubledy.htm
Short article.
Online Biography http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge/entries/062/AbnerDoubleday.html
Short article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Doubleday%2C%20Abner
Information from several sources.
Early, Jubal Anderson
**Confederate General.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/earlybio.htm
Short article.
Jubal A Early Preservation http://www.jubalearly.org/jubal.html
Detailed article.
Blue and Gray Trail http://blueandgraytrail.com/event/Jubal_Anderson_Early
Detailed article with timeline.
Forrest, Nathan Bedford
**Confederate General.
Natchez Belle http://www.natchezbelle.org/udc/general-forrest.htm
Well laid out article.
Tennessee Encyclopedia
http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=F035
Detailed article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Forrest%2C%20Nathan%20Bedford
Information from several sources.
Grant, Ulysses S
**Union General. US Preisdent.
White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ug18.html
Official Website.
Ohio History http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=155
Detailed information.
President USA http://www.presidentsusa.net/grant.html
Lots of links to other pages of information.
Halleck, Henry Wager
**Union General.
California State Military Museum http://www.militarymuseum.org/Halleck.html
Detailed information.
Encarta Encyclopedia
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566388/halleck_henry_wager.html
Short article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Halleck%2C%20Henry%20Wager
Information from several sources.
Hancock, Winfield Scott
**Union General.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/hanbio.htm
Detailed information.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Hancock%2C%20Winfield%20Scott
Information from several sources.
***Be careful—Wikipedia has some WRONG DATES.
Hardee, William Joseph
**Confederate General.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/Hardeebio.htm
Detailed information.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Hardee%2C%20William%20Joseph
Information from several sources.
Hill, Ambrose Powell
**Confederate General.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Hill%2C%20Ambrose%20Powell
Information from several sources.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/aphillbio.htm
Detailed information.
Encarta Encyclopedia
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568928/hill_ambrose_powell.html
Short article.
Hood, John Bell
**Confederate General.
John Bell Hood http://www.johnbellhood.org/bio-01.htm
Official Website. Very detailed information.
Georgia History http://ourgeorgiahistory.com/people/hood.html
Detailed information.
NPS http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/tstops/tstd2-09jbh.htm
Detailed information.
Hooker, Joseph
**Union General.
California State Military Museum http://www.militarymuseum.org/Hooker.html
Detailed information.
Mr. Lincoln’s White House
http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/inside.asp?ID=136&subjectID=2
Detailed information.
OSU eHistory http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/people/bio.cfm?PID=42
Short article.
Jackson, Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall)
**Confederate General.
VMI http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=3747
Extensive information and links.
Essortment http://www.essortment.com/all/stonewalljackso_rvfu.htm
Easy to read article.
Encyclopedia Online http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge/entries/086/ThomasJonathan-Jackson.html
Short article.
Answers.com
http://www.answers.com/Jackson%2C%20Thomas%20Jonathan%20(Stonewall)
Information from several sources.
Johnston, Joseph E.
**Confederate General.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/joseph-e-johnston
Information from several sources.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/joejohnston.htm
Detailed information.
North Georgia http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Joseph_E._Johnston
Extensive information. Written at an adult level.
Kearney, Phillip
**Union General.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/kearnybio.htm
Short article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/philip-kearny
Information from several sources.
Encyclopedia.com http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Kearny-P.html
Short article.
Lee, Robert E
**Confederate Commander
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/leebio.htm
Detailed information.
Stratford http://www.stratfordhall.org/rel.html
Detailed information. Includes timeline.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-e-lee
Information from several sources.
Longstreet, James
McClellan, George Brinton
Meade, George G
Mosby, John Singleton
Pickett, George Edward
Quantrill, William Clarke
Scott, Winifred
Sheridan, Philip Henry
Sherman, William Tecumseh
Stuart, James Ewell Brown “Jeb”
Thomas, George Henry
Watie, Stand
Nonmilitary
Booth, John Wilkes
**Confederate. Assassinated the President.
Witness to History http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/booth.htm
Details of Booth’s capture.
UMKC Law
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/booth.html
Trial information.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/john-wilkes-booth
Information from several sources.
Brady, Mathew
**Photographer. Union.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/mathew-brady?cat=entertainment
Information from several sources.
Library of Congress http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwbrady.html
Short article.
Notable Biographies http://www.notablebiographies.com/Be-Br/Brady-Mathew.html
Detailed information.
Brown, John ***Make sure it is the Civil War person.****
**Abolitionist.
Ohio History Central http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=27
Detailed information.
Notable Biographies http://www.notablebiographies.com/Br-Ca/Brown-John.html
Easy to read information.
PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1550.html
Detailed information with primary source quotes.
Coffin, Levi
**Anti-Slavery Reformer. President of the Underground Railroad.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/levi-coffin
Information from several sources.
Levi Coffin House http://www.waynet.org/levicoffin/default.htm
Official Website.
PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2946.html
Short article.
Douglass, Frederick
**Abolitionist.
Rochester College http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/douglass/home.html
Very detailed article with several pages of information.
Gale http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/douglass_f.htm
Short article. Written at an adult level.
PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1539.html
Short article.
Notable Biographies http://www.notablebiographies.com/De-Du/DouglassFrederick.html
Easy to read article.
Garrison, William Lloyd
**Abolitionist. Newspaper editor.
PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1561.html
Detailed information with quotes.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/william-lloyd-garrison
Information from several sources.
Ohio History Central http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=167
Detailed information.
All Biographies http://www.allbiographies.com/biography-WilliamLloydGarrison13019.html
Short article.
Greeley, Horace
**Abolitionist. Newspaper editor.
US Congress Bioguide
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000405
Official biography.
OSU eHistory http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/people/bio.cfm?PID=36
Detailed information. Written at an adult level.
University of Nevada http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/fenimore/greeley.html
Detailed information.
Lovejoy, Elijah P
**Abolitionist—died prior to the Civil war.
State of Illinois http://www.state.il.us/HPA/lovejoy/bio.htm
Detailed information. Written at an adult level.
A. Lincoln History http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/bio/elijah.html
Short paragraph.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Lovejoy%2C%20Elijah%20P
Information from several sources.
Pinkerton, Allan
**Private Detective.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Pinkerton%2C+Allan?cat=biz-fin
Information from several sources.
The Thrilling Detective http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/pinkerton.html
Easy to read information.
Encyclopedia Online http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge/entries/073/AllanPinkerton.html
Short article.
Still, William
**Abolitionist.
National Underground Railroad Foundation
http://www.undergroundrr.com/foundation/about.htm
Detailed information.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/william+still?cat=entertainment
Information from several sources.
Taney, Roger
**US Supreme Court
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/roger-b-taney?cat=biz-fin
Information from several sources.
OYEZ http://www.oyez.org/justices/roger_b_taney/
Short article.
PBS http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/democracy/robes_taney.html
Detailed information.
Women
Barton, Clara
Women in History http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/bart-cla.htm
Detailed biography.
NPS http://www.nps.gov/archive/anti/clara.htm
Easy to read biography.
Red Cross Museum http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/ClaraBarton.asp
Detailed biography. Written at an adult level.
Women’s Hall of Fame http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=17
Short article.
White House Government http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/dreamteam/clarabarton.html
Short article.
Bickerdyke, Mary Ann (Mother)
Ohio History http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=32
Short article.
Kansas Cyclopedia Transcription
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/b/bickerdyke_mary_ann.html
Article transcribed from a history cyclopedia.
Blackwell, Elizabeth
**First woman doctor. Women’s Rights.
Women’s History
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/blackwellelizabeth/a/eliz_blackwell.htm
Excellent detailed website.
National Library of Science: Elizabeth Blackwell
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/blackwell/
Great photos. The online version of the museum’s exhibit.
Gale Group http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/whm/bio/blackwell_e.htm
Good timeline.
Chestnut, Mary Boykin
**Writer. Confederate.
Documenting the American South http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/chesnut/bio.html
Short article.
About Famous People http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/article1012.html
Short article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/mary-chesnut
Information from several sources.
Cumming, Kate
**Confederate nurse. Writer
Yahoo http://www.geocities.com/legal1two/cummings.html
Short article.
New Georgia Encyclopedia http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h3354
Short article.
Reynolds Historical Library
http://www.uab.edu/reynolds/CivilWarMedFigs/Cumming.htm
Short article.
Davis, Varina Howell
**Confederate President’s wife. Writer.
OSU eHistory http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/PeopleView.cfm?PID=94
Short article.
Civil War Continues http://www.geocities.com/civil_warcontinues/VarineHDavis.html
Short article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/varina%20howell%20davis
Dix, Dorothea
**Union. Mental Health advocate. Superintendent of Nurses.
NC Mental Health http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/MHDDSAS/DIX/dorothea.html
Easy to read article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/dorothea-dix
Information from several sources.
Robinson Library http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/social/pathology/biography/dix.htm
Detailed information.
Edmonds, Sarah Emma/ Franklin Thomspson
**Union Soldier. Spy.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/edmondsbio.htm
Detailed information
OSU ehistory http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/PeopleView.cfm?PID=91
Short article.
Wikipeda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Emma_Edmonds
Detailed information.
Greenhow, Rose O’Neal
**Confederate Spy.
American Civil War http://americancivilwar.com/women/rg.html
Detailed information.
OSU eHistory http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/PeopleView.Cfm?PID=85
Short article.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/greenhowbio.htm
Short article.
Oneal Website http://www.onealwebsite.com/rose3.htm
Detailed information.
Hale, Sarah
**Union. Writer. Publisher.
Essortment http://www.essortment.com/all/thanksgivinghis_rxgy.htm
Detailed information.
UVM http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/godey/hale.html
Detailed information.
National Womens History Museum
http://www.nmwh.org/Education/biography_sjhale.html
Detailed information.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/sarah-josepha-hale
Information from several sources.
Lincoln, Mary Todd
**US President’s Wife.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/mary%20todd%20lincoln
Information from several sources.
White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/ml16.html
Official Website.
Mary Todd Lincoln Research http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln16.html
Detailed timeline.
First Ladies http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=17
Detailed information.
Pember, Phoebe Yates
**Confederate nurse. Writer.
Jewish Virtual Library
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/phoebepember.html
Short article.
History Net http://www.historynet.com/nurse-pember-and-the-whiskey-war.htm
Detailed information.
Civil War Woman http://civilwarwomen.blogspot.com/2008/02/phoebe-yatespember.html
Detailed information.
CANNOT BE ACCESSED ON A SCHOOL COMPUTER SINCE IT IS A
BLOG.
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady
**Women’s Rights Advocate. Union.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Stanton%2C%20Elizabeth%20Cady
Information from several sources.
NPS http://www.nps.gov/archive/wori/ecs.htm
Detailed article.
American National Biography http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-00640.html
Detailed information.
Notable Biographies http://www.notablebiographies.com/Sc-St/Stanton-ElizabethCady.html
Detailed information.
Stowe, Harriet Beecher
**Author. Human Rights Activist.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/harriet-beecher-stowe
Information from several sources.
Women in History http://lkwdpl.org/wihohio/stow-har.htm
Short article.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/life/
Excellent information and photos.
Surratt, Mary
**Confederate. Assassination Conspirator. First woman to be executed in US.
UMKC Law
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/surrattm.html
Detailed information on the trial.
Essortment http://www.essortment.com/all/marysurratt_rtmf.htm
Detailed information.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/mary-surratt-1
Information from several sources.
Surratt House Society http://www.surratt.org/
Official website.
Tompkins, Sally
**Confederate nurse. Officer of the Confederate Army—Only female.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/sally-louisa-tompkins
Information from several sources.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/tompkinsbio.htm
Short article.
Truth, Sojourner (Isabella Van Wagener) (Isabella Baumfree)
**Abolitionist. Women’s Rights Advocate.
Gale http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/truth_s.htm
Short article.
Women In History http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/trut-soj.htm
Detailed information.
Sojourner Truth Institute http://www.sojournertruth.org/History/Biography/Default.htm
GREAT timeline.
African American History
http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/sojournertruth/a/bio_truth_s.htm
Detailed information.
Tubman, Harriet
**Former slave. Underground Railroad Conductor. Civil Rights Activist. Spy.
Harriet Ross Tubman http://harriettubmanbiography.com/
Detailed information with several links.
Library of Congress http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/tubman
Short articles.
PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html
Detailed information.
New York History Net http://www.nyhistory.com/harriettubman/life.htm
Detailed information.
Van Lew, Elizabeth
**Union Spy.
Civil War Home http://www.civilwarhome.com/vanlewbio.htm
Short article.
History Net http://www.historynet.com/elizabeth-van-lews-american-civil-waractivities.htm
Detailed article.
OSU eHistory http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/articles/ArticleView.cfm?AID=63
Detailed information.
Velazquez, Loreta Janeta/ Harry Buford
**Confederate Soldier.
TN Encyclopedia http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=V009
Short article.
History Net http://www.historynet.com/madame-loreta-janeta-velazquez-heroine-orhoaxer.htm
Detailed article.
Answers.com http://www.answers.com/Velazquez%2C%20Loreta%20Janeta
Information from several sources.
Wade, Jennie
**Union. Only civilian death at Gettysburg.
Jennie Wade House http://www.jennie-wade-house.com/
Official website.
Essortment http://www.essortment.com/all/jenniewade_psx.htm
Short article.
Walker, Mary
**Union. Spy. Nurse. Doctor. Congressional Medal of Honor—first woman.
Womens History
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_mary_edwards_walker.htm
Short article.
North Georgia http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Mary_Edwards_Walker
Short article.
American Civil War http://americancivilwar.com/women/mary_edwards_walker.html
Detailed information.