Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum

Burgess Wm. P from the 36th Illinois Infantry’s entry stands out against the many names listed on the Rolls of Missing Men collected by Clara Barton – his entry includes a unique note: “drummer boy.” This spurred an investigation into the role of musicians in Civil War communication, culture, and medical care. […]

In 1861, anti-recruitment riots in Baltimore marked a key moment in the Civil War. Tensions were high as Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers angered Southern sympathizers, especially in divided states like Maryland. When the 6th Massachusetts Infantry arrived in Baltimore, they were attacked by an agitated mob. In self-defense, the soldiers fired […]

It is sobering to uncover how many of the soldiers listed on Clara Barton’s “Roll of Missing Men” perished at Andersonville Prison. While it is not surprising that those who were imprisoned at this heinous site met an unfortunate fate, it speaks volumes about wartime communication. Regiments had a difficult time locating […]

At the Medical Lake Cemetery in Spokane, Washington, a family who migrated from Maine in the 1870s is laid to rest. Among the headstones stands a cenotaph for the eldest child: Madison Frederick Boissonnault. While they honored the passing of their soldier kin, you will not find Madison’s remains in Washington State […]