The Civil War marked an inflection point in U.S. history like no other. Fought less than a century after the country won independence from Great Britain, the war pitted free, federalist states in the North against anti-federalist, slave states in the South – with nothing less than the preservation of the Union at stake.
The only conflict in U.S. history that did not involve any foreign military powers, the states and territories of the divided country raised massive armies to support their respective causes. And virtually every American had friends, relatives, or neighbors who had joined the fight.
All told, as many as 3.9 million enlisted during the war, according to the National Park Service. Against a population base of 31.4 million in 1861, the year the war started, more than one in every 10 Americans fought in the Civil War.
Using data from A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Civil War statistician Frederick H. Dyer, first published in 1908, as well as The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database maintained by the National Park Service, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the most Americans enlisted during the Civil War. In our analysis, we also included Western territories that were not yet states and Washington, D.C.
Throughout the war, the secessionist Confederate states in the South were outgunned and outmanned by the pro-Union states and territories in the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast. With a larger population that covered a larger expanse of the country, Union enlistment totalled about 2.7 million. Meanwhile, estimates of Confederate enlistment range from 750,000 to 1.2 million. Four of the five states that enlisted the most troops during the conflict were on the side of the Union. (Here is a look at the cities and towns destroyed during the Civil War.)
Though the Union ultimately prevailed following Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse in April 1865, Northern states suffered greater casualties than the South over the course of the war. An estimated 642,000 Union troops were killed, compared to 483,000 confederate soldiers. It is important to note, however, that the higher Northern casualties are largely due to the Union’s larger fighting force, and that as a proportion of all troops, more Southerners died than Northerners. (Here is a look at the most violent Civil War battles.)
Click here to see the states that sent the most troops to the civil war.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
42. Dakota Territory
> Est. number of troops from Dakota Territory: 206
> Est. number of Dakota Territory troops killed: 6 (2.9%)
> No. of major battles in Dakota Territory: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Dakota Territory fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
41. Washington Territory
> Est. number of troops from Washington Territory: 964
> Est. number of Washington Territory troops killed: 22 (2.3%)
> No. of major battles in Washington Territory: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Washington Territory fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
40. Nevada
> Est. number of troops from Nevada: 1,080
> Est. number of Nevada troops killed: 33 (3.1%)
> No. of major battles in Nevada: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Nevada fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
39. Oregon
> Est. number of troops from Oregon: 1,810
> Est. number of Oregon troops killed: 45 (2.5%)
> No. of major battles in Oregon: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Oregon fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
38. Nebraska
> Est. number of troops from Nebraska: 3,157
> Est. number of Nebraska troops killed: 239 (7.6%)
> No. of major battles in Nebraska: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Nebraska fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
37. Colorado
> Est. number of troops from Colorado: 4,903
> Est. number of Colorado troops killed: 323 (6.6%)
> No. of major battles in Colorado: 1
> Side of the war most troops from Colorado fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
36. New Mexico
> Est. number of troops from New Mexico: 6,561
> Est. number of New Mexico troops killed: 277 (4.2%)
> No. of major battles in New Mexico: 2
> Side of the war most troops from New Mexico fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
35. Delaware
> Est. number of troops from Delaware: 12,284
> Est. number of Delaware troops killed: 882 (7.2%)
> No. of major battles in Delaware: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Delaware fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
34. California
> Est. number of troops from California: 15,725
> Est. number of California troops killed: 573 (3.6%)
> No. of major battles in California: 0
> Side of the war most troops from California fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
33. District of Columbia
> Est. number of troops from District of Columbia: 16,534
> Est. number of District of Columbia troops killed: 290 (1.8%)
> No. of major battles in District of Columbia: 1
> Side of the war most troops from District of Columbia fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
32. Kansas
> Est. number of troops from Kansas: 20,149
> Est. number of Kansas troops killed: 2,630 (13.1%)
> No. of major battles in Kansas: 4
> Side of the war most troops from Kansas fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
31. Rhode Island
> Est. number of troops from Rhode Island: 23,236
> Est. number of Rhode Island troops killed: 1,321 (5.7%)
> No. of major battles in Rhode Island: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Rhode Island fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
30. Minnesota
> Est. number of troops from Minnesota: 24,020
> Est. number of Minnesota troops killed: 2,584 (10.8%)
> No. of major battles in Minnesota: 2
> Side of the war most troops from Minnesota fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
29. West Virginia
> Est. number of troops from West Virginia: 32,068
> Est. number of West Virginia troops killed: 4,017 (12.5%)
> No. of major battles in West Virginia: 15
> Side of the war most troops from West Virginia fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. Vermont
> Est. number of troops from Vermont: 33,288
> Est. number of Vermont troops killed: 5,224 (15.7%)
> No. of major battles in Vermont: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Vermont fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. New Hampshire
> Est. number of troops from New Hampshire: 33,937
> Est. number of New Hampshire troops killed: 4,882 (14.4%)
> No. of major battles in New Hampshire: 0
> Side of the war most troops from New Hampshire fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
26. Florida
> Est. number of troops from Florida: 37,273
> Est. number of Florida troops killed: About 1,000 (2.7%)
> No. of major battles in Florida: 6
> Side of the war most troops from Florida fought on: Confederate
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
25. Maryland
> Est. number of troops from Maryland: 46,638
> Est. number of Maryland troops killed: 2,982 (6.4%)
> No. of major battles in Maryland: 7
> Side of the war most troops from Maryland fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
24. Connecticut
> Est. number of troops from Connecticut: 55,864
> Est. number of Connecticut troops killed: 5,354 (9.6%)
> No. of major battles in Connecticut: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Connecticut fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
23. Maine
> Est. number of troops from Maine: 70,107
> Est. number of Maine troops killed: 9,398 (13.4%)
> No. of major battles in Maine: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Maine fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
22. Kentucky
> Est. number of troops from Kentucky: 75,760
> Est. number of Kentucky troops killed: 10,774 (14.2%)
> No. of major battles in Kentucky: 11
> Side of the war most troops from Kentucky fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. Iowa
> Est. number of troops from Iowa: 76,242
> Est. number of Iowa troops killed: 13,001 (17.1%)
> No. of major battles in Iowa: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Iowa fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
20. New Jersey
> Est. number of troops from New Jersey: 76,814
> Est. number of New Jersey troops killed: 5,754 (7.5%)
> No. of major battles in New Jersey: 0
> Side of the war most troops from New Jersey fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. Michigan
> Est. number of troops from Michigan: 87,364
> Est. number of Michigan troops killed: 14,753 (16.9%)
> No. of major battles in Michigan: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Michigan fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. Wisconsin
> Est. number of troops from Wisconsin: 91,327
> Est. number of Wisconsin troops killed: 12,301 (13.5%)
> No. of major battles in Wisconsin: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Wisconsin fought on: Union
17. Missouri
> Est. number of troops from Missouri: 109,111
> Est. number of Missouri troops killed: 13,885 (12.7%)
> No. of major battles in Missouri: 29
> Side of the war most troops from Missouri fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
16. Arkansas
> Est. number of troops from Arkansas: 120,567
> Est. number of Arkansas troops killed: About 7,500 (6.2%)
> No. of major battles in Arkansas: 17
> Side of the war most troops from Arkansas fought on: Confederate
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
15. South Carolina
> Est. number of troops from South Carolina: 133,226
> Est. number of South Carolina troops killed: About 18,000 (13.5%)
> No. of major battles in South Carolina: 11
> Side of the war most troops from South Carolina fought on: Confederate
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. Louisiana
> Est. number of troops from Louisiana: 141,580
> Est. number of Louisiana troops killed: About 3,500 (2.5%)
> No. of major battles in Louisiana: 23
> Side of the war most troops from Louisiana fought on: Confederate
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
13. Massachusetts
> Est. number of troops from Massachusetts: 146,730
> Est. number of Massachusetts troops killed: 1,342 (0.9%)
> No. of major battles in Massachusetts: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Massachusetts fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
12. Texas
> Est. number of troops from Texas: 162,620
> Est. number of Texas troops killed: About 2,500 (1.5%)
> No. of major battles in Texas: 5
> Side of the war most troops from Texas fought on: Confederate
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
11. Mississippi
> Est. number of troops from Mississippi: 174,436
> Est. number of Mississippi troops killed: About 8,500 (4.9%)
> No. of major battles in Mississippi: 16
> Side of the war most troops from Mississippi fought on: Confederate
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. Indiana
> Est. number of troops from Indiana: 196,363
> Est. number of Indiana troops killed: 26,672 (13.6%)
> No. of major battles in Indiana: 1
> Side of the war most troops from Indiana fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
9. Alabama
> Est. number of troops from Alabama: 199,375
> Est. number of Alabama troops killed: About 27,500 (13.8%)
> No. of major battles in Alabama: 7
> Side of the war most troops from Alabama fought on: Confederate
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. North Carolina
> Est. number of troops from North Carolina: 202,009
> Est. number of North Carolina troops killed: About 30,500 (15.1%)
> No. of major battles in North Carolina: 20
> Side of the war most troops from North Carolina fought on: Confederate
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. Georgia
> Est. number of troops from Georgia: 244,142
> Est. number of Georgia troops killed: About 7,000 (2.9%)
> No. of major battles in Georgia: 28
> Side of the war most troops from Georgia fought on: Confederate
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
6. Tennessee
> Est. number of troops from Tennessee: 249,136
> Est. number of Tennessee troops killed: 8,777 (3.5%)
> No. of major battles in Tennessee: 38
> Side of the war most troops from Tennessee fought on: Confederate
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
5. Illinois
> Est. number of troops from Illinois: 259,092
> Est. number of Illinois troops killed: 34,834 (13.4%)
> No. of major battles in Illinois: 0
> Side of the war most troops from Illinois fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
4. Virginia
> Est. number of troops from Virginia: 282,432
> Est. number of Virginia troops killed: About 30,500 (10.8%)
> No. of major battles in Virginia: 123
> Side of the war most troops from Virginia fought on: Confederate
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3. Ohio
> Est. number of troops from Ohio: 313,180
> Est. number of Ohio troops killed: 35,475 (11.3%)
> No. of major battles in Ohio: 2
> Side of the war most troops from Ohio fought on: Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
2. Pennsylvania
> Est. number of troops from Pennsylvania: 337,936
> Est. number of Pennsylvania troops killed: 33,183 (9.8%)
> No. of major battles in Pennsylvania: 2
> Side of the war most troops from Pennsylvania fought on: Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. New York
> Est. number of troops from New York: 448,850
> Est. number of New York troops killed: 46,534 (10.4%)
> No. of major battles in New York: 0
> Side of the war most troops from New York fought on: Union
Methodology
To identify the states that sent the most troops to fight in the Civil War, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a range of government and historical sources. For most states, total troop counts and deaths came from A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Civil War statistician Frederick H. Dyer, first published in 1908.
In states with missing data, troop count estimates came from The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database maintained by the National Park Service and estimated deaths came from the American Battlefield Trust, a battlefield preservation and educational organization. States with incomplete records were concentrated in the South, as many records were destroyed after the war.
To determine the side of the war most troops from each state or territory fought on, we used enlistment totals from Soldiers and Sailors Database.
It is important to note that the figures in this story are estimates only. In many cases, marines, sailors, and Black troops were not counted in totals. Additionally, some soldiers were double or triple counted if they reenlisted more than once. Some soldiers who enlisted in a state other than their own may have been claimed by two states. Home states were also not noted for many who enlisted.
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