Record of Death and Interment of William Christman
This Civil War–era document records the death and interment of William Christman, 67th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, who was the first military burial at Arlington National Cemetery on May 13, 1864. A standard form used by the War Department to document soldiers who died while in service, the Record of Death and Interment showed the soldier’s name, marital status, age, place of birth, cause of death, and date of death and burial. The War Department eventually placed file copies of these forms with the soldier’s Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR).
Beginning in the 1890s, the War Department created carded records to document the military service of Volunteer soldiers. Transcribed from original muster and payrolls, regimental returns, descriptive books, hospital rolls, and other records, the CMSRs were intended to permit more rapid and efficient checking of military and medical records in connection with claims for pensions and other veterans’ benefits. The War Department initially created CMSRs for Union veterans of the Civil War and later expanded the records to include other conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the Philippine Insurrection. Learn more about Compiled Military Service Records
Record of Death and Interment of William Christman. National Archives Identifier: 5701240
View and download the Record of Death and Interment on the National Archives Catalog. You can explore more of our holdings by visiting our online Catalog or by visiting the National Archives in Washington, DC. This record is located with Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Series: Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, File Unit: Compiled Military Service Record of William Christman, 67th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Many of the records in this collection have yet to be digitized. We encourage researchers to visit us onsite to explore these records and learn more about the archival collections held in the National Archives in Washington, DC.