Soldiers in front of barracks at Fort Ruby
Soldiers in front of barracks at Fort Ruby. White Pine County, Nevada. Approximately 1860s. Nevada Historical Society.

Happy Nevada Day! During the Civil War, Nevada became the 36th state in the Union on October 31, 1864. President Abraham Lincoln expedited Nevada’s statehood to support his reelection and gain votes in favor of passing the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The legacy of the Civil War in Nevada lives on in the state’s nickname: “The Battle Born State.”

The Civil War played an important role in Nevada's path to statehood as it helped provide motivation to admit a state that was willing to show its loyalty to the Union. Even though Nevada was thousands of miles from the front lines of the Civil War, its citizens still participated in the war and proved that they were ready to give “all for our country”.

In 1863, before Nevada had even become a state, the territory was asked to supply the U.S. Army with two cavalry companies and two infantry companies. Nevada recruited six cavalry companies and three infantry companies. The Nevada men and officers that were officially mustered into the service of the U.S. Army were called the Nevada Volunteers.

Muster roll listing names of volunteer soldiers
Army units would fill out muster rolls every few months to record the names and information of soldiers who mustered into the U.S. Army. This muster and descriptive roll lists the soldiers who mustered into Company B, First Battalion Nevada Infantry. Muster and descriptive roll of Company B, First Battalion Nevada Infantry. 1864. NvSA-000037, Nevada Adjutant General records, Nevada State Archives.

The Nevada Volunteer companies spent the war stationed in Nevada and other western states to take the place of federal troops that had been called back east to fight. The Nevada Volunteers garrisoned frontier posts, participated in scouting assignments and skirmished with Native Americans. Nevada civilians, particularly women, supported sick and wounded soldiers in the Union Army by volunteering and fundraising for relief agencies like the United States Sanitary Commission.

 

 

America 250 Logo

Nevada Archives Month 2025 honors the 250th birthday of the U.S. Armed Forces (June 14, 1775) and Nevadans who served their country. Funding for Archives Month is provided by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission. 

To learn more about Nevada's role in the Civil War, visit the All for Our Country exhibit at the Nevada State Archives. The exhibit is open to the public through November 14, 2025, from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Admission is free.