Charactors names

[Payton Turner]

I've just finished a novel about the Civil War and am ready to send query letters.
In the book I used the actual names of many of my charactors, but gave them their own personalities as needed to build the story line. All I could find was when and where they joined and where they were wounded or died.

Will I need to change the names to aviod permission issues?

[Richard]

The dead can't sue for libel, although you could encounter some difficulty from descendents - much like the family of the first officer that Titanic ran into the dirt.

[Payton Turner]

Thanks. There is only one character that I show in a bad light and I will probably change his name even though he was a deserter.

[Jamesaritchie]

The dead can't sue, and generally speaking neither can the living relatives. Well, anyone can sue over anything. Winning is something else. If it's in the history books, or in historical documents, you can use it.

[Lauri B]

The dead can't sue, and generally speaking neither can the living relatives. Well, anyone can sue over anything. Winning is something else. If it's in the history books, or in historical documents, you can use it.
Payton,
Have you read Robert Hicks' new book, The Widow of the South? It's burning up the best seller lists. He fictionalized actual people from the Civil War, similar to what you sound like you're doing. So far it doesn't sound like any suing going on with him (and the books is really good).
Good luck!