Where is a good place to buy online Civil War fabric that has a light background? I've searched ebay, etc. and haven't found what I need. I don't need a lot but am adding a few more blocks to a scrappy CW quilt and need some more in the tan, beige color with a small print like the shirtings.

Have you checked Connecting Threads? I think they may have it.

Keepsake Quilting has a whole line of CW fabrics

try www.reproductionfabrics.com

or use tea-dyed muslin...

I was looking at some at Hancocks of Paducah
www.hancocks-padudcah.com

There's a great LQS in Waxahachie TX that specializes in Civil War reproduction fabrics and they have a nice website... http://www.commonthreadsquilting.com

You might be able to find what you need there.

I have bought a TON of Civil War era repros at http://whittlesfabrics.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi - and look for their backgrounds bundle on the bundles page - 10 FQ's of different shirtings and cream/tan prints.

You have to do some hunting, but the same fabrics that sell for $12-15/yd in the quilt shops sell for $4-6/yd at Whittles. :) And they've got Civil War up to the rafters. :)

Also try quiltshops.com. Several of the shops are having sales this week.