To obtain Civil War military service and pension records by mail
Paper copies of Civil War military service records can be ordered by mail using an NATF Form 86 for each soldier. Copies of Civil War pension records can be ordered by mail using an NATF Form 85 for each soldier.
You can obtain the NATF Form 85 and Form 86 by providing your name and mailing address to [email protected]. Be sure to specify the correct form number and the number of forms you need.
You can also obtain the NATF Forms 85 and Form 86 by writing to: National Archives and Records Administration, Attn: NWDT1, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001.
Branch of Service |
Dates |
| Volunteers | Military service performed by persons serving during
an emergency and whose service was considered to be in the Federal interest:
1775-1902 |
| Regular Army | Enlisted personnel: 1789 - October 31, 1912 Officers: 1789 - June 30, 1917 |
| Navy | Enlisted personnel: 1798 - 1885 Officers: 1798 - 1902 |
| Marine Corps | Enlisted personnel: 1789 - 1904 Some officers: 1789 - 1895 |
| Coast Guard | Persons who served in predecessor agencies to the U.S.
Coast Guard; i.e., the Revenue Cutter Service (Revenue Marine), the Life-Saving
Service, and the Lighthouse Service: 1791-1919 |
| Confederate States | Persons who rendered military service for the Confederate States government in its armed forces: 1861 - 1865 |
| Veterans Records | Claims files for pensions based on Federal military service,
1775-1916 Bounty land warrant application files relating to claims based on wartime service, 1775-1855 |
For more information about these records and instructions for ordering them, see the information about military records on NARA's Genealogy page
To order use Standard Form 180.
Access to Military Service Records is limited. See: Services for Veterans, Next-of-Kin, or the Veteran's Representative on NARA's National Personnel Records Center web site.
Note: Many records were destroyed by fire in the St. Louis Center in 1973.
. Fixed fee order forms (NATF Forms 81-86*)
*New order forms will be available beginning November 1,
2000.
| Passenger arrival lists (NATF Form 81) | $17.25 |
| Federal Census requests (NATF Form 82) | $17.50 |
| Eastern Cherokee applications to the Court of Claims (NATF Form 83) | $17.50 |
| Land entry records (NATF 84) | $17.75 |
| Bounty land warrant application files (NATF Form 85) | $17.25 |
| Pension files more than 75 years old (NATF Form 85) - complete file | $37.00 |
| Pension documents packet (order form NATF Form 85) | $14.75 |
| Military service files more than 75 years old (NATF Form 86) | $17.00 |
Return to the Military information page