What should I order?

Good question! If you already have the pension index card (see below), you have everything needed to place an order. That one card includes the soldier’s name, regiment(s), and pension file numbers. Everything we need is right there—it really made things easy for us!

Pension Index Card Example

What We Can Retrieve for Union Soldiers

We pull three key types of records from the National Archives to give you a complete picture of your ancestor’s service:

  1. Pension File
    These are often the most valuable records. They’re usually 50–100 pages long and may include:
    • Details of the soldier’s service and any injuries
    • Medical reports and doctors’ evaluations
    • Testimonies from family and fellow soldiers
    • Genealogical information

    We charge $65 for pension files—much less than the $80 the National Archives charges directly.

  2. Compiled Military Service Records
    These show enlistment, transfers, promotions, desertions, capture, and more—basically, month-to-month military activity. You might also find enlistment papers if they still exist.
    Price: $25
    Note: Some states already have these records online. If your ancestor was from one of those states, do not order them through our site.  You can view them here instead.  The states that have their service records online already are:  Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Dakota Territory, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, US Colored Troops.  In addition, Navy sailors do not have service records, as well as soldiers in the Regular Army (If they have US in the regiment name).

     3.  Carded Medical Records
Often overlooked, these tell you if the soldier was ever hospitalized, sick, injured, or died in a hospital. Some have many records, some none.
Price: $20

Best Deal: The Complete Set

Get the pension file, service records, and medical records for $110 total. None of these are available online—they’re only at the National Archives.

Ready to Order?

Use this link to select your records. Just enter the soldier’s name and attach the pension index card (or type in the file numbers if that’s easier). If you need help at any point, feel free to reach out!

Thanks, and contact us here if you have any questions!