Tips and Tricks: Ordering Military Service and Pension Records from NARA

The WDYTYA Matthew Broderick episode motivated me to order my great great grandfather, Samuel S. Glover, Jr, civil war records from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).  I had found his service record at ancestry.com in U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 database.

I completed further research and found Samuel S. Glover, Jr civil war pension index file at ancestry.com in the Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934.

Confident I had the information I needed to order Samuel's records, I headed to the NARA website. I haven't spent much time with this website and had a little trouble navigating to where I wanted to go. After a few clicks, I stumbled onto what I wanted.

If you want to order reproductions, here are the steps to take:

• From home page, on left side bar, click 'Order Online' under Research and Order
• From bottom of page, click 'Order Reproductions'
• Register (if you haven't already done so) or Sign In using your information
• You should now be on 'Order Reproductions' page.

From here you can 1) Get assistance with 'Which Reproduction Should I Order?' or 2) Click on Military Services and Pension Records.  I chose Military Services and Pension Records. 

You have a choice of 5 records to order:

Compiled Military Service File (NATF 86)  Cost: $25

Federal Military Pension Application - Civil War & Later Complete File (NATF 85D)  Cost: $75

Federal Military Pension Application - Pre-Civil War Complete File (NATF 85A)  Cost:  $50

Federal Military Pension Applications - Pension Documents Packet (NATF 85B)  Cost $25

Military Bounty-Land Warrant Application File (NATF 85C)  Cost:  $25

All prices include shipping and handling.  There is a paragraph that explains what is included in each record.  I looked over the information and decided to order Federal Military Pension Application-Civil War and Later Complete File (NATF 85D).  This is the most I have ever paid for genealogical records, but I figured it was cheaper than a trip to Washington, D.C in order to look them up myself.


You will need to select delivery format CD/DVD or Paper.  The CD/DVD choice comes in .pdf  format.  Click to add it to the cart.


This will bring you to page to fill out with the information pertaining to your ancestor.  There are 5 required questions:

1. Veteran's First and Last Name
2. Branch of Service (Army, Navy, Marine)
3. Kind of Service (Not Sure, Volunteer, Regular)
4. War in Which He Served (Union or Confederate/Civil War or Span-American/Phillippine Insurr.)
5. State from Which He Served

The more information you can provide the better.  Other information includes birth, death, residence, service description, pension file number, and name of widow.  There is a spot to include any additional information you have.  You can save and finish later, if needed.  When finished it will take you to the order and payment information.


Once you have submitted the information, you are able to check on the progress of your order.  My order took 40 days from the time I submitted it until I received it.  I chose the CD/DVD option.  I was extremely pleased with the records that I received.  I thought the files I received was 91 pages of genealogical magic!  I will be posting in the future about my ancestor's file.


Have you ordered records from NARA?  Please, share your experience, did you think it was worthwhile?