To order a Military or Pension Record from the National Archives you must use the NATF Form 80, (Order for Copies of Veteran's Records).  To obtain the NATF Form 80 either call 1-202-501-5170 or send the a request via e-mail to:  inquire@arch2.nara.gov

Block 1.  Check the appropriate box (either Pension or Military).
Block 2.  Enter credit card information and sign.  This is the fastest way to receive your order.

Note:  Blocks 3-7 contain the MINIMUM identification required for each order. These must be filled in.

Block 3.  Veteran's Name (Last, First and Middle)
Block 4.  Branch of Service in which he served (Army)
Block 5.  State from which he served (Kentucky)
Block 6.  War in which he served (Civil War)
Block 7.  Check the box indicating Union

Additional Information (may expedite the order)

Block 8.  Unit in which he served (39th Kentucky Infantry)
Block 9.  Arm in which he served (Infantry)
Block 10. Kind of Service. (Volunteers)
Block 11. Enter the Pension Number if known
Block 12. Location if Veteran lived in a home for soldiers
Block 13. Place lived after service
Block 14. Date of Birth
Block 15. Place of Birth
Block 16. Date of Death
Block 17. Place of Death
Block 18. Name of Widow or other claimant

At the bottom of the form fill out the mailing label with your name and address. Detach the instuction from the form and the pink copy on the bottom.  Send the white, green and yellow copies together to the following address:
 

Textual Reference Branch (NWDT1)
National Archives and Records Administration
7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20408

Currently, the charge for copies is US$10.00. If you check the credit card box and supply them with your card number, they will charge your card and send you the copies. Otherwise, they locate the file, send you back a request for payment and then send the file after receiving your payment. That adds several weeks to the waiting. It generally takes about 8 to 10 weeks to get the copies back from the National Archives.

The Archives will copy what they consider to be the most pertinent parts of the file - usually 20 or 30 pages. If there are more pages in the file to be copied, they will send you a notice as to how much more it will cost.

For more infromation concerning the holdings of the National Archives see the following links.

What are pension records?

What are Compiled Service Records?