SmokyMtn43@aol.com wrote: > My ancestor, Samuel Ellis, was wounded at the Battle of the Cowpens, >according to Bobby Moss's book, "The Patriots at the Cowpens." His >pension application number, S30400, is referenced in the book. Where >do I write or call to obtain a copy of his application? The fastest, cheapest & most reliable method would be to order Microfilm from the series M804. The entire files have been filmed, though you don't always get all the pages when you send your $37 to NARA. The film can be rented for $3-4 through your library or local FHC--- or you buy it for about $25 [and have it within a week or 10 days] from Heritage Quest. Put M804 into their search engine at heritagequest.com and pick your film. The series is nearly 3000 rolls, and the men are listed alphabetically. There are three reels of Ellis's -- Samuel will be at; http://www2.heritagequest.com/hq/mf.asp?Z_id=M804-917 [In my opinion, the Diazzo film looks fine, and it is supposedly more archival than the Silver Halide.] You can rent the film for a month at a time through Heritage Quest, but you need to join to rent. [you could join HQ & rent all 3 ELLIS films for less than the price of the pension from NARA-- and be done reading them all before the folks at NARA were allowed to open your letter] Jim