Greetings. My Grandfather was a Private in the 125th IL. INF. CO. "B". I am trying to get an accurate uniform that he might have worn and am not sure of the correct color of trousers, dark blue or sky blue. Thanks for any help anyone can give. Respectfully, Joseph F. Sanburn, Jr.

Dave, You are the first person, I have noted, who is researching 8th regiment. I have g-g uncle Joseph Rothermel in that one. Two gg Rothermels in 9th and one gg Rothermel in 57th. If you know of any specific books/photos on those regiments I would appreciate your response. Mary Johnson, Minnesota.---- Original Message ----- From: dave esmond <dwesmond@facstaff.wisc.edu> To: <IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 12:03 PM Subject: Re: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] civil war Illinois photos > don- > > thanks for the links, those will be a great help to me..... > > also i'd like to put in my request to anyone who may have photo's, > documents, letters involving the 8th illinois cavalry, particularly company > m.....if anyone can help i'd love to get copies...... > > thanks > dave esmond > > > At 05:06 PM 5/28/2001 -0500, you wrote: > >Hi All. > > > >Sorry I was gone for awhile and didnt see the emails. Here are a few > >address' to look and see if there is anything that would be helpful for you. > > > >I've just put a few on here to get you started . I hope you find something > >that will help. > > > >Best Regards > >Don > >48th Illinois regiment > >http://members.tripod.com/Black_eagle_129/index.html > >http://black_eagle_129.tripod.com > snip >

Someone mentioned the 4th Illinois Cavalry the other day but didn't mention the name of his relative. I thought I'd share this newspaper article with the list. Maybe he'll find it interesting. Judy Simpson Clinton Public (DeWitt County, Illinois) February 4, 1887 UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF THE WAR How a Squad of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry Got Out of a Bad Scrape Mr. Editor---Something over twenty-two years has past and gone since the incident of which I am about to write occurred. On the 22d day of June, 1864, our regiment, the 4th Illinois Cavalry (Dickey's regiment), was in camp at Natchez, Miss., and had been there for six months ere we had become acquainted with all the citizens in that region of the country. For miles around, and in rear of the city, we knew every foot of land. We had followed Grant from Cairo to Henry, Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, through Tennessee to Vicksburg, Black River, Raymond, then down the river to Natchez, from where, in November, 1864, we were sent to Springfield and mustered out of service. We were attached to no particular brigade or corps. Company A of our regiment was Grant's body guard until after the fight at Shiloh, and perhaps longer, but as I am not writing a history of the 4th Illinois Cavalry, I will not pretend to tell the engagements they were in during the war. In the spring of 1864 there was a great amount of cotton stored away in the swamps of Mississippi, and you all know it was very valuable. Speculators in Natchez were numerous, and would pay fabulous prices for guards to go out with their drays and bring in the precious article. We had on several occasions went out and brought in cotton without any trouble worth naming, and we considered that we were about as good commanders as Grant or anybody else. But, alas! How sadly mistaken were we. As soon as it required generalship, we failed to have it. We relied on bull-dog grit and got gloriously whipped, yet we fought nobly. On the 22d day of June, 1864, memorable to a few boys in McLean, DeWitt, Piatt, and other parts of the country, a few members of Company L were in the city of Natchez and made a contract with a speculator to bring in fifty bales of cotton for $2500, to be paid for when the cotton was delivered. We went back to camp, and I laid the matter before Captain H. H. MERRIMAN, who peremptorily ordered me not to engage in anything of the kind, and if we did he would not be responsible. We paid no attention to this as our time would soon be out. We were without money, and $2500 would be a big thing to go home with, so we went to work to get the volunteers all from Company L. We intended to get twenty-five men, but failed. We only succeeded in getting nine, as follows: James THOMPSON, James MILLER, Ambrose STOREY, Henry BREWER, Thomas DAVIS, William DALE, Prentice WILLIAMS, William TAYLOR and myself. The speculator had told us it was only 17 miles to the cotton, but it turned out to be 27 miles, where a Federal soldier had never before trod. We ran the picket at sundown, the evening of the 22d, and about dusk started with the drays for the cotton. About half way out we stopped at a planter's house and met an Englishman from the city, whose name I have forgotten. He was a very strong sympathizer with the South, but claimed British protection. He had come to inform the rebels of our advance. We had a pleasant chat with them and passed on. We had not gone 200 yards when we were fired upon by three rebel bushwhackers, who we supposed had just left the planter's house. We ran them off and then held a consultation whether we should go back and take the Englishman prisoner, or kill him, but finally agreed to let him go and hurry on and get our cotton. About two o'clock in the morning, away down in a swamp in the thickest of timber, we found the prize. We loaded in short notice and started for the city in high glee. I was first sergeant, and it was agreed that at sun-up I was to leave the cotton and go alone into camp and make out my morning report at nine o'clock to keep down suspicion. Myself and three others were riding in front of the drays. Just as the sun was peeping up we were talking about me starting ahead so as to arrive in time, thinking of course all danger was past. Just then we came to a deep cut in the road, where we saw that something had been dragged along in the dust. This excited Comrade Dale, and he spurred his horse and galloped to the end of the cut, when these same three rebels raised and shot him down. This track in the dust was made by a negro, whom the rebs had killed that morning and thrown over the fence, and as soon as Dale stopped at the fence he was fired upon. As soon as the firing was heard, we galloped up and hastened the retreat of the rebels. We fired at them as they fled, and then turned around, picked up our poor dead comrade and laid him in the fence corner. William Dale was a good soldier, from Harp township, and, I think, a relative of the Harp family. By this time the boys in the rear had all come up and began to scatter to the front. The negroes driving were hallowing and whooping, scared to death---and, Mr. Editor, your humble servant was scared just as badly. These three rebs ran about a mile and went in an old cotton gin that stood about fifty yards from the road. Seventeen rebels, commanded by a lieutenant, coming up the road and meeting us, also went into the old cotton gin, making 21 in all against our 8 men left. They stayed there until we passed, and then made a dash for us. We held them in check for a few moments with our carbines, but they kept coming. The negroes had all left the drays standing in the road and went to the woods. We saw there was no use to try to hold the cotton, although it was precious and hard to give up, so we wheeled and made the dust fly for a mile. We looked back, and O, God! they were about to catch us. What to do I certainly did not know. I wanted to pray, but did not have time. My thoughts were not upward, but onward. Their horses were fresh; ours had been ridden all night, without feed, and were jaded. As we were approaching a small bridge in the road some one of the boys, I believe Sergeant Thompson, who now lives in McLean county, ordered us to wheel at the bridge, which we did. This brought us face [to face]---and what a sight! I wish I had my photograph then. I think I was of fair complexion. Talk about Donelson and Shiloh! Clover Hill discounts them all. Henry Brewer was shot through the heart just as he disabled the rebel lieutenant by striking him over the shoulder with his carbine. Prentiss Williams was shot through and through, and knocked from his horse. He walked into the woods, marked a sapling, buried his pocket-book, which contained $40 in greenbacks, started back to the road and fainted. He was found by the rebs, who took him to a house nearby and cared for him. The balance of his friends had gone, leaving in a hurry. They failed to follow us any farther; if they had they certainly would have gotten us. We scattered in every direction and went into camp. I was the first one, and when I approached our quarters I was reminded of the parable of the prodigal son. Captain Merriman, seeing me afar off, but not in the beautiful language of the father to the son, desired to know "what in h--l was the matter?" "Nothing," said I. "D--n it, don't lie to me." My countenance told my guilt and trouble. I thought I would be shot, and told him all. His comforting words were: "D--n you, I told you not to go," and a few more adjectives. It was a little after nine o'clock when I got in, but I went and made out my report, reporting the dead and wounded, and absent without leave. This was Thursday morning, June 23d, and everything moved along nicely. My report went in every morning the same until Sunday, when the following order was sent to Captain Merriman. I have the original order, which reads as follows: Headquarters Reg't., Cav., Ill. Vol. Natchez, Miss., June 26, 1864 H. H. Merriman, Captain Co. L---You will at once place 1st Sergeant W. O. Rogers, of your company, under arrest, confining him in his quarters, after which you will report in person to these headquarters. By order of C. D. Townsend, Major commanding regiment A. T. Chego, Adjutant After Captain Merriman returned I was ordered under guard to Major C. D. Townsend's headquarters. We had a half hour's consultation, the Major trying to get me to acknowledge my guilt and tell who was with me and who the speculator was that hired us to go. Failing in this, he sent an order to the Captain ordering the arrest of Taylor, Thompson, Davis, Storey and Miller. That beautiful Sabbath morning I shall never forget. Instead of marching to church, as good soldiers should, we were marched under guard to the military prison in Natchez, there to remain until shot, or till the close of the war. I had been in guard houses before. Indeed I was acquainted with every guard house from Louisville, Ky., to Memphis, Tenn. Don't think I missed one, but never before had I looked through the iron bars. We sat down, played seven-up, enjoyed ourselves the best we could, and plotted to beat the officers by swearing to nothing---pleading ignorance, and in this we were successful. I could tell a great deal more, but have already taken up too much space. W. O ROGERS, 1st Serg., Co. L, 4th Ill. Cav.

RE: Research. I have access to the Union rosters of the Civil War and am happy to look up names for folks. All I ask is that first off please only send a name or two...I don't have time to look up all your cousins! Secondly have the first and last name and if a common named have a middle initial or specific unit. If I look up John Smith I'm gonna have 1,000 names! Andrew H. Lipps Wartime Collectables email wartime@wartimecollectables.com website http://www.wartimecollectables.com

List members, I would like to make two corrections to the wonderful guide to CSRs by Geoff Walden recently printed on this list. One, There is now a book set called Roster of Union Soldiers which does for the Union Army what the Roster of Confederate Soldiers book set does for rebels. The Union book set divides by state, however, so you either need to know the state or need to check state by state until you find your guy. Both these book sets are published by Broadfoot Books of Wilmington, N.C., which also has a very good CSR and pension search service for CW soldiers North and South. Broadfoot is also the publisher of the Supplement to the Official Records, which has company by company chronologies for CW regiments North and South. Two, James Neagles has a book called U.S. Military Records: a Guide to Federal and State Sources, Colonial America to the Present, which does for northern state archives what Neagles' book Confederate Research Sources does for southern state archives. Both Neagles' books are in print and still available from Amazon.com, etc. Tom Pearson

Jack thanks for the Url and the information you've posted :0) DonGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

The fee for a service record has gone up to $17.00. The entire fee schedule is at this URL: http://www.nara.gov/nara/newfees.html ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald aikman" <myvette84@msn.com> To: <IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 9:08 PM Subject: Re: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Jack, > > I see from your post that the price for pension files have gone, would you happen to know off hand what it costs for the military records? > > The last time that I sent for records was the military and it cost 10.00, Is it still the same? > > > DonGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com >

Jack, I see from your post that the price for pension files have gone, would you happen to know off hand what it costs for the military records? The last time that I sent for records was the military and it cost 10.00, Is it still the same? DonGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

Here's a letter from a lady from South Carolina from one of the lists I am on sent this out to the rest of the list: I have had so many requests for info on the Broadfoot Co.that I am sending this open letter with the info I have. Broadfoot Pub.CO. 1907 Buena Vista Circle Wilmington,NC 28411 There is, in most large libraries,a set of volumes called,I believe "The Roster of Civil War Soldiers":[I know that is not the exact name!].The librarian will be happy to help you. It lists, alphabetically, all men who fought in the civil war, with the name of the unit,etc. You can write to Broadfoot with the name of the person and any info you might have and for a SMALL amt. of money they will send you all the info available on that person, also a cert. stating his war service. They offer many other things. I was given this address by a Gen-Newbie friend and have used the services many times. Their phone # 910-686-9591, and website is: www.broadfootpublishing.com I hope this has helped. This is a wonderful company and, NO!I am not affiliated, in any way, with the company. Thanks, M P South Carolina Rhonda Houston

I would like to mention the word patience, when sending for Pension Files. I sent for a file in January, called to check on it last month (they were really nice) the woman who spoke with me said they are really behind right now and my request had made it to the copy room and shouldn't be more than another month arriving. I am hoping it will have been worth the wait, it is defiantly a lesson in PATIENCE. Debbie ----- Original Message ----- From: Jack Cox To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 7:22 PM Subject: Re: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin The fee for a service record has gone up to $17.00. The entire fee schedule is at this URL: http://www.nara.gov/nara/newfees.html ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald aikman" <myvette84@msn.com> To: <IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 9:08 PM Subject: Re: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Jack, > > I see from your post that the price for pension files have gone, would you happen to know off hand what it costs for the military records? > > The last time that I sent for records was the military and it cost 10.00, Is it still the same? > > > DonGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com >

Be sure to read this before you go to the National Archives for records...READ and educate yourself as to what actually can be found and where. I am not connected with the Broadfoot Publishing Research Services, but it won't be a bad idea to be....wish I was...I have just been in contact with others on other lists who have had wonderful results and thought I'd like to share the wealth of knowledge out there that has been tried and found to be true, makes things easier, and where a more complete record of information can be gained! Rhonda Houston http://www.ala.org/alaevents/annual97/exhibitors.html Document Supply Centre 3817 Broadfoot Publishing Co. 1947 Brodart......Cedco Publishing Co. 607 Celestial Arts 1643 Center for Research for American Library Association http://broadfoot.wilmington.net/specials.htm "Broadfoot Publishing Research Services http://www.civilwarbks.com/specials.htm Broadfoot's, publisher of Civil War books, reference books,genealogy books, CD references, and seller of fine Civil War rare books and manuscripts http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/1864/CSR.htm Compiled Service Records (CSRs) - Civil War Soldiers Geoffrey R. Walden (How to get a copy of a soldier's "official" military record) The CSRs in the National Archives (NA) are a summary of a soldier's military record. They were compiled between 1903 and 1927 by clerks in the War Department, because the constant handling of the original muster rolls and other records, due to requests from state governments to verify a soldier's service as part of a pension application, was tearing these documents up (and some are really in terrible shape today because of this). So the clerks went through all (or most, anyway) of the original records, extracting names. Every time they found an identifiable name and unit, they made an index card, noting what was said for this name, and the source (muster roll, so-and-so date, &c.). Because these records now appear as a series of index cards for each soldier, they are sometimes called the "Carded Service Records." This is what you get today - a photocopy of all those index cards that apply to that soldier. They are not really original Civil War period records, but they contain the data on that soldier from those records. For Federals, these often contain muster-in and muster-out data (including, sometimes, the soldier's discharge certificate or other actual period documents), as well as extracts from muster and pay rolls. For Confederates, these are usually just extracts from muster and pay rolls (normally just a note that the soldier was present for muster on a given date), but they sometimes contain descriptive data, especially if the soldier was ever wounded, or was captured and therefore had Federal prison records. These CSRs are only as complete as the surviving official records. Many Confederate units did not keep complete records, and many of the Confederate records were destroyed at the end of the war, or taken home and never turned in to Federal authorities (the Federals did some of this themselves at the end of the war, too). Many Confederate companies have only a few original muster rolls on file, even though the unit may have existed for most of the war. So your soldier may have only a small CSR. Indeed, most CSRs have only a few cards, noting nothing more than the dates when the soldier mustered in, was present for pay or other musters, and mustered out. The index cards are stored in envelopes, or card jackets. These envelopes sometimes contain original individual documents, as well as the carded CSRs. When the clerks found an original document that applied only to a single soldier, they filed this document with that soldier's CSR. In the case of officers, these individual documents take the form of pay vouchers, requisitions, and sometimes letters and reports, and can run to many pages, with a wealth of data. Even privates' records may contain many pages of individual papers; it all depends on what original records survived. The CSRs of the Confederate soldiers and Federal soldiers from Border and Southern states have also been microfilmed, but when you order a copy from the NA, you get a copy of the original cards and papers, not the microfilm. These microfilm rolls can be found in many state and larger city libraries. There is also a microfilm index of the records, arranged by state. An overall index of Confederates has been microfilmed as series M253. A little known source that can be a goldmine of information on a unit is the "Captions and Records of Events," which is a sort of CSR for a unit. When the clerks extracted the data from the muster rolls for individual soldiers, they also extracted the comments on the company itself (each commander was supposed to state on the roll his company's activities and actions since the last roll). Of course, some commanders didn't write much, but some gave a complete history of the unit. These are on index cards in card jackets, just like a soldier's CSR, but they are filed at the beginning of the first box for a unit's CSRs (they are also at the beginning of the first roll of microfilm for that unit's CSRs). These "Records of Events" have also been microfilmed separately, as series M594 (Union) and M861 (Confederate). They are also currently being published as part of the "Supplement to the Official Records" from Broadfoot Publishing (Wilmington, NC). In order for the NA to identify your soldier and copy his CSR, you have to know (at the least) his name and the state from which he served. The listings used to find the CSRs are arranged by state, so you have to identify the soldier by state - the NA will not search for his record otherwise. It helps a lot to also know his unit. But keep in mind, since the CSRs are subfiled by unit, if a soldier served in more than one unit, he will have more than one CSR, and since there is no real cross-reference, this fact might not be immediately apparent. Pension records have to be ordered separately. The NA does not hold Confederate pension records; these are in the various state archives. If all you have is a Confederate soldier's name, there is one reference you can check that may help you identify him. Broadfoot Publishing Co. in Wilmington, NC, has published a roster of all the Confederate soldiers who have CSRs in the NA (they are planning a series for Federal soldiers, too). This book series, called "Roster of Confederate Soldiers," can be found in larger libraries, particularly those with better genealogy collections. The rosters show names, states, and units, and give you a starting point from which to search further. The CSR copies have to be ordered on NATF Form 80, which can be obtained from: General Reference Branch (NNRG-P) National Archives & Records Administration 7th & Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20408 You can also order NATF Form 80 by e-mail - send a request, including your name and snailmail address to: inquire@arch2.nara.gov You can find further info at: http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/civilwar.html Follow the directions on the form for filling it out (include as much info as you know, but if you're not sure of something, best to leave it blank), and it is best to annotate "ALL RECORDS" somewhere on the form. The current (1997) price is $10 per record, regardless of number of pages (I've ordered CSRs that ended up being over 100 pages, and the cost was still the same). You can pay by charge card, which speeds up delivery. But be patient -- delivery usually takes a couple of months. When you get the copies, you will probably find entries with notes which refer to the original records from which the information on the cards was taken. These notes are usually found at the bottom of the cards, and often appear as entries such as "Roll No. 288" or "See Manuscript No. 2839." While it is very tempting to write the National Archives and request a copy of these original records, I advise you to forget it. Obviously, these original manuscripts most likely still exist somewhere in the NA, but finding them is the problem. They are no longer filed by any system used on the card notes, and unless the source is obvious from the card note, the original will be next to impossible to locate. The only way you MIGHT have some luck in doing this would be to visit the NA in person, and locate some archivist who is familiar enough with the Civil War records to point you in the right direction. Even then, you would have to find someone who is sympathetic to your search, because in the vast majority of cases, finding such records as noted on the CSR cards would take an in-depth search, which the staff will not conduct for you. Note -- There are some sources on the Internet that offer to supply copies of these records, sometimes at a price that appears to be lower than the NA price. If you use one of these services, make sure you know what you're getting for the price. Some of them supply only a copy of the index sheet for a soldier -- only the first page of the CSR, not the entire record. Some of them charge substantially more for copies of a service record that contains more than the usual 10-15 index cards (such as individual info or officers' records). And the copies will be from microfilm, which can be substantially lower quality than the copies from the NA. For most Civil War soldiers, the bulk of information on their military service can be found in the NA CSRs or the soldier's pension records. But some state collections, particularly those Southern states which had units in Confederate service, have extensive holdings of period information on state units, and these records sometimes have information on individuals that is not found in CSRs or pension files. It is unfortunately the exception, not the norm, but you can sometimes find very valuable info on an individual in these state records. Be aware that some states have made much greater progress than others in arranging and cataloguing their records, and important records can sometimes be found in out-of-the-way places. Be sure to check not only the state archives, but historical societies, genealogical societies, and any state military museums or libraries. For Southern states, an excellent guide to these sources is James Neagles' "Confederate Research Sources" (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 1986). (I know of no comparable reference for sources in Northern states.) Best of luck in your search! Geoff Walden Elizabethtown, KY gwalden@sw.cybersurf.de Copyright C 1995, Geoffrey R. Walden; all rights reserved. Updated 1997.

Chris, I believe the NATF form 80 was recently retired. You used to be able to request Pension Applications OR Service Records using the same form (I think it was form 80). However, now there are two separate forms for Pension and Service records. Pension records are NATF form 85. Service records are ordered using NATF form 86. > ---------- > From: Donald aikman > Reply To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 4:30 PM > To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Hi Chris, > > Write the national archives to get his pension records. Send a email to > this address inquire@arch2.nara.gov and ask for a NATF form 80. (Get 2 or > 3 ). > > Here is a URL that will walk you through it: > http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/pensions.htm#B > > Best regards > Don > http://members.tripod.com/Black_eagle_129/index.html > http://black_eagle_129.tripod.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: ChrisDix1@aol.com > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 2:59 PM > To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Hello everyone > > I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois > Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained > copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show > that > this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. > I > had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of > kin > at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover > this information. > > I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely > necessary > for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody > suggest > where this information might be recorded? > > Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. > > Chris Dixon > Newcastle upon Tyne, UKGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download > : http://explorer.msn.com > >

Two words....PENSION APPLICATION. Look up the National Archives website, and write them for the request forms. > ---------- > From: ChrisDix1@aol.com > Reply To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 3:55 PM > To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Hello everyone > > I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois > > Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained > > copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show > that > this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. > I > had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of > kin > at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover > > this information. > > I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely > necessary > for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody > suggest > where this information might be recorded? > > Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. > > Chris Dixon > Newcastle upon Tyne, UK > >

Sorry for not getting all of this in one place. A NATF form 85 is necessary for pension records. The full pension file costs US$37. A "pension documents packet" consisting of the items that are of most interest to the genealogist. This costs US$14.75. The packet will contain up to 8 pages of the following information IF IT IS AVAILABLE. All files do not contain all of this information: Declaration of pension, declaration of widow's pension, Adjutant General statements of service, questionnaires completed by applicants, "Pension Dropped" cards, marriage certificates, death certificates, discharge certificate. If 8 pages doesn't comprise the whole file, NARA won't tell you how many are left. If you then want the whole file, you have to send in another order. -----Original Message----- From: Fossitt, Chris [mailto:ChrisF@communitypress.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 3:31 PM To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin Two words....PENSION APPLICATION. Look up the National Archives website, and write them for the request forms. > ---------- > From: ChrisDix1@aol.com > Reply To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 3:55 PM > To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Hello everyone > > I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois > > Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained > > copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show > that > this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. > I > had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of > kin > at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover > > this information. > > I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely > necessary > for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody > suggest > where this information might be recorded? > > Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. > > Chris Dixon > Newcastle upon Tyne, UK > >

Hi All, Looks like im a little out of date. :0) You can see how long its been since I have sent for a pension record. Thanks for the information and sorry chris for giving the wrong information best Regards Don 48th Illinois regiment http://members.tripod.com/Black_eagle_129/index.html http://black_eagle_129.tripod.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Fossitt, Chris Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 4:03 PM To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin Chris, I believe the NATF form 80 was recently retired. You used to be able to request Pension Applications OR Service Records using the same form (I think it was form 80). However, now there are two separate forms for Pension and Service records. Pension records are NATF form 85. Service records are ordered using NATF form 86. > ---------- > From: Donald aikman > Reply To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 4:30 PM > To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Hi Chris, > > Write the national archives to get his pension records. Send a email to > this address inquire@arch2.nara.gov and ask for a NATF form 80. (Get 2 or > 3 ). > > Here is a URL that will walk you through it: > http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/pensions.htm#B > > Best regards > Don > http://members.tripod.com/Black_eagle_129/index.html > http://black_eagle_129.tripod.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: ChrisDix1@aol.com > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 2:59 PM > To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Hello everyone > > I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois > Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained > copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show > that > this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. > I > had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of > kin > at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover > this information. > > I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely > necessary > for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody > suggest > where this information might be recorded? > > Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. > > Chris Dixon > Newcastle upon Tyne, UKGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download > : http://explorer.msn.com > >Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

Be aware that form 80 is apparently no longer valid. You need NATF form 85 for federal pension records and NATF form 86 for military service records I sent in the old form, they kept it for 2 months, then sent it back and told me to send form 86. Jack Cox -----Original Message----- From: Donald aikman [mailto:myvette84@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 3:31 PM To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin Hi Chris, Write the national archives to get his pension records. Send a email to this address inquire@arch2.nara.gov and ask for a NATF form 80. (Get 2 or 3 ). Here is a URL that will walk you through it: http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/pensions.htm#B Best regards Don http://members.tripod.com/Black_eagle_129/index.html http://black_eagle_129.tripod.com ----- Original Message ----- From: ChrisDix1@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 2:59 PM To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin Hello everyone I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show that this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. I had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of kin at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover this information. I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely necessary for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody suggest where this information might be recorded? Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. Chris Dixon Newcastle upon Tyne, UKGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

I thought I would add the URL to provide more info. Their website is at: http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/civilwar.html You will need a NATF Form 85 to obtain the information. Forms are available by emailing NARA mailto:inquire@nara.gov Be aware that they have changed the pricing schedule, and pension files can be quite expensive if they are lengthy. -----Original Message----- From: Fossitt, Chris [mailto:ChrisF@communitypress.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 3:31 PM To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin Two words....PENSION APPLICATION. Look up the National Archives website, and write them for the request forms. > ---------- > From: ChrisDix1@aol.com > Reply To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 3:55 PM > To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin > > Hello everyone > > I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois > > Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained > > copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show > that > this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. > I > had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of > kin > at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover > > this information. > > I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely > necessary > for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody > suggest > where this information might be recorded? > > Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. > > Chris Dixon > Newcastle upon Tyne, UK > >

Hello everyone I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show that this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. I had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of kin at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover this information. I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely necessary for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody suggest where this information might be recorded? Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. Chris Dixon Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Hi Chris, Write the national archives to get his pension records. Send a email to this address inquire@arch2.nara.gov and ask for a NATF form 80. (Get 2 or 3 ). Here is a URL that will walk you through it: http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/pensions.htm#B Best regards Don http://members.tripod.com/Black_eagle_129/index.html http://black_eagle_129.tripod.com ----- Original Message ----- From: ChrisDix1@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 2:59 PM To: IL-CIVIL-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [IL-CIVIL-WAR] A Soldier's next of kin Hello everyone I have recently discovered that a soldier who served with the 4th Illinois Cavalry might well be the brother of my great-grandmother. I have obtained copies of various documents from the Illinois State Archives which show that this soldier's date and place of birth match those of my distant relative. I had hoped that one of these army documents would have named his next of kin at the time of his enlistment, but so far I have not been able to discover this information. I would have imagined that at a time of war it would be absolutely necessary for the army to know the name of a soldier's next of kin. Can anybody suggest where this information might be recorded? Many thanks for any help that anyone is able to give me. Chris Dixon Newcastle upon Tyne, UKGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

Andrew, You and others interested in photos of IL Civil War vets and info about IL Civil War regiments should contact the following institution. Tom Pearson The Illinois State Historical Library has collections of manuscripts, photographs, and newspapers. Any of these collections can include Illinois Civil War soldier information. Staff can check to see if a photograph of a particular regiment (or regiment member) is available, and they can also check a card file which lists newspaper references to particular Illinois Civil War regiments. More detailed information may be found here: http://www.state.il.us/hpa/lib/#Audiovisual. Library staff will not accept E-mail requests for assistance. Photocopies of published materials can be provided for a nominal fee. There are more than 350,000 photographs in the Library's Audiovisual collection, which also includes 4,000 broadsides, 2,500 films and videotapes, and more than 1,200 oral history transcripts and 3,800 tapes. Topics covered include Civil War soldiers and battles. Most of the photographs can be copied for a fee by Library staff after selection by the patron. Appointments are required to use the Audiovisual collection. Phone (217) 785-7955. Audiovisual material is not available on interlibrary loan. The Library's 4,900 newspaper titles are preserved on nearly 73,000 microfilm reels. As the mandated newspaper repository in Illinois, the Library holds titles from all 102 counties. Many of the newspapers date from the early and mid-nineteenth century, and the collection includes many newspapers published during the Civil War. The Library's newspaper collection has been cataloged through the nationwide program funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Researchers may borrow newspapers on microfilm through interlibrary loan. The collection may be searched online at the Illinois Newspaper Project site. Staff of the following departments may be contacted at these numbers: Manuscripts: (217) 785-7942 Audiovisual: (217) 785-7955 Lincoln: (217) 785-7954