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 > >