The address is:
National Archives and Records Administration ATTN: NWCTB 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20408You can get copies of the forms by e-mail at inquire@nara.gov. Make certain to specify your name, address, and how many forms you require.
You can visit the National Archives & Records Administration on the web at http://www.archives.gov for further information and to download a copy of Form 86. Due the heavy load of incoming requests, it will take several weeks for you to get a response, so be patient. There is a charge for records that are located and copied for your use.
Also check The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System sponsored by the National Park Service. The system features an on-line database of names of soldiers, sailors, and United States Colored Troops who served in the Civil War based on records at the National Archives. The database is constantly expanding and is a wonderful resource for serious researchers and the curious.
While you're checking the web, look for state museums and archives, educational information sites, and links to genealogy sites. One good place to start is the American Civil War Research Database, though be aware that there is a membership fee for the use of this database.
For Confederate records, the best source is the National Archives microfilm of Virginia regiments. After looking at the alphabetical index, you can go to the correct regimental muster cards . These are much like the Union cards but usually not as complete or informative. However, one common record found for Confederate and not Union soldiers is an oath of allegiance, which Confederate soldiers who had surrendered were required to sign before they could return to their homes. These signed oaths can be very descriptive.
There are pension records for both sides but the Union records in the National Archives in Washington D.C. are far superior to the Confederate records in Richmond at the Library of Virginia. For Union records you can apply to the National Archives using NATF form 85. For Confederates you can check the Library of Virginia's Web site. The pension records may list family and perhaps discuss wounds received in the service. Many West Virginia Confederates never received pensions at all.
