United States, Civil War and Later Pension Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
The bulk of index cards imaged on this publication refer to pension applications of veterans who served in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1865 (U.S. Civil War). Other pension records include those of the Spanish-American conflict, Indian wars, the Philippine insurrection, and the first year (1917) of U.S. involvement in World War I.

Record Description
The index is handwritten on preprinted cards with one individual per card.

Record Content
The Civil War pension index includes the following genealogical information:


 * Name of the person claiming the pension
 * Service record of the soldier, including rank, company, and regiment
 * Enlistment date
 * Discharge date
 * Date pension was filed
 * Whether an invalid, widow, or minor
 * Application number
 * Certificate number
 * Additional service information, including company and regiment
 * Death date of the soldier
 * Death place of the soldier

How to Use the Records
Use the index to find pension applications of Civil War veterans and also veterans of the Indian wars, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine insurrection, and 1917 records of World War I.

Record History
The index was produced to provide easier access to the full pension application files. These records cover about 40 percent of soldiers who served in the Civil War or their widows and minor children.

Why This Collection Was Created?
Pensions were issued to compensate Civil War veterans and their widows and minor children for their service.

Record Reliability
Pension applications are usually reliable, depending on the memory of the applicant and the records to which he had access.

Related Web Sites
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Related Wiki Articles
United States, Civil War 1861-1865, Union Pension Records

Sources of Information for This Collection:
"Civil War Pension Index Cards," database, FamilySearch; from the National Archives. "Organization index to pension files of veterans who served between 1861 and 1900-[1917]." National Archives, Washington, D.C. FHL microfilm, 765 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: How to Create Source Citations for FamilySearch Historical Records Collections

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections

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Examples of citations
"Civil War Pension Index Cards." Database and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch,org: accessed March 18, 2011). entry for Thomas Moore, served in Pennsylvania Calvary; citing  NARA publication number T289; National Archives, Washington, D.C.