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

This wiki article describes a collection that is available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. To access the collection, see Civil War Pension Index Cards

Collection Time Period
The index cards imaged on this publication refer to pension applications of veterans who served in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1864.

Collection 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.

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

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

Collection 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 Collection
Use the index to find pensions of Civil War veterans and also veterans of the Spanish-American War and Indian Wars.

Related Article
United States, Civil War 1861- to 1865, Union Pension Records