Pension Records at the....

NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Washington, DC

Pensions for Civil War Service, 1861 - 1865

All of the indexes described below cover the years of the Civil War; however, they are not limited to the Civil War. Except for the Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans who Served Between 1861 and 1900 (T289) and Numerical Index to Pension Files (Al158), all of the indexes are arranged alphabetically by the veteran's last name.

None of the pension files, except for the Navy fiche, are on film or fiche. The original files must be requested using the Military Request form available from the staff.

___T316, Old War Index to Pension Files, 1815 - 1926.
Indexes service in the Regular Army, Navy, and Marine Corps between the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. (40-50)

___T288, General Index to Pension Files.
Indexes service performed between 1861 and 1916. Most of the records relate to Civil War service, some relate to earlier service by Civil War veterans, other relate to service in the Spanish- American War, the Philippines Insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Regular Army. (44-01)

Be sure to note whether there is an C or XC number. If there is such a number on the index card, be sure to write it on the request form. These records may still be with the Veterans Administration.

The darker cards are for naval service (see "Navy" below).

___T289, Organizational Index to Pension Files of Veterans who Served Between 1861 and 1900.
Indexes service in the Army between 1861 and 1917. The majority of the records pertain to Civil War veterans, but they also include veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, Indians wars, and World War I. (80-07)

The information provided here is virtually the same as that in T288 (see above), however, this index groups the application according to the unit in which he served. The cards are arranged alphabetically by state, thereunder by the arm of service (infantry, cavalry, artillery), thereunder numerically by regiment, alphabetically by company, and finally alphabetically by the veterans surname.

___A1158. Number Index to Pension Files.
Arranged numerically by application and certificate numbers. Gives the name and unit of the applicant. Helps in verifying numbers. (130-03)

NAVY

___M1279, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans("Navy Widows" Certificates, 1861-1910). (MF-B01)

Index to Navy Dependents' Pension Files-Approved, 1861-1910 consists of two indexes 1) by veteran's last name (three-volume red books) and by fiche and certificate number (three-volume yellow-beige books).

___M1391, Lists of Navy Veterans for whom there are Navy Widows and Other Dependents Disapproved Pension Files ("Navy Widows' Originals.") 1861-1910. (MF-D01)

Lists of Navy Veterans for whom there are Navy Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans, 1861-1910. Alphabetical index to disallowed pensions.

Additional Sources

For more information about these microfilm publications, see Military Service Records: A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications or the Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives.