Civil War Pension Claim Applications

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During the Civil War, the Federal government touted its general pension system as a way to entice men to enlist. These benefits were guaranteed to all soldiers, sailors, or their dependents whose disability was a direct result of their military service.

In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the Dependent and Disability Act into law. This Act provided pensions to all Union Army veterans, who served at least ninety days, who were unable to perform manual labor. Soldiers' disabilities no longer had to be caused as a direct result of their military service. The Act also provided pensions to minors, dependent parents, and widows of veterans.

These medical pension applications date from 1889 to 1892 and consist of the medical reports completed by physicians during classifying the veteran's level of disability.