Confederate pensions prior to 1958 were not awarded by the U.S. federal government and are not in the custody of the National Archives. Instead, Confederate veterans were eligible to apply for a pension from the State in which they lived, even if they served in a unit from a different State. Generally, an applicant (or his widow) was only eligible for a pension if he was indigent or disabled.
Confederate pension records are typically found in the custody of the State Archives or Library. Many have indexes or even digital images of the Confederate pension records online.
1. Alabama
Alabama Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130-0100
334-242-4363
Alabama began granting pensions in 1867 to Confederate veterans who had lost arms or legs. In 1886 Confederate pensions were also extended to veterans' widows. Alabama pension law was amended in 1891 to grant pensions to indigent veterans or their widows. Alabama Confederate pension records are not yet available online.
Alabama Civil War Records Online:
Alabama Civil War Service Database (free)
2. Arkansas
Arkansas History Commission
1 Capitol Mall
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-682-6900
In 1891 Arkansas began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans in 1891. Pensions were first made available for Confederate veteran widows and mothers in 1915. The online index to Arkansas Confederate Pensions includes an easy link on each search results page to purchase a full copy of the pension file.
Arkansas Civil War Records Online:
Arkansas Confederate Pension Records (free)
Index to Arkansas Confederate Home Records (free)
Arkansas Civil War Soldiers - Compiled Military Service Records (subscription)
3. Florida
Florida State Archives
R. A. Gray Building
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahasse, FL 32399-0250
850-487-2073
Soldiers from Florida served in both the Confederate and Union armies. The first Confederate pensions were authorized in Florida in 1885 and granted to Confederate veterans for the sum of $5. New pension laws were introduced with just about each session of the Legislature for a time, varying eligibility or payment amounts. Pensions were first eligible to widows of Confederate veterans in 1889.
Florida Civil War Records Online:
Florida Confederate Pension Application Files Online (free)
Florida Civil War Soldiers - Compiled Military Service Records, Confederate & Union (subscription)
4. Georgia
Georgia Department of Archives and History
5800 Jonesboro Road
Morrow, GA 30260
(678) 364-3700
Applications for Confederate pensions were first accepted by the state of Georgia in 1870 for soldiers with artificial limbs. In 1879 the State began granting pensions to other disabled Confederate veterans or their widows who then resided in Georgia. By 1894 eligible disabilities which qualified for a Confederate pension had been expanded to include poverty and old age.
Georgia Civil War Records Online:
Georgia Confederate Pension Applications, 1879-1960 (free)
George Confederate Pension Applications, Supplement (free)
Georgia Confederate Enlistment Oaths and Discharges, 1861-1864 (free)
5. Kentucky
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Research Room
300 Coffee Tree Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-8300
Soldiers from Kentucky served in both the Union and Confederate armies. In 1912, Kentucky began granting pensions to Confederate veterans or their widows. These records are available on microfilm.
Florida Civil War Records Online:
Civil War Pension Index Cards (Union), includes Kentucky (free)
Researching Your Civil War Ancestors (Kentucky) (free)
Compiled Military Service Records of Confederate Soliders from Kentucky (subscription)
6. Louisiana
Louisiana State Archives
3851 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-2137
504-922-1208
In 1898 Louisiana began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans or their widows. If you find a Confederate soldier in the online Louisiana pension applications index, you can order a copy of the complete pension file.
Louisiana Civil War Records Online:
Louisiana Confederate Pension Applications Index Database (free)
Louisiana Confederate Pension Applications (scheduled to soon be available for free online at FamilySearch)
Louisiana Confederate Civil War Service Records (subscription)
Census of Ex-Confederate Soldiers and Widows of Deceased Soldiers (Orleans Parish), 1911 (free)
7. Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
P.O. Box 571
Jackson, MS 39205
601-359-6876
In 1888 Mississippi began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans or their widows. Mississippi Confederate pension applications are not yet available online, but the State Archives will provide searches of the index (fee for out-of-state residents).
Mississippi Civil War Records Online:
Mississippi Confederate Civil War Service Records (subscription)
Mississippi Confederate Grave Registry (free)
8. Missouri
Missouri State Archives
600 W. Main
P.O. Box 1747
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-3280
As a border state, Missouri had units serving in both the Confederate and Union armies. In 1911 Missouri began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans; widows were not eligible. Missouri also had a home for disabled Confederate veterans.
Missouri Civil War Records Online:
Missouri Confederate Pension Applications & Soldiers' Home Admission Applications (scheduled to be available free online at FamilySearch)
Civil War Provost Marshal Index Database, 1861-1866 (free)
Index to Descriptive Recruitment Lists of Volunteers for the United States Colored Troops for the State of Missouri, 1863-1865 (free)
Missouri Soldiers Database (free)
Missouri Confederate Civil War Service Records (subscription)
Missouri Union Civil War Service Records (subscription)
9. North Carolina
North Carolina State Archives
109 East Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-2807
919-733-7305
Mailing Address:
North Carolina State Archives
4614 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4614
In 1867 North Carolina began granting pensions to Confederate veterans who were blinded or lost an arm or leg during their service. All other disabled indigent N.C. Confederate veterans or widows became eligible for Confederate pensions in 1885. Act of 1885 and 1891 pension applications are online in the MARS search feature of the North Carolina State Archives (many include links to digitized copies of the original documents).
North Carolina Civil War Records Online:
N.C. Act of 1885 & 1891 Confederate Pension Applications in MARS (free)
North Carolina Confederate Civil War Service Records (subscription)
10. Oklahoma
Oklahoma Department of Libraries
Archives and Records Management Divisions
200 Northeast 18th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
1-800-522-8116 ext. 209
Another border state, Oklahoma had soldiers serving in both the Union and Confederate service. Oklahoma began granting pensions to Confederate veterans or their widows in 1915.
Oklahoma Civil War Records Online:
Index to Oklahoma Confederate Pension Records (free)
