Question: I am looking for a later issued Civil War pension. At your Civil War lecture I heard you explain about “C” or “XC” on a pension index card. I do not recall the reason these were not at the Archives. I have found one I would like to request.
Answer: These pensions are not at the National Archives, and are under the custody of the Department of Veterans Affairs. These are generally pensions that were considered to be closed by the year 1929. To obtain a copy of this file write a letter to the Veteran’s Administration Freedom of Information Officer. You will want to mention that you would like to request a pension with the permission of the Freedom of Information Act. Supply them the soldier’s information that you have. Make sure you state you are willing to pay the fees to copy the pension file. Contact them at:
FOIA / Privacy Act Officer, Veterans Benefits Administration Officer (20M33)
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20420