Matt Exactly. Union Pensions were paid by the federal govenment much like soldiers today get pensions after 20+ years of service or widows get pensions if their husband is killed while in the military service. Those pensions were passed by an act of congress and were administered by the War Department and the the Department of Veterans Affairs. It makes sense the the Federal government did not grant pensions to the soldiers who fought against it. However, as they recovered from losing the war, many of the southern states offered pensions to the widows of soldiers from their units and later to some of the soldiers themselves. These were passed by the state legislature and amounts, who was eligible and what proof were required would vary from state to state. Julia Coldren-Walker FamRSearch@aol.com