From the archive of Capt William C Mitchell 70th Indiana Regiment. Had never been displayed or out of family hands.

Original 1888 Civil War Pension Claim Letter – addressed to Captain William C. Mitchell, 70th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, who served under Colonel Benjamin Harrison (later the 23rd President of the United States).

This historically significant letter was sent by the law firm Maring & Slusher, U.S. Claim Attorneys of Columbus, Indiana, regarding a soldier’s pension increase claim. The correspondence requests Capt. Mitchell’s statement about the service-related illness of Thomas Hannah, referencing events during the war near Hardeeville, South Carolina, in January 1865.

Details:

Date: May 5, 1888

Sender: Maring & Slusher, U.S. Claim Attorneys

Recipient: Capt. Wm. C. Mitchell, Clayton, Indiana

Content: References Civil War service and disease contracted in the line of duty.

Includes: Original folded letter with full text and signature, original envelope with postal cancellation, additional Maring & Slusher printed ephemera.

Historical Significance:

Capt. William C. Mitchell served with the 70th Indiana Infantry from 1862–1865.

The regiment was commanded by Benjamin Harrison, adding strong presidential and political interest.

Documents like this connect directly to the post-war pension system that shaped veterans’ lives.

Condition:

Letter is complete, legible, and shows age-related staining and folds consistent with its 135+ years.

Envelope is intact with postal stamp and handwriting.

See photos for details.

This is an authentic 19th-century Civil War veterans’ pension document with direct provenance to a named officer in a historically significant regiment — a must-have for Civil War, Indiana, or presidential history collectors.

Shipping: Ships in protective archival sleeve, fully insured.

Civil War pension, Civil War letter, Union Army, Benjamin Harrison regiment, 70th Indiana Infantry, Indiana Civil War, presidential history, veteran pension claim, 19th century legal document, Hardeeville SC Civil War, Maring & Slusher, historical ephemera, veteran’s claim letter, Capt William C. Mitchell, Civil War officer correspondence.