I found my ancestor (2gr granduncle) William MANSON on the database in the Civil War Pension Index. While browsing the net I ran across DearMyrtle's blog and just today there was a post about footnote.com that mentioned the Pension Index being different than the one at Ancestry--I had thought they were the same and since my ancestor's name didn't come up on a general search, I didn't bother to look through the specific records. BIG MISTAKE! I found his pension index card listed which contained the application and certificate numbers for both his Invalid pension and his wife's Widow pension!
Now to send off for the records!

Has anyone here done this and can you recommend whether to get the complete file($75) or if the Pension Documents Packet ($25) will be enough?