Archive:Civil War Pension File, Benjamin F. Whitney (1838-1927)

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Civil War Pension File of Benjamin F. Whitney
Invalid Applic. # 1008022 Cert. # 732606
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.

Benjamin F.⁸ Whitney is identified as the son of Obadiah Higgins⁷ and Louisa (Bangs) Whitney of Standish, Cumberland Co., Maine (Levi⁶, Abel⁵, Nathan⁴, Nathaniel³, Benjamin², John¹).

Second Lieutenant, Companies C and B, 10th Maine Regiment of Infantry

Benjamin F. Whitney, fifty-three years old and a resident of the Town of Gorham, Cumberland Co., Maine, signed a Declaration for Invalid Pension on 1 April 1891 from Cumberland Co., Maine. He testifies that he was enrolled on 3 May 1861 into Company C of the 1st Maine Infantry for three months. He was mustered out of the service on 5 August 1861. He was then mustered in as a Second Lieutenant in Company C of the 10th Maine Infantry in September of 1861 for two years from 3 May 1861. He was honorably discharged at Portland, Maine on 7 May 1863. He is now unable to earn his support by manual labor by reason of sciatica and external hemorrhoids. Attesting the declaration are Frank A. Ridlon and Lewis R. Johnson. Benjamin was approved for a pension of eight dollars per month commencing 4 April 1891.

On 6 June 1898, Benjamin answered an interrogatory from the Bureau of pensions. He testifies that he is married to Fannie A. Elder. They were married at Relay House, Maryland by Chaplain Knox of the 10th Maine Regiment. He has a marriage certificate signed by Chaplain Lacos of Maryland. Neither party had been previously married. He has one living child: Jennie P. Whitney, born January 1864.

Benjamin filed numerous applications for increase in pension as he aged and his disability grew worse. On 14 March 1908, when he was seventy years old, he filed a declaration from Gorham, Maine. At this time, his physical description at the time of his enlistment was added. He was six feet in height, with a light complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His occupation before his service was as a clerk. He was born in Standish, Maine on 8 March 1838. The declaration was witnessed by Norman G. Edson and Lewis R. Johnson, both Gorham residents.

In 1913 Benjamin had reached 75 years in age, and applied for an increase in benefit due to his age. He was asked by the Bureau of pensions for evidence of his date of birth. Following is his reply:

"Dear Sir, In reply to the enclosed letter of May 19th with regard to record of birth, will say I have made diligent search and am unable to find any. The reasons are, my mother died when I was fourteen years of age, and I was obliged to go out and earn my own living, and our family was broken up. If there ever was a family record it cannot be found. I enclose a card from the Town Clerk of the town of Standish where I was born which speaks for itself. Hoping this will be satisfactory. I am yours truly, Benjamin F. Whitney" (The note from the town clerk indicates that no family record can be found.)

Benjamin underwent a physical examination in 1922, when he again applied for increased benefit. At that time he was receiving fifty dollars per month. He is now eighty-four years old, and suffers from many physical disabilities. He has required a constant attendant for the last five years, because he is not safe when alone and requires help in the activities of daily living.

On 20 December 1923, Benjamin's daughter replied to an inquiry from the Commissioner of Pensions.

"Sir, In reply to your letter of 24 November 1923 requesting statement of the physical and mental condition of Mr. Whitney from 1 May 1920 to 20 September 1922, I beg leave to make answer as our family physician, Dr. Charles H. Ridlon, who attended my father during that period has since died.

Benjamin F. Whitney is my father and I have lived at home all my life. I was born 12 January 1864 and since my mother died in 1910 I have had my father under my care so that his physical and mental condition is perfectly well known to me.

Long before my father required the continuous attention of another person he suffered greatly from asthma and heart trouble and was subject to acute attacks that confined him for months either to the house or bed.

As he has grown older these diseases have become chronic and other troubles have set in, such as rheumatism, gastritis, neuralgia, and dizziness, together with the natural infirmities of age, so that he has required not only special care of more than one, but has been the cause of the greatest concern both day and night.

Much of this he himself has told you, I believe. (Benjamin was in prolific correspondence with the pension office, and he had made them well aware of his physical condition over the years, along with his dissatisfaction with some of their decisions and the speed of their actions- KLW.) It has been a constant struggle to keep him even as comfortable as now he can ever expect to be.

Even prior to 1 May 1920 we have had to help him dress and undress and make him ready for the night; to give him his bath, and to assist him in all the little personal attentions that he could not compass alone.

Since 1914 his left leg and side have required special treatment. The leg has grown much smaller than the right one. It is heavy and cold from poor circulation and the big toe nail turns black, comes off, and another grows again only to repeat the same process. Daily massage has to be given to it to correct the trouble as far as possible and strengthen the muscles.

In October, 1921 my father was exceedingly ill and for three weeks I did not leave him night or day. He rallied and finally was able to be up and around the house when again in December he was stricken with a most dangerous dizzy attack through some trouble at the back of his neck and was not able to sit up for five months. It was not until July, 1922 that he was able to walk about.

His neck had been the cause of much suffering for years and it was from that affection that his frequent dizzy spells came but never before had they been as severe. It had been a long time that because of these attacks we had not dared to leave him much alone or allow him to go and distance unaccompanied.

As for my father's mental condition it is wonderful. Not only has he a fine memory, but he has kept so in touch with affairs that others outside of his family think him remarkable.

He is a magnificent sport, too, and undoubtedly his high courage and determination never to give up has had much to do with his reaching the age of 85 years. Very truly yours, Jennie Pierce Whitney"

Benjamin F. Whitney was last paid at seventy-two dollars per month to 4 December 1927. He died in Gorham, Maine on 30 December 1927. His only heir is his daughter, Jennie Pierce Whitney, who was never married and lives in Gorham.

ADDENDUM:

Contribution and commentary by Alberta Williams of The 1837 Foundation of Northern Maine

From: HISTORY OF THE FIRST-TENTH-TWENTY-NINTH MAINE REGIMENT IN SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES FROM MAY 3, 1861 TO JUNE 21, 1866 By Major John M Gould WITH THE HISTORY OF THE TENTH ME BATTALION by Rev Leonard G Jordan; Portland, Stephen Berry 1871 located in the Harvard University Library 1880 June 18 by Exchange

on Pg. 98: Chapter XIII - Our first winter "... The next thing on the programme after settling at the Relay House, was for the officers and a few of the men to send for their wives. These were quartered at the hotel and various private residences near by, and I am quite sure that the regiment generally felt toward them as sailors do towards "petticoats in the cabin". Lieut Whitney being unable or unwilling to obtain leave of absence to go home to marry, sent for his betrothed, who promptly came. They were to have been married quietly within an hour or two of her arrival, but the project leaked out and the diary states that "the officers went en masse to a wedding this evening".

Commentary: The book doesn't give an exact date, but the troops arrived at Relay House, (which was a place on the Ohio and Baltimore Rail line that the 10th ME was assigned to protect. The diary states that the Post Office was St Denis, MD) on Nov 4, 1861. They were paid on Nov 18th, 1861 and observed Thanksgiving on Nov 21st with cooked turkey and chickens sent by family and friends from home. On Dec 2nd more recruits arrived. Dec 17th they began working on construction of Barracks. they were paid again on Jan 4 1862. They were still there when Lincoln's War Order No 1 was issued Feb 22, 1862 and Maj Gould's diary says for that day: " All hands in town at the great parade. Our regiment has improved lately, 1st by many of the officer's wives going home, 2d by the issue of new trousers to all who need, and 3d by the men purchasing a new cap, instead of drawing the "regulation" article."

So I would guess that they were married probably about Thanksgiving 1861, when family and friends sent turkeys and chickens and wives arrived. Since it was a big deal, perhaps there is a record in one of the officers' notes, journals etc. the chaplain of the 10th ME Vols was Chaplain Knox who lived in Portland, who probably performed the marriage. Also in the book is what is described as "Banks' Retreat from Winchester" There is a map in the book and on May 24th, 1862, Company C under Capt Jordan and Lieut. Whitney -on the Front Royal Pike /road -were charged with stalling the oncoming CSA force led by Gen Stonewall Jackson so that the rest of the troops could retreat to Strausbourg. Lt. Whitney had the forward Picket line with company C & Co I behind him, and CSA Cavalry approaching from across the pike from where they were set up behind a wall. There is a nice picture of him following pg. 117 in the book.

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Copyright © 2006, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group