Mailing List:2007-01-05 03, Ebenezer Whitney, by Kenneth Whitney

Mailing List Archives > 2007-01-05 03, Ebenezer Whitney, by Kenneth Whitney

From: "Ken Whitney" <ken.whitney -at- comcast.net> Subject: [WHITNEY] Ebenezer Whitney Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 20:47:26 -0500 WRG: Below you will find my abstract of the Civil War pension file of Ebenezer Whitney of West Gardiner, Maine. He was born 18 May 1800 in Litchfield, Kennebec County, Maine, the son of Ebenezer and Mehitable (Robinson) Whitney. His ancestry is: John1, Benjamin2, John3, Samuel4, Samuel5, Ebenezer6, Ebenezer7. Some may remember that this particular Ebenezer had, subsequent to this unsuccessful application, applied for a pension from the service of his son James H. Whitney. This application was also unsuccessful because his wife Louisa (Gowell) Whitney should have filed for pension benefits first. Louisa subsequently applied for, and received, pension benefits from the pension of her son James. Ebenezer was successful in an application after his wife died. So, he did end up with a pension, although from the service of his son James. >From the Civil War Pension File of Ebenezer Whitney Private, Company F, 5th Maine Infantry Invalid's Application #1204 The National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. Ebenezer Whitney signed an Application for an Invalid Pension on 19 April 1862 from Kennebec County, Maine. He is sixty-one years old and a resident of West Gardiner, Kennebec Co., Maine. He had enlisted as a private in Company F commanded by Captain George P. Sherwood in the 5th Regiment of Maine Volunteers commanded by Colonel N.J. Jackson. He was honorably discharged on 3 October 1861. While in the service and in his line of duty at Centerville, Virginia about 18 July 1861 he was taken with a pain in his right side, with difficulty in breathing. He was sent to a hospital in Alexandria. He was confined to his room for some time, then longer to the hospital, and then afterwards at his camp without doing any duty. This continued until the time of his discharge. He lost his appetite, had a severe cough that disturbed his sleep at night, and had a general prostration of strength. He was well sound in all aspects when he enlisted, able to do any kind of hard labor without fatigue. Since his injury he has not been able to do anything of any consequence, still has a poor appetite, has restless nights, has pain through his right side, and has a general want of strength. He cannot obtain a certificate from any commissioned officer of his late company because they are all with their regiment in active duty in the field. They are inaccessible, as their precise location is not known here. Since his discharge he has resided in West Gardiner, and he has done no labor, but lived on a farm. The application is witnessed by David Strong and Nathan Willard, both residents of Gardiner. Both witnesses also testify that Ebenezer had been a farmer, and was now disabled. They are testifying because Captain Sherwood is now on active duty under General McLellan, and his location is unknown. Ebenezer provided his Certificate of Disability for Discharge from the Army of the United States. He was enlisted by Captain Sherwood on 18 June 1861 at Portland, Maine, to serve three years. He was born in West Gardiner, Maine, is sixty-one years of age, and is five feet eleven and ½ inches tall, with dark complexion, dark eyes, gray hair, and by occupation a farmer upon enlistment. During the last six weeks, the soldier was unfit for duty. His station was Camp Vernon, near Alexandria, Virginia. Lieutenant Nathan Walker was then commanding F Company. George E. Bricheld, Surgeon certified Ebenezer incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of senile debility. He is sixty-one years old and incapable of any duty. He was discharged 3 October 1861 at Camp Vernon by order of Colonel N.J. Jackson, Commanding the Regiment. Ebenezer's application for a pension was ultimately unsuccessful, and abandoned. It should be noted as a warning to future researchers that this file contains two documents that are misfiled, and may be a cause of confusion to a researcher unfamiliar with the situation. Firstly, it contains a report by the Adjutant General's Office to the Commissioner of Pensions concerning the service of Reuben A. Westwood of Company E of the 3rd Maine Volunteers. Secondly, it contains a note to the pension office from Eben B. Whitney of Omaha, Nebraska. This Eben B. Whitney served in the 15th Maine Regiment, and his ancestry is yet to be elucidated. Ken Whitney, Silver Spring, MD

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