Archive:Civil War Pension File, Alfred Whitney
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Civil War Pension File of Alfred Whitney
Invalid Applic. # 20414 Cert. # 13773
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
He is identified as Alfred7 Whitney of Sebago and Gorham, Maine, the son of Adams6 and Lydia A. (Lombard) Whitney of Standish, Maine (Isaac5, Isaac4, Nathaniel3, Benjamin2, John1).
Private, Company A, 5th Maine Infantry
Alfred Whitney signed a Declaration for Invalid Pension from Cumberland County, Maine on 11 March 1863. He is thirty-six years old and a resident of Sebago, Cumberland Co., Maine. He was a private in Company A commanded by Captain Pillsbury in the 5th Regiment of Maine Volunteers, commanded originally by Colonel Jackson. He entered the service at Portland, Maine on 24 June 1861, to serve three years. He was honorably discharged at Harewood Hospital, Washington, D.C. on 22 January 1863. While in the service and in his line of duty at Harrison's Landing, Virginia in August of 1862, he was attacked with severe diarrhea accompanied by rheumatism. This was a result of fatigue, labor, and exposure during the seven days of battles on that peninsula. He was sent to Mill Creek Hospital near Fort Monroe for treatment, and remained there two months. He again joined his regiment at Bakersville, Maryland in the last of October or first of November. He was unable to perform his duties because his disease had become chronic and disabling. He was returned to Harewood Hospital about 2 January 1863, and was discharged from there on 22 January 1863 with a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability. Since his discharge he has resided at Sebago, but he is unable to resume any occupation. Witnessing the declaration are James H. Milliken of Baldwin and William S. Elden of Gorham.
Alfred provided a certificate of his service from Captain Samuel Pillsbury, who commanded Company A. It is dated 12 April 1863. Captain Pillsbury substantiates Alfred's statement concerning his service record, and adds some additional facts. He states that Alfred is described as 32 years of age, and is 5 feet 10 ¼ inches tall, with dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, and was by occupation a carpenter before he enrolled in the army. He had been born in Standish, Maine. Alfred's Army Certificate of Disability for Discharge contains information consistent with that given by Captain Pillsbury.
Alfred was originally pensioned at four dollars per month. He lived in Sebago for about two years and then removed to Gorham, Maine. His pension was reduced to two dollars per month in 1871 as a result of a physical examination. However, he applied numerous times thereafter for increases in benefits, which were granted, as his rheumatism resulted in heart disease.
In 1898, Alfred responded to an inquiry from the Bureau of Pensions. He answers that he has no wife, or children under the age of twenty-one years.
On 9 February 1899 it was reported to the Commissioner of Pensions that Alfred Whitney was last paid at seventeen dollars per month to 4 December 1898, and has been dropped because of his death on 1 February 1899.
Note: Alfred had been married to Elizabeth S. Wentworth of Sebago. She must have died before 1898. They had four children. His son Clarence E. Whitney was a witness on one of his applications for increased benefits. (KLW)
Copyright © 2007, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group
