William T. Whitney

Company D, 18th Michigan Infantry

William T. Whitney born 17Dec1838. Hopewell Twp., Ontario Co., NY, and died 24April1899, Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co., MI.      Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, in Co. D, 18th Mich. Vol. Inf., Capt. C. B. Van  Valer. He served with his regiment in all the service for which it was detailed and was in action  in several skirmishes. He was in the detachment which left Decatur, AL on Sept. 24, 1864, to  reinforce the garrison at Athens, AL. The command included 231 officers and men. When within  two miles of Athens [Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle] they were attacked by a rebel force under  Gen. Forrest, and, after five hours' desperate fighting and pushing toward the fortifications at  Athens, they surrendered, as the fort was in the possession of the rebels. A few of the command  escaped, the remainder were captured, killed, or wounded. Mr. Whitney was among the latter and  received four gunshot wounds in his right leg, abdomen, right fore-arm and left lower leg. He  was wholly disabled and was finally discharged from Harper's Hospital, Detroit, May 2, 1865,  when he returned to Hillsdale County. MI

 

Submitted by Lawrence Scovotto

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