EAGLE MASTHEAD DISCHARGE FOR 7TH PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES SOLDIER

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Item Code: 770-10

This is the standard often encountered eagle masthead discharge given to a soldier at the time of his discharge from the Army. This particular document is for Henry Witman of Company C, 7th Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps also known as the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry. This document was given to Witman in camp in Virginia on November 2, 1863 when he was discharged and then re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer.

The document is pre-printed and filled in with ink that is clear and legible. There is some light staining scattered here and there but nothing really that noticeable. There are two horizontal and three vertical fold lines. Just to the right of the eagle is a large period stamp saying noting “commutation of rations while a prisoner of war.”

Henry Harry Whitman (spelled Witman in the records) was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania on July 12, 1840. He enlisted as a Private in Company C, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves (36th Pa.) on May 27, 1861. The regiment saw its first major action on the Peninsula as part of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. They were engaged at Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Charles City Cross Roads and White Oak Swamp. After the Peninsula they were assigned to the 3rd Corps of Pope’s Army of Virginia and saw action at 2nd Bull Run. After that campaign they returned to the Army of the Potomac and were assigned to the 1st Corps where they saw action at South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg.

In February of 1863 they were assigned to the 22nd Corps and the Defenses of Washington where they remained until 1864. It was during this time that Witman received the discharge offered here.

The regiment rejoined the 5th Corps for Grant’s Overland Campaign and fought at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. On May 31, 1864 Witman was transferred to the 190th Pennsylvania with whom he fought during the Petersburg and Appomattox campaigns. He was finally discharged on June 28, 1865.

After the war he returned to Lebanon where he died on May 24, 1912 and was buried in Covenant Greenwood Cemetery in Ebenezer, Pa.

Despite the discharge document mentioning prisoner of war rations the records consulted do not show Witman as being captured. Pulling his records from the Archives may reveal an interesting story.

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