Company Unknown
Blacksmith
Military Pension Forms: ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE - Washington, D.C., December 2, 1897
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 243725, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
From the Rolls on file in this Office that William P. Gilbert was enrolled and mustered into service as a Recruit on the 8th day of Dec. 1863, at Indianapolis, in the 8th Cav. (39th) Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co. L, of that Regiment, to which assigned for the months from enlistment to April 30, 1864, he is reported Blacksmith - Present and so reported to Feb. 28, 1865, March and April, 1865, Prisoner of War since March 9, 1865*. He was stationed at Durham's Station, NC May 2, 1865. No evidence that he was in action March 9, 1865, May and June, 1865 Parole Camp - Camp Chase Ohio. He mustered out on Det. HQ Roll June 9, 1865 at Camp Chase Ohio. Co. and Reg. Books furnish no evidence of Hernia in August 1864 as alleged.
Prisoner of War - records show him captured at Fayetteville, North Carolina March 1865, paroled at Boulwares and Coxes Wharf, Virginia, March 30, 1865 sent from Camp Parole, Maryland to Camp Chase, Ohio March 1865, arrived there April 5, 1865, and was mustered out June, 1865. No evidence of disability as alleged. Signed O.W. Benjamin, Assistant Adjutant General.
NOTE: He requested increase in pension due to illness/injury in the form of 'Double Hernia (from 'shoeing vicious horses'), chronic diarrhoea and skin disease contracted in camp near Nashville, Tennessee in 1865.' He requested increase of pension from $4/month to $24/month.
According to Affidavit of J.K. Story, testifying that William was inflicted with illness and injuries while in the service, he states William was captured 'at a place called Solomon's Grove in North Carolina on March 10, 1865.'