Alan J. Pitts
Located a couple of them...
Tue May 1 22:52:35 2001


Virginia Bennett received a widow's pension for her husband, William Mattison Bennett. She was born in Harris County, Georgia, about thirty miles from Columbus GA, July 4, 1836. They married on March 18, 1858. She lived in a community called McKenzie, and moved to Birmingham late in life. She died there on Oct. 19, 1919.

W. M. ("Mat") Bennett was a member of new Company "C", 5th Alabama Infantry. He was paid while a patient at 2nd Alabama Hosptal, Richmond VA from January 21 to Feb. 14, 1863. He was paid $39.96 for service during the year 1862, beginning on Sept. 12th of that year. It left me wit the impression that Sept. 12th was his enlistment date, which would lead me to believe he was a conscript rather than a volunteer. Also, this was a Monroe County company, and he lived in Butler County, another bit of evidence. Here are a few organizational notes on that command:

Old Company “D” of Monroe County, “Monroe Guards”

Capt. Giles Goode. Died of typhoid fever at Sangster’s Crossroads, Virginia, September 25, 1861.
Capt. William Kilpatrick. Elected Captain October 1, 1861. Discharged after a twelve-month term.
Capt. Thomas M. Riley. Elected Captain April 27, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1863, and Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 2, 1864. Surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, April 9, 1865.

Member were accepted in state service at Pineville, Alabama, March 15, 1861. On April 28, 1862, those wishing to remain with the command reorganized under the Conscript Act as Company “C”, others transferring to Company “D”, 2nd Alabama Artillery Battalion.

He was admitted to Wayside and Receiving Hospital at Richmond VA March 30, 1863, and forwarded to Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 the following day. The note on the hospital register says he was "very ill when admitted". He died there of pneumonia on April 9, 1863. He had $54 on his body at that time.

Mrs. Bennett did not remarry, and was therefore eligible for a state pension.

Looking at the 1860 census for Butler County, it appears that at least some of the people you mentioned lived there at that time. I saw the Thomas Bennett household, as well as William A.? and T. B. Bennett. Sons of Thomas appeared to be "C" or "G" Bennett, Jo. Bennett, and H. Bennett, age 11. Neighbors included Thomas Dewberry and G. W. T. Wynn. There didn't appear to be a Robert Stewart or Steward in Butler County. Do you know where the others lived in 1860?

Thomas Dewberry also applied for a pension. He joined Co. "C", 33rd Alabama. Here are some notes on that Company:

Company “C” of Butler County, “Butler County Light Infantry”

Capt. James Hilliard Dunklin. Appointed Major August [23,] 1862, to rank August 19, 1862; official appointment dated July 10, 1863.
Capt. William Elijah Dodson. Promoted Captain August 23, 1862, to rank August 19, 1862. Wounded at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. Killed near Marietta, Georgia, June 23, 1864.
Capt. Charles S. Linthicum. Promoted Captain June 23, 1864. Paroled at Montgomery, Alabama, May 22, 1865.

Officers and men enrolled at Greenville, Alabama, March 1, 1862, mustering in Confederate service on March 10, 1862. Survivors united with others from Companies “D” and “H” to form Company “B”, consolidated 17th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

He applied on October 20, 1909, while living at Georgianna, Ala. The widow's name was Callie. He died on Dec. 29, 1917. It appears that at least two people wrote the ADAH in Montgomery about him: Mrs. Valerie Grant of Oklahoma City OK, May 5, 1946, and Mrs. Eunice S. Clark of Davisville, FL, March 22, 1983.

THere are records for a T. B. and Joseph Bennett who enrolled in Co. "E", 15th Confederate Cavalry. This was a Florida company. Nothing on a D. D. Bennett; no other pension records that seemed to be matches for your people.