Military Pension Files for Private John Saunders a.k.a. William Gibson, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. D. Special Examination by A.J. Green. Deposition A of William Gibson. p. 16

Transcription 5 of 5:

A: Well, now, it seems to me I recalled it when we came out of the battle they called it Honey Hill but I learned it later as Bunker Hill. That comrade I made affidavit for and who told me it was Bunker Hill instead of Honey Hill was Hezekiah Stewart of Hedges, Ohio.

--(cont'd on p. 17)--

Transcription 4 of X:

Q[uestion]: How did you recall it was Bunker Hill?

A[nswer]: Well, I found out from one of my comrades. I made affidavit for him and put it Honey Hill and he wrote back: "You made a mistake there comrade - you put it Honey Hill when it was Bunker Hill."

[researcher note: perhaps his comrade was thinking of the Battle of Boykin's Mills? It was a relatively small conflict towards the end of the war and would not have been repeated as often as Bunker Hill by interested parties. The 54th didn't engage at Bunker Hill.]

Q[uestion]: If you were never in a battle called Honey Hill how did you know any thing about such a battle and why did you put it in your said affidavit for your said comrade?

Transcription 3 of 5:

Incurrence of wounds

I made a mistake when I told you I was wounded at battle of Honey Hill, S.C. After you went away last night I was thinking it over and I found out I was wounded at Bunker's Hill, S.C. - don't know day, month, o year - my head was not right yesterday and I told you wrong. I was not in any battle called Honey Hill, S.C.

[researcher note: I'm pretty sure Gibson did remember right and he was at Honey Hill, and it was his comrade who corrected him that confused.]

Transcription 2 of X:

Bunkmates - Tentmates - Messmates

My bunkmates in service in Co. D, 54" Mass. Vols. were Charles Robinson and Tom [TBD] - the latter is dead, and I don't know where Robinson is. Also George Johnson was a bunkmate.

--(cont'd from p. 15)--

Transcription 1 of X:

DEPOSITION A con[tinued]

Case of William Gibson alias John Sanders, No. 648,529.

On this Tenth day of March, 1899, at Hanover, County of Jefferson, State of Indiana, before me, A.J. Green, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared William Gibson alias John Sanders (colored), who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says, in continuation of his deposition of the 9th instant, as follows:

See also Special Examination Index

Public domain military record

National Archives Catalog #300020. "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934."

National Archives retrieval courtesy of American Origins, LLC

Fee provided by J.M.

Photo editing and transcription by K Raymoure