Person:William Downey (4)

William was a farmer.

He enlisted in Gibson County on December 7, 1863, as a private in the 120th Regiment of Company D for the Union side. He was described as 18 years old, 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches tall, with fair complexion and light colored hair. And it says he was born in Posey County, Indiana. He was paid $60.60 for a three-year bounty. Albert Knowles signed him in. He was mustered in at Vincennes on January 8, 1864.

He was given "Slop/Enfield Bayonet, gun sling and tompion."

He was mustered out in Raleigh, North Carolina on January 8, 1866, and was last paid on October 31, 1865. His clothing account due was $41.95 and bounty paid was $220; with due $80. He was honorably discharged at Raleigh, North Carolina on January 8, 1866.

On June 2, 1878, in his Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, William said "That while...in the service and in the line of duty near Atlanta, Georgia, on or about July 22, 1864, became very much overheated during the engagement with the evening on that day from which he became sick resulting in dysentery that he has never recovered from said disease, but has suffered continuously with the same ever since rendering him unable to labor a greater portion of the time." "He was treated at the regimental hospital only never having been sent away from command." Sheldon H. Shopsaugh, a practicing physician, swore on July 8, 1879, that he was treating William for Chronic Dysentery prescribing for him between the years 1866 and 1873. John M. Neely, late Surgeon of the 120th Regiment, Indiana Infantry Volunteers, swore on August 21, 1879, that "on the 22nd day of July 1864 near Atlanta, Georgia, he became overheated, resulting in Dysentery which assumed a chronic form." John M. Ireland, a practicing physician, swore on April 13, 1881, the he was the family's physician and that William had never had any symptoms of Chronic Dysentery. On April 16, 1884, Adjutant General's Office wrote that "No evidence of alleged disability. Regimental Hospital records are not on file."

On February, 1890, in the matter of Increase of Pension Claim Cert 308551. William swore' that he feels that the Board of Surgeons at Princeton, IN in their examination February 13, 1889, done him a great injustice in their report. That he is drawing all he is entitled to under the law and in order that he may have an opportunity to correct this injustice he would ask for a reconsideration of his claim and would ask to be examined before the Board of Surgeons at Petersburgh, IN (the next nearest board) with a view to ascertain whether he has had Justice done him, he would ask for an order for Examination at Once. [Martin L. Deweese was the Justice of the Peace.]

On October 19, 1912, No. 308,551 Pension Certificate of William T. Downey "is entitled to a pension at the rate of $17 per month to commence May 22, 1912."

He died February 21, 1913.