The following is an excerpt from an inquiry the Society received about Major Whitcomb. If you have any information that
would be useful could you please forward it to  searsporthistoricalsociety.org



There are several people who have left brief messages on a website that shows the Major's grave in Searsport, and I
wonder if any of the names sound familiar to you.   I am thinking they have an interest in his history and might know
something about him.   They are Erik Lander, Barbara Barber, Ron Deary, Trisha W., and "Doc."   

I have received the Major's pension records from the National Archives and have learned that he was wounded in the
left elbow and the left hip (and I think it was probably from the same bullet).  Since there is no mention of amputation, my
guess is that he died from an infection of the wounds.   The records also indicate that he and his wife were married in
Prospect, Me, on August 28, 1842.   The did not have children.  Lavinia B. Whitcomb (nee Fowler) lived until July 20,
1898,  and received a pension of $25.00 per month due to the death of "Eben" in the service of the United States.   
There is no indication that she remarried.

There are a couple reasons that I am interested in researching the Major and writing an article (for "The Gettysburg
Magazine").   Being a student (albeit elderly) of the battle of Gettysburg and a collector of artifacts therefrom, I was
fortunate to acquire the sword of Ebenezer Whitcomb inscribed to him by the men of Company I of the 4th Maine
Volunteer Infantry (he was the original Captain of Co. I and was promoted to Major upon the death of Major Pitcher at
the battle of Fredericksburg).   Having this item, I of course wanted to find out what I could about the Major, and could
find very little in the available publications (e.g. "Maine at Gettysburg,"   "The Second Day at Gettysburg," and the books
by Peter Dalton).   The typical information merely consists of a mention that he was wounded and died later.    This may
be because the Colonel of the regiment was wounded at the same time, lived, and had a pretty good story to tell about
being captured after his wounding, having his sword taken from him by Confederates, and then being rescued by two of
his men.   I immediately felt the Major was getting short changed, especially since he actually died of his wounds.   I
think I have already uncovered more infomation about him than anyone else knows, and really want to document his
service and sacrifice.  The men of Company I, many or most of whom were from Searsport, thought enough of him to
honor him with a sword upon his promotion, so I think his story needs to be told.  Lastly, the 4th Maine's position on the
battlefield was very significant  and their execution of their duty was magnificent.

Information that I would like to have revolves around his life before entering the army....he was actually rather old to be
doing so(!)  and informaiton about his convalescence in Searsport prior to his death.

Again, any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated and acknowledged.