He was born in Carlisle, England (8). He was 21 years old when he was enlisted (8, 9, 11 [25 at death in 1864]).
He was a soapmaker when he was enlisted (8, 9 [perfumer]).
He was 5 feet 8-1/2 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair (8, 9).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 14 or 19 November 1861 (1, 8 [14 Nov], 9 [19 Nov]). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant (?) G Black (8, 9). He was mustered in company H, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 9). He had rifle number 44 (8).
He was promoted to sixth corporal on 20 May 1862 [?], replacing Silas Charmelia (7, 9).
On 8 August 1862, he was Corporal of the Guard at slave pen in Alexandria, Virginia, on the day that E Carroll Brewster was arrested for being drunk on duty (11). He later testified that Brewster was drunk, told men to go out for liquor, released prisoners who had been given to his charge that morning, and told the sergeant to release anyone else he wanted to (which the sergeant refused to do) (11).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (12). He and George S Philips briefly relieved William C Reiff and Jim Thompson from about midnight until 2 AM on 2 July, since Reiff and Thompson couldn't stay awake (14).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (9).
On 1 February 1864, he was promoted to fifth sergeant effective 1 January 1864 (3, 7, 9).
On 1 March 1864, Colonel Gregory detached him to collect conscripts, at Philadelphia (2). He returned from detached service on 16 April 1864 (5).
He was wounded in action on 18 June 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia (6, 8). He died 27 June 1864, of those wounds, at David's Island, New York (1, 6, 8, 9, 10 [reported 12 July], 11 [28 June]). He was a sergeant when he died (1). He was a fancy soap maker (11). He was married (11). On 3 July 1864, he was buried, in Union Harmny Ground [?], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11). He was buried from 2303 Jasper Street, 19th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11).
On 19 October 1864, his widow, Mary A B Whinna, applied successfully for a pension (13, 15).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
3 special order 6, HQ 91st PA, 1 February 1864
4 special order 13, HQ 91st PA, 1 March 1864
5 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 16 April 1864 (Sergt Whinna)
6 company H, register of deaths (Stephen Whinna)
7 company H, list of non-commissioned officers (Stephen Whinna [2 entries])
8 company H, descriptive roll, #73 (Stephen Whinna)
9 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 8 March 2005 (Stephen Whinna; rolls also have 'Winna')
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 12 July 1864 (Sergt Whinna)
11 court-martial record, E Carroll Brewster (Corporal Winna [sic])
12 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Stephen Whinna)
13 pension index, by name (Stephen G Whinna)
14 William C Reiff. 'Josie and I at Gettysburg'. Gettysburg Compiler 9 August 1911. (Jim)
15 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (Steven S Whinna)
16 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 28 June 1864 (Stephen Whinna)
[I did not find an entry for him in the Ancestry index to the 1890 veterans' census (searched April 2007)]
[I did not find an entry for him in Rootsweb WorldConnect (searched June 2007)]