He was born in 1825/26 (2 (35 in 1861), 4 (35 in 1861)). He was born in Tyrone County, Ireland (4).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 9-1/2 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair (2, 4). He had a scar over his right eye, and one across the bridge of his nose (4).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 12 October 1861 (1, 2, 4, 5). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Keyser (2, 4, 5). He was mustered in as a private, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2). He was a private in company B (1, 6, 7).
He was transferred to company C (1, 2).
He deserted at Alexandria, Virginia, on 1 September 1862 (1, 2, 5) or 31 September 1862 (3). (31 September may be the date he was reported deserted.) The company C register of deserters reports that his "whereabouts [were] not known" (3). He was a private, in company C (6, 7).
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) (William Cavenaugh)
2 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 27 June 2004 (Wm Cavenaugh)
3 company C, register of deserters, number 14 (William Cavenaugh)
4 company C, descriptive roll, entry 89 (William Cavenaugh)
5 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 108 (William Cavenaugh)
6 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Cavenaugh)
7 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Cavanagh)