He was born in 1841/42 (3 (19 in 1861), 7 (19 in 1861)). He was born in Cape May County, New Jersey (7).
When he enlisted, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had a light complexion, hazel eyes, and dark hair (7).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 24 September 1861 (1, 3, 6, 7). He was enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 7). He was mustered in at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 3). He had gun number 68 (5) or rifle number 19 (7). He was a private, in company D (1, 10, 11).
He was transferred to company H on 31 October 1861 (1, 2, 3, 6).
He was promoted to corporal (3, 5, 6).
He died of smallpox, in Washington DC, on 22 May 1862 (1--the co.H entry records this date and 26 May, 3 [26 May], 4 [22 May], 5 [22 May], 7 [no date]). He was a corporal, in company H (10, 11). He was buried in the "Mil Asy Cem'y" (1).
On 6 February 1883, his father, Silas Charmelia, applied successfully for a pension (8, 9).
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) (Silas Charmelia)
2 company D, register of men transferred, entry 4 (Silas Charmelia)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 27 July 2004 (Silas Charmelia)
4 company H, register of deaths (Silas Charmelia)
5 company H, list of non-commissioned officers (Silas Charmelia)
6 company H, register of men transferred (Silas Charmelia)
7 company H, descriptive roll, #19 (Silas Charmelia)
8 pension index, by name (Silas Charmelia)
9 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (Silas Charmelia)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Silas Carmelia)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Silas Charmelia)