He was born in 1844/45, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: date : 2 (19 in 1864), 4 (19 in 1864). place: 2, 4]
When he enlisted, he was a brickmaker and was living in Adams County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 2, 4]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a light complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 2, 4]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 22 March 1864, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was mustered in as a private, in company F. He received the local bounty. His enlistment was credited to Hamilton Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 4]
He was listed on a muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of US volunteers forwarded for the 91 Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, dated Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 22 March 1864. [source: 4]
He was not listed on any company muster rolls, or on the muster-out roll. [sources: 1, 4]
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) (James Coo)
2 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 30 May 2005 (James Coo)
3 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Coo)
4 compiled service records, F 91 Pennsylvania infantry (James Coo)
I, James Coo born in Philadelphia in the State of Penna aged Nineteen years, and by occupation a Brickmaker DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this twenty-second day of March 1864, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers And I, James Coo do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have carefully examined the above-named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that, in my opinion, he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would in any way disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.
S.t CharltonI CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, Coo, previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgment and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service. This soldier has Brown eyes, Dark hair, Light complexion, is five feet eight inches high.
I, James Coo desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of THREE YEAR, Do Declare, That I am Nineteen years and - months of age; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentence of a court martial, or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for three years.
GIVEN at Harrisburg Pa the 22d day of March 1864