He was born in 1835/36 (3 (24 in 1861)).
He enlisted and was mustered into service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 3 October 1861 (1, 3 [10 Nov]). He was a private in company D (1, 3, 4).
He deserted at Camp Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 26 January 1862 (1, 3) or 8 October 1861 (2). He was a private, in company D (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) (John Geil)
2 company D, register of deserters (John Geil)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 9 August 2004 (John Geil; roll has 'John Giel')
4 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Geil)