He was born in 1836/37 (3 (24 in 1861)).
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 20 December 1861 (1, 3, 4). He was enlisted for three years, by Captain Keyser (3, 4). He was mustered in as a private, in company C (1, 3, 5).
He deserted on 20 or 21 January 1862, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1 [20 Jan], 2 [21 Jan], 3 [20 Jan], 4 [21 Jan]). The company C register of deserters reports his "whereabouts [were] not known" (2). He was a private, in company C (5).
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 Knichner)
2 company C, register of deserters, number 3 (John Knichner ['h' could be 'k'])
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 15 July 2004 (John Knichner; rolls have 'Kincher', also 'Kinchner')
4 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 117 (James Kinckner)
5 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Kinckner)