He was born in 1842/43 (3 (18 in 1861), 5 (18 in 1861)). He was born in New York, New York, USA (5).
When he enlisted, he was a newsboy (5).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (5).
He was enlisted and mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 2 October 1861 (1, 3 [3 Oct], 5). He was enlisted for three years (3, 5). He was mustered in as a private, in company F (1, 3, 7).
He was discharged at camp in the field on 7 February 1863 on surgeon's certificate of disability (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). He was a private, in company F (7).
On 6 April 1863, he applied successfully for a pension (6, 8).
On 16 June 1890, his widow, Emily Murphy, applied successfully from New York for a pension (6, 8).
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)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 8 February 1863 (John Murphy)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 15 July 2004 (John Murphy)
4 company F, register of men discharged (John Murphy)
5 company F, descriptive roll, #19 (John Murphy)
6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (John Murphy)
7 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Murphy)
8 pension index, by name (John Murphy)