He was born in 1828/29 (8 (32 in 1861), 9 (35 in 1863)). He was born in Antrim [?], Ireland (8 [Antroro?], 9).
When he enlisted, he was a labor[er] (8, 9).
He may be the brother of William McCoy (see the 1910 census for William).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 11-1/2 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair (8, 9).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 14 October 1861 (1, 8). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Sinex (8). He was mustered in service by Captain Sinex (8). He was a private in company F (1, 15-16).
He was transferred on 4 December 1861 to company D (1, 10).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (12).
Beginning 13 August 1863, he was under arrest (5). On 12 August 1863, McCoy had found an order for four pounds of sugar, four loaves of bread, and one pound of coffee from the commissary, signed by 2nd Lieutenant Theodore Snyder (K) (13). He showed his tentmate Thomas Taylor the order, and Taylor gave him one dollar--enough money to buy the goods (13). In return, Taylor was to one half of the goods (13). Taylor later testified that McCoy had purchased goods for himself in the past (13).
He was tried by a general court martial, which included two officers from the 91st Pennsylvania (Lieutenant Colonel J H Sinex and Captain F H Gregory) (13, 14). The trial occurred on 20 August 1863 (13, 14). He was charged with forging an order, in that on 12 August 1863 he brought on order to purchase subsistance stores, with a forged signature of T A Snyder, 2nd lieutenant, company K (13). The order read:
August 12th 63 Commisary 3rd Brigade will furnish the bearer with the following articles for my own use 4 lbs sugar 4 loaves bread 1 lb coffee T A Snyder 2nd Lieut Co K 91st P V
McCoy pled guilty to presenting the order, but not guilty to forging the order (13). He was found not guilty of forging the order, but guilty of fradulently attempting to obtain goods from the Brigade Commissary for his own use (13). He was initially sentenced to forfeit $5 per month of his pay, for two months, and to work at hard labor for 6 hours per day for 30 days, without being excused from his other duties (13). However, the court reconsidered his sentence, meeting on 23 August 1863 (13). They decided to sentence him to forfeit $10 per month of his pay for three months, and to carry a 30-pound log six hours a day for thirty days, without being excused from other duties (13).
On 3 September 1863, the regiment ordered the sentence to be carried out (2). He was still reported under arrest on 5 September 1863, but not on 6 September 1863 (6, 7).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863 (1, 9). He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan (9).
On 15 April 1864, he was one of seven men in the regimental pioneer corps (3). He was probably still there in September (?) 1864 (4).
On 3 August 1864, he was a brigade pioneer (11).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1). He was a private, in company D (15-16).
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 special order 72, HQ 91st PA, 3 September 1863
3 general order 8, HQ 91st PA, 15 April 1864
4 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (John McCoy [?]; can't read date of detail)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 13 August 1863 (John McCoy)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 5 September 1863 (not named)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 6 September 1863 (not named)
8 company D, descriptive roll, entry 16 (John McCoy)
9 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 46 (John McCoy)
10 company F, register of men transferred (John McKay)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 3 August 1864 (John McCoy)
12 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (John McCoy)
13 record, general court martial, 23 August 1863, Army of the Potomac, 5th Corps, Garrard's Brigade (John McCoy)
14 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (John McCoy; 2 entries, same date)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John McKay)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John McCoy)
2 A General Court Martial is hereby appointed to meet in the Camp of Brig General Garrards [sic] Brigade on Wednesday the 19th day of August 1863 at 10 oclock AM or as soon thereafter as practicable for the trial of such officers and enlisted men as may be brought before it
Detail for the Court| 1 | Colonel D. T. Jenkins | 146 New York Vols |
| 2 | Lieut Col J. H. Cain | 155 Penna Vols |
| 3 | Lieut Col J. H. Sinex | 91 Penna Vols |
| 4 | Major J. F. Force | 140 New York Vols |
| 5 | Captain Elwell S. Otis | 140 New York Vols |
| 6 | Captain J. A. Cline | 155 Penna Vols |
| 7 | Captain F. H. Gregory | 91 Penna Vols |
| 8 | Lieut W. A. Walker | 146 New York Vols |
| 1st Lieut J. B. Cushman Judge Advocate | 146 New York Vols |
The Court will sit without regard to hours.
The proceedings in the case of Private John McCoy Co. D. 91st Penn Vols were then taken up.
Present all the members of the Court who were present at the trial. After reconsideration of the evidence adduced the Court do sentence him the said private John McCoy Co. D. 91" Pa Vols to forfeit (10) ten dollars per month of his monthly pay for (3) three months and to carry a log weighing (30) thirty pounds (6) six hours a day for (30) days under charge of the guard and not to be excused from other duties.
David T. Jenkins2 A General Court Martial is hereby appointed to meet in the Camp of Brig General Garrard's Brigade on Wednesday the 19th day of August 1863 at 10. o'clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as practicable for the trial of sutch [sic] officers and enlisted men as may be brought before it.
Detail for the Court| 1 | Colonel D. T. Jenkins | 146th New York Vols |
| 2 | Lieut Col J. H. Cain | 155th Penna Vols |
| 3 | Lieut Col J. H. Sinex | 91st Penna Vols |
| 4 | Major J. F. Force | 140th New York Vols |
| 5 | Captain Elwell S. Otis | 140th New York Vols |
| 6 | Captain J. A. Cline | 155th Penna Vols |
| 7 | Captain F. H. Gregory | 91st Penna Vols |
| 8 | Lieut W. A. Walker | 146 New York Vols |
| [page 15] | ||
| #2 | ||
| 1st Lieut J. B. Cushman Judge Advocate | 146 New York Vols | |
The Court will sit without regard to hours.
The Court meet [sic] pursuant to the above order and adjournment, at 10 A.M.
PresentThe prisoner John McCoy Co. D. 91st Penna Vols was then brought into Court, and having heard the Special order Convening the Court read, was asked if he had any objection to be tried by any of the members named therein, to which he replied in the negative. The Court was then duly sworn by the Judge Advocate and the Judge Advocate duly sworn by the Presiding officer of the court in the presence of the Prisoner who was then arraigned, and tried on the ['following' is erased here] viz
Commisary 3rd Brigade will furnish the bearer with the following articles for my own use 4 lbs sugar 4 loaves bread 1 lb coffee
T A SnyderThomas Taylor was then called on behalf of the prosecution and being duly sworn testified as follows.
I am a member of Co. D. 91st Pa Vols. I know the prisoner is a member of the same Regiment. I saw the prisoner have the Order but do not know how he came by it. I was a tent mate of his at that time. When he brought the order in he told me it was good at the Commissary but had not got money enough to buy the Articles. I gave him
one dollar to pay for them. I was to have one half of the goods purchased. I went over to the Commissary with the prisoner.
(Question by the Court) Did you write the order.
(Ans) I did not.
Question by the Court Did you ever know the prisoner to purchase goods on an officers [sic] order for himself
(Ans) (I have)
Question by the Court. Did he show you the order and ask you to read it before he went over to the Commissary.
(Ans) No, he did not.
Lt. Col J. H. Sinex 91st Pa Vols. was then called on the [sic] prosecution and being duly sworn testified as follows.
I am Lieut Col. of the 91st Reg't Penna Vols. Lieut. Snyder
is an officer in the same Regiment. he has been absent from the Regiment since July 22d 1863 He has not been present in this camp at Beverly House Va.
The annexed order numbered A is the one presented by the prisoner at the Commissary.
The prisoner being shown the order admitted it was the one presented at the Commissary on the 12" day of August 1863. (The order was then read.)
The case for the prosecution here closed. The prisoner was then asked if he had any witnesses to which he replied he had not, and then made the following statement to the Court. I picked up this piece of Paper to light my pipe and looking at it I saw it was an order on the Commissary. I took it in to my tent mate and showed it to him and he gave me money to buy the goods with. I went out to the Coms
and was placed under arrest as soon as I had presented it I did not get any goods.
The case was then closed and the Court cleared and after mature deliberation upon the evidence adduced find the prisoner as follows:
And the Court do therefore sentence him private John McCoy Co. D, 91st Pa. Vols. to forfeit ($5.00) five dollars per month for 2 months and to work at hard labor for 6 hours per day for (30) days under charge of the guard and not to be excused from other duties.
David T. Jenkins