He was born in 1837/38, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 3 (26 in 1863), 9 (23 in 1861). place: 3, 9]
Before enlisting, he worked as a laborer at various jobs, drove a cart, and assisted in a manufacturing establishment. He earned $10 to $12 per week, which he always gave to his mother. [source: 15]
In 1860, he was living in ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with Catherine (presumably his mother), and John and James McNulty (presumably siblings), along with another family. He was a laborer. [source: 18]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 3, 9]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 3, 9 (5'8", dark complexion, gray eyes, brown hair)]
Perhaps he also served in the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry. (Could he have been assigned to them temporarily after he returned from deserting?) [source: 19]
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private in company E on 4 September 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 1, 9, 19]
In the 1861 election, he was part of a group taken to vote by Alderman Lentz, apparently on Dickerson Street, between Seventh and Eighth, in the Eighth Precinct, First Ward. [source: 14]
He deserted on 21 August 1862, at Alexandria Virginia. On 13 March 1683, he returned to duty under the president's proclamation. He was first present with the regiment on 24 March 1863. [sources: 4, 8]
He fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 5]
He re-enlisted for three years, as a veteran volunteer, at Bealton Virginia, on 24 December 1863. He was mustered in on 26 December 1863. He was enrolled by Lieutenant Carpenter, and mustered into service by Lieutenant Swann (this may relate to his original enlistment). [sources: 1, 3, 15]
On 1 March 1864, Colonel Gregory detached him to collect conscripts, at Philadelphia. [source: 6]
He was killed in action on 18 June 1864 at Petersburg Virginia, by being shot in the throat while charging the enemy's works. He was a private, in company E. He was buried on 23 November 1864, in Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 15, 19]
On 26 January 1865, company E published resolutions mourning his death (and fifteen others), and sympathizing with their families. [source: 11]
On 11 August 1864, his mother, Catharine McNulty, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension, under the Act of 14 July 1862. She was 45 years old, and her post office address was 831 Dickerson Street, Philadelphia. [sources: 12, 15, 16]
In December 1875, the Pension Office told the pension agent to suspend payment of Catharine McNulty's pension. This was presumably because her attorneys, Joseph E Devitt & Company, did not execute the documents properly (see pension fraud). On 24 January 1876, they told the pension agent to resume payment. [source: 15]
On 14 May 1882, Catharine McNulty died, at 1424 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died of apoplexy. She was 76 years old, and had been born in Ireland. On 17 May 1882, she was buried, in Cathedral Cemetery. She was dropped from the pension rolls on 30 July 1883. [sources: 15, 17]
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 list of deaths, company E
3 descriptive roll, company E, entry 61 (Barney McNulty)
4 register of deserters, company E, entry 9
5 Pennsylvania Memorial, 91st Pennsylvania plaque, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Barney McNulty)
6 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
7 special order 13, HQ 91st PA, 1 March 1864
8 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 24 March 1863 (Barney McNulty)
9 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 6 May 2004 (Barney McNulty)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 29 June 1864 (Private McNulty)
11 'Headquarters company E', Philadelphia Inquirer 26 January 1865 page 5 (Barney McNulty)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (Bernard McNulty)
13 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 18 June 1864 (Barney McNulty)
14 'The Sheriff contested election case', Philadelphia Press Monday 23 June 1862 page 4 (Barney McNulty)
15 dependent's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate WC 37562 (Catharine McNulty, mother of Bernard McNulty)
16 pension index, by name, 91st PA Infantry, company E (Bernard McNulty)
17 death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 14 May 1882, Catharine McNulty (not transcribed; see FamilySearch)
18 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, precinct 8, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 421 = 161 handwritten (Barney McNulty)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Barney McNulty)
| line | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 |
| Dwelling number | 1160 | |||||||
| Family number | 1332 | |||||||
| Name | Catherine McNulty | Barney " | John " | James " | James McLoughlin | Michael " | Nancy " | James " |
| Age | 40 | 21 | 16 | 14 | 50 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| Sex | f | m | m | m | m | m | f | m |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation | Laborer | " " | " " | " " | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||||||
| Place of birth | Ireland | Penna | " | " | Ireland | Penna | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||||
| Cannot read & write | 1 | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |