The records I've seen report him mustered in on two different days--I wonder whether that's related to the reports that he was a deserter. They also report two different results of the court martial (transferring and dropping). I will get a copy of the court-martial record, hoping to find out what really happened. Until I receive that, I'll leave the somewhat inconsistent information I have here.
He was born in 1836/37, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: date: 13 (27 in 1864). place: 13]
When he enlisted, he was a paperhanger. [source: 13 (some rolls report him a tinsmith, but his own statement (image 2) claims he's a paperhanger).]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had hazel eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion. [source: 13 (also reported as 5'7" tall, reddish hair)]
On 2 March 1864, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he enlisted, and was mustered into service as a private in company I of the 91st Pennsylvania. Alex E Hark [?] was the examining surgeon who certified that he was able to perform a soldier's duties. [source: 13 (also reported as 27 Mar 64)]
He is listed on a muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of US volunteers forwarded for the 91st, dated 2 March 1864, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He apparently had some connection to Upper Makefield Township, Bucks Conty, Pennsylvania--perhaps that is where his enlistment was credited. [source: 13]
On 11 March 1864, he was reported gained by enlistment. But the consolidated morning report claims that $30 was to be deducted from his pay, because he had been apprehended as a deserter. [source: 3]
On 12 March 1864, he was reported under arrest. [source: 4]
On 19 March 1864, Lieutenant Colonel Sinex asked that Buckley be released from arrest, because he could not get proof that Buckley had enlisted in four different regiments, as the descriptive roll sent to him claimed. [source: 2]
He was mustered into service on 27 March 1864. He was a private in company I. [sources: 1, 10, 11, 12]
He is listed on a muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of US volunteers forwarded for the 91st Pennsylvania, dated 31 March 1864, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was due $300 in bounty. [source: 13]
On 10 April 1864, he was reported deserted, at Warrenton Junction. On 9 June 1864, he was reported gained from desertion. He was apparently charged with desertion on the May-June muster roll. [sources: 1 (17 Apr 65), 5, 6, 7 (17 Apr 64), 13 (17 Apr)]
On the March-April 1864 company muster roll, he was reported '[d]eserted while in arrest Apl. 10 /64'. [source: 13]
He is listed on two descriptive list of deserters, one dated 1 May 1864, Ingalls Station, Virginia, and another dated 31 May 1864, Camp near Petersburg, Virginia, which also reported that he had '[s]ince joined from desertion'. [source: 13]
On the May-June 1864 company muster roll, he was reported under arrest, in Philadelphia. He was due $110 in bounty, and pay since his enlistment; he owed the US $60 for his apprenension and delivery as a deserter. [source: 13]
He was tried by court martial in June 1864, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 9]
According to the regimental records, he was dropped on 12 August 1864 by order of court martial, general order 39 headquarters Department of Susquehanna 16 July [?] 1864. [source: 8]
On the July-August 1864 company muster roll, he was reported transferred, by order of the general court martial, to work on the fortifications of Washington DC. He also forfeited all pay and allowances due him at present or in future, starting 6 August 1864. [source: 13 (citing GO 39 HQ Dept of the Susquehanna)]
When he left the regiment, he was a private, in company I. [sources: 10, 11, 12]
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 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 19 March 1864 (Harry Buckly)
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 11 March 1864 (Henry Buckley)
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 12 March 1864 (Buckly)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 10 April 1864 (Buckley)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 9 June 1864 (Harry Buckley)
7 company I, register of deserters (Henry Buckly)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 12 August 1864 (Henry Buckley)
9 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (Harry Buckley)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Harry Buckley)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Henry Buckley)
12 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Harry Buckly)
13 compiled service record, I 91 PA (Harry Buckley)
[requested information about ordering a copy of the court martial record, 6 July 2015]
I, Harry Buckley born in Phila in the State of Penna aged 27 years, and by occupation a Paper Hanger DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this Second day of March 1864, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I Harry Buckley do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have carefully examined the above-named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that, in my opinion, he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would in any way disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer H. Buckley previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgment and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service. This soldier has Hazel eyes, Brown hair, Light complexion, is 5 feet 7 1/2 inches high.
Capt S StretchI, Harry Buckley, desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of THREE YEARS, Do Declare, That I am 27 years and - months of age; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentence of a court martial, or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for three years.