91st PA: John Callahan

John Callahan

Note on identification

The military records include inconsistent information.

First, some records have John Callahan in company E, others in company I. For example, the consolidated morning report of 27 September 1863 has a private Calahan in company E, but the consolidated morning report of 14 December 1863 reports private Callahan of company I transferred to the Invalid Corps (later renamed to the Veterans' Reserve Corps). Bates claims he was transferred to company E on 19 August 1862. But the compiled service record reports him in company I until his transfer to the Veterans' Reserve Corps. And the indices to the pension records report only his service in company I.

Second, according to the compiled service record, he was transferred to the Veterans' Reserve Corp on 13 August 1863. But the company E descriptive roll reports him mustered into service as a veteran volunteer on 24 December 1863, and wounded in action at Bethesda Church, Virginia (on 1 June 1864)!

Because I don't know how to solve these problems, I've simply reported the data below.

Before the war

He was born in 1838/39, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [sources: date: 2 (25 in 1863), 8 (22 in 1861), 9 (38 in ?1878), 10 (40 in 1880). place: 2, 8, 9 (Ireland), 10 (Ireland)]

When he enlisted, he was a seaman, and was living in Philadelphia. [source: 2, 8]

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-3/4 inches tall, had a light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair. [sources: 2, 8 (5'6")]

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service on 25 October 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a private in company I. [sources: 1, 8, 11, 18, 19, 20 (4 December 1861, which is probably the date the company was officially mustered into the federal service)]

He is listed on the 17 September to 31 December 1861 company muster roll, but is not reported present or absent.

On the January-February, March-April, and May-June 1862 company muster rolls, he was reported present. [source: 20]

In August 1862, he was tried by court martial. He was tried for theft. He was sentenced to be publicly reprimanded by Colonel Gregory at dress parade, and to be confined for fourteen days with only bread and water for rations. (The sentence was to be carried out after he was discharged from hospital.) [sources: 13, 14]

On the 18 August 1862 special muster roll, he was reported present. [source: 20]

According to some records, he was transferred to company E on 19 August 1862. [sources: 1, 16]

On the 31 August 1862 and September-October 1862 company muster rolls, he was reported present. [source: 20]

On 13 December 1862, he was slightly wounded in the right side by a shell, at the Battle of Fredericksburg. [source: 20]

On the November-December 1862 and January-February 1863 company muster rolls, he was reported present. [source: 20]

On the 10 April 1863 Special muster roll, he was reported present. [source: 20]

On 3 May 1863, he was slightly wounded, at the Battle of Chancellorsville. [sources: 5 (see my note below), 12, 15 (hand), 20]

He is listed on the May-June 1863 Hospital muster roll of Satterlee USA General Hospital, West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was in Ward W. [source: 20]

He was initially listed on the plaque recording men who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, but his name was later deleted. [source: 16]

On the July-August 1863 Hospital Muster Roll for Satterlee USA General Hospital, West Philadelphia, Pennsylvnia, he is listed as a guard. He had last been paid to 28 February 1863. [source: 20]

He was at Camp Convalescent, Alexandria, Virginia, on 8 September 1863, when Lieutenant Colonel Sinex asked for his return. [source: 4]

On the 28 February to 10 May, 10 May to 30 June, and July-August 1863 company muster rolls, he was reported absent, wounded, in hospital--initially in the Division Hospital, and then at Washington DC. [source: 20]

On 19 August 1863, he was transferred to the first battalion of the Veterans' reserve corps, by general order 365, War Department. On 14 December 1863, the regiment reported him transferred to the Invalid Corps under general order 365. He was transferred to the Veterans' reserve corps, because he was unfit for field duty. He served for forty-one months. When he was transferred, he was a private. [sources: 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 18 (co. I), 19 (co. I), 20 (co.I)]

On 27 September 1863, he returned to duty. [source: 6]

On the September-October 1863 company muster roll, he was reported wounded in hospital, at Washington DC. On the September-October 186 Hospital muster roll of Satterlee USA General Hospital, West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was reported transferred. [source: 20]

On the November-December 1863 muster roll, he was reported wounded transferred to the Invalid Corps. [source: 20]

He re-enlisted for three years as a veteran volunteer, at Bealton Virginia, on 24 December 1863. [sources: 1, 2, 8 (26 Dec)]

He was wounded on 1 June 1864 at Bethesda Church (Cold Harbor, Virginia). [sources: 1, 2]

After the war

On 10 May 1867, he successfully applied for a pension. [sources: 11, 17]

On 27 December 1878, he was admitted to the National Soldiers Home. He had wounds in his right hand, and received a pension of $2 per month. [source: 9]

In 1880, he was living in the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home. He was disabled. [source: 10]

In 1882, he was present in the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home. [source: 9]

Sources

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 descriptive roll, company E, entry 93

3 register of men transferred, company E, entry 15 [no date, but cites order 365 of 1863]

4 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 8 Sep 1863

5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Private Calahan)
[This Private Calahan is in company I, but Bates lists no other Callahan's in co.I.]

6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 27 September 1863 (Private Calahan (co. E))

7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 14 December 1863 (Pri Jno Callahan (co.I))

8 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (John Callahan)

9 Annual report of the Board of Managers of the National Soldiers Home, 30 December 1882 [for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1882]. Serial Set volume 2115, session volume 1, 47th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 13, page 378 (John Callahan)

10 1880 US census, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, Hampton, National Home for Disables Vol. Soldiers, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 13, page 26B = 52 handwritten (John Callahan)

11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company I (John Callahan)

12 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (John Callahan)

13 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (John Callahan (I))

14 'From Washington' (Philadelphia Inquirer 25 September 1862, page 4) (John Callahan)

15 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 [see note on source 5 above] (John Callahan)

16 card, with the original version of the 91st PA plaque on the Pennsylvania memorial at Gettysburg (from the papers of William C Reiff; thanks to Susan Stickles!) (John Callahan)

17 pension index, by name (accessed 4 October 2013, on Ancestry) (John Callahan)

18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Callahan)

19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Galahan)

20 compiled service record, I 91 PA (John Callahan)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

Find a grave
searched for John Callahan or Calahan in Hampton National Cemetery (accessed 9 August 2015)
index to the compiled military service records
Fold3 index (checked for John Calahan/Callahan/O'Callahan in company E) (accessed 9 August 2015)
Pennsylvania veterans burial cards, 1777-2012
Ancestry index (accessed 9 August 2015)
records of headstones of deceased Union veterans, 1879-1903
FamilySearch index (accessed 9 August 2015)
headstone applications for US military veterans, 1925-1949
FamilySearch index (accessed 9 August 2015)

Display



John Callahan in the 91st PA database

1880 census

[1880 US census, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, Hampton, National Home for Disables Vol. Soldiers, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 13, page 26B = 52 handwritten]
line16
street name 
house number 
dwelling visit # 
family visit # 
nameCallahan John
colorW
sexM
age40
month born if born in year 
relationship 
single1
married 
widowed/divorced 
married during year 
occupation 
months unemployed 
currently ill?Disabled
blind 
deaf/dumb 
idiotic 
insane 
disabled 
school this year 
can't read 
can't write 
birthplaceIreland
father's birthplaceIreland
mother's birthplaceIreland

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 17 Mar 2014, from Fold3]


Callahan. John
Co. I, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
See also V.R.C.

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 2, transcribed 16 April 2014]

Galahan, John
Co. I, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Callahan, John

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

compiled service record

[compiled service record, I 91 PA, John Callahan]
[transcribed * August 2015, from 16 images, obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration]


[image 1]

398
x Callahan John
Co. I, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Private | Private
CARD NUMBERS.
1 22056326
2 22056423
3 22056496
4 22056570
5 22056635
6 22056690
7 22056745
8 22056787
9 22056827
10 22056865
11 22056889
12 22056920
13 22056944
14 22056971
15 22057012
16 22057672
17 33079941
18 33081214
19 33086809
[the rest of the card numbers are blank]
Number of personal papers herein 3
Book Mark: [blank]
See also V.R.C.


[image 2]

J. E. Nichol
exr


[image 3]

CASUALTY SHEET.
Name, John Calahan [sic]
Rank, Pvt, Company I, Regiment, 91"
Arm, Infty, State, Pa
Place of casualty, Fredericksburg.
Nature of casualty, Wd. in right side by a shell slightly
Date of casualty, Dec 13 1862.

FROM WHAT SOURCE THIS INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED.
Report of Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the - Regiment, 1" Brigade, 3" Division, 5" Corps, dated Dec 19 1862. Not signed Sig cannot be obtained index 9 no 13.

B. F. Hallowell
1-4-79. Clerk.


[image 4]

CASUALTY SHEET
OF WOUNDED.
John Calahan
Pvt Company "I"
91" Regiment of Pa Vols
Volunteers at the battle of Fredericksb'g
Dec 13 1862.


[image 5]


CASUALTY SHEET.
Name: John Callahan.
Rank: Private Company: I Regiment: 91st
Arm: Infty State Pa
Nature of Casualty: Slightly Wounded May 1863
Src [?] Nominal report of Casualties in 5th A.C. in operations on South bank of the Rappahannock River. (Maj Gen'l Geo G. Meade, Commanding.) 1st division. Brig. Gen'l Chas. Griffin, Comd'g.
See Index 17th No. 2. page 24.

Exr H. W. [??]

Theo J R Wood
Clerk.
11-26-86.


[image 6]

CASUALTY SHEET
No [blank]
John Callahan
Private of Company I.
91st Regiment of Pa. Infty.
State Volunteers.

NATURE OF CASUALTY.
Slightly Wounded
May 1863.


[image 7]

CASUALTY SHEET.
Name, John Callahan
Rank, Private, Company "I", Regiment, 91"
Arm, Infy., State, Penn.
Place of casualty, Chancellorsville
Nature of casualty, Wounded in hand slightly.
Date of casualty, May 3" 1863.

FROM WHAT SOURCE THIS INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED.
Report of Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the 1" Brigade, 3" Division, 5" Corps, in action of May 3" 1863, Sgd. A. A. Humphreys, Brig. Gen'l Comd'g Div.
Index 17 D No. 3
Index " " 2

Jas Brown
Clerk.
4.5.79.


[image 8]

CASUALTY SHEET
OF WOUNDED.
John Callahan
Private Company "I"
91" Regiment of Penn.
Volunteers at the battle of
Chancellorsville
May 3" 1863.


[image 9]

Callahan John
Pvt, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pa. Inf.
3 Enclosures.
[all of the lines are blank]

Other papers relating to--
[all of the lines are blank except these:]
Casualty sheet 3


[image 10, which consists of three cards]

[card 1]

C | 91 | Pa
John Callahan
Pvt, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pa
Appears on
Hospital Muster Roll
(Guards.)
of Satterlee U.S.A. General Hospital,
at West Philadelphia, Pa.,
for July + Aug, 1863.

Attached to hospital:
When [blank]
How employed [blank]

Last paid by Maj. Sheridan
to Feb 28, 1863.
Bounty paid $[blank]; due $[blank]
Present
Remarks: [blank]


[card 2]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pa.
Appears on
Hospital Muster Roll
of Satterlee U.S.A. General Hospital
at West Philadelphia, Pa.
for May + June, 1863

Attached to hospital:
When [blank]
How employed [blank]

Last paid by Maj. [blank]
to [blank]
Bounty paid $[blank]; due [blank]
Present
Remarks: Ward, W.
Book mark: [blank]
Browning Copyist.


[card 3]

G [sic] | 91 | Pa.
John x Galahan [sic]
Prvt, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Age 23 years.
Appears on Co. Muster-out Roll, dated
Camp In the Field Va, July 10, 1865.
Muster-out to date [blank]
Last paid to [blank]

Clothing account:
Last settled [blank]; drawn since $[blank]
Due soldier $[blank]; due U.S. $[blank]
Am't for cloth'g in kind or money adv'd $[blank]

Due U.S. for arms, equipments, &c., $[blank]
Bounty paid $[blank]; due $[blank]
Remarks: Transferred Aug 19 /62 by order of War Dept Vet R.C.

Book mark: [blank]
Cottrell Copyist.


[image 11, which consists of three cards]

[card 1]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Nov. + Dec., 1863.
Present or absent [blank]
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: Transferred to Invalid Corps by G.O. 365 War Dep.

Next borne on Co. muster out roll

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[card 2]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Sept. + Oct., 1863.
absent
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: Wounded in Hosp. at Washington May 3 /63.

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[card 3]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for July + Aug, 1863.
absent
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: Wounded in Hospital at Washington, D.C. May 3d 1863.

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[image 12, which consists of three cards]

[card 1]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for May 10 to June 30, 1863.
absent
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: Absent Sick. Wounded in action May 3 /63.

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[card 2]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Feb. 28 to May 10, 1863.
absent
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: Wounded in Division Hosp. May 3 /63.

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[card 3]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pa. Infantry.
Appears on Special Muster Roll
for April 10, 1863.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[image 13, which consists of three cards]

[card 1]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Jan. + Feb., 1863.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[card 2]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
Pvt., Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Nov. + Dec., 1862.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]

Book mark: [blank]
Ripps Copyist.


[card 3]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
pri, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Sept + Oct, 1862.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]

Book mark: [blank]
Curtin Copyist.


[image 14, which consists of three cards]

[card 1]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
pri, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Dated Aug 31, 1862.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]

Book mark: [blank]
Curtin Copyist.


[card 2]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
pri, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pa. Infantry.
Appears on Special Muster Roll
for Aug 18, 1862.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]
Book mark: [blank]
Curtin Copyist.


[card 3]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
pri, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for May + June, 1862.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]

Book mark: [blank]
Curtin Copyist.


[image 15, which consists of three cards]

[card 1]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
pri, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Mch + Apl, 1862.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]

Book mark: [blank]
Curtin Copyist.


[card 2]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
pri, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Jan + Feb, 1862.
present
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: [blank]
Book mark: [blank]
Curtin Copyist.


[card 3]

C | 91 | Pa.
John Callahan
pri, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pennsylvania Inf.
Appears on
Company Muster Roll
for Sep 17" to Dec 31, 1861.
Present or absent Not stated
Stoppage, $[blank]
Due Gov't, $[blank]
Remarks: (Enrolled and Mustered in Dec. 4. 61 at Phila. Pa. for 3 yrs.)

Book mark: [blank]
Curtin Copyist.


[image 16, which consists of one card]

O [sic] | 91 | Pa.
John O'Callahan [sic]
Pvt, Co. I, 91 Reg't Pa
Appears on
Hospital Muster Roll
of Satterlee U.S.A. General Hospital
at West Philadelphia, Pa.
for Sep + Oct, 1863.

Attached to hospital:
When [blank]
How employed [blank]

Last paid by Maj. [blank]
to [blank]
Bounty paid $[blank]; due $[blank]
Present or absent [blank]
Remarks: Transfd to 1 Batt IC Sep 4 /63.

Book mark: [blank]
Cass Copyist.

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revised 9 Aug 15
contact Harry Ide at [email protected] with comments or questions