He was born in 1840/41 (3 (20 in 1861)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10-1/2 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (3). He had a mark or scar on his left cheek, starting at his gum, and had lost his "right front tooth" (3).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 14 September 1861 (1, 3, 4). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr (3, 4). He was a private in company C (1, 5).
He deserted (3) at Washington DC, on 20 April 1862 (1, 4) or 1 June 1862 (2). (1 June may be the date he was reported deserted.) The company C register of deserters reports that his "whereabouts [were] not known" (2). He was a private, in company C (5).
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) (William Clages)
2 company C, register of deserters, number 10 (William Clages)
3 company C, descriptive roll, entry 22 (William Clages)
4 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 107 (William Clages)
5 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Clages)