He was born in 1845/46, in England. [sources: date: 2. place: 2]
When he enlisted, he was a cooper. [source: 2]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 3 inches tall, and had dark eyes, dark hair, and a dark complexion. [source: 2]
On 5 April 1864, he enlisted for three years, and was mustered in, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was enlisted by J A Gregory. Private W F Wampole witnessed his declaration. He was not paid any bounty. He was mustered in as a private in company E. [sources: 1, 2]
On 5 April 1864, he was listed on a muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of US Volunteers forwarded for the 91st Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 2]
On 20 April 1864, he was listed on a muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of US Volunteers forwarded for the 91st Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, from Chester Hospital. But his name was crossed out in red. [source: 2]
He is not borne on any of the regiment's company muster rolls. [source: 2]
1 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William H Cross)
2 compiled military service record, 91st PA Infantry (William H Cross)
I, William H. Cross born in [blank] in the State of England aged Eighteen years, and by occupation a Cooper DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this fifth day of April 1864, to served 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, William H. Cross 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, agreeablly 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, William H. Cross 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 Dark eyes, Dark hair, Dark complexion, is 5 feet 3 inches high.
J A GregoryI, William H. Cross desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier, in the Army of the United States, for the term of THREE YEARS Do Declare, That I am Nineteen years and [blank] 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.