Thanks to Joe Fulginiti for this image
He was born in 1838/40, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, probably to John Edgar and Anna Jane [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 16 (24 in 1863), 17 (22 in 1861), 18 (22 in 1861), 22 (20 in 1860), 23 (11 in 1850). place: 17, 18, 23. parents: 22, 23]
In 1850, he was living in the 1st ward of Spring Garden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with John and Anna Jane Edgar (presumably his parents), Robert and Henrietta (presumably his siblings), and with Martha Eaken and Ann Righter. He had attended school within the year. [source: 23]
On 7 May 1853, his mother, Anna Jane Edgar, died, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died of phthisis pulmonalis. She was buried in Monument Cemetery. [source: 26]
In 1860, he was living in the 13th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with John and Rachel Edgar (perhaps his father and his stepmother?), Robert and Henrietta (presumably his siblings), and with Margaret Surly [?]. He was an apprentice to a bookbinder. [source: 22]
When he enlisted, he was a book finisher, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 16, 17, 18]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. [sources: 16 (brown hair), 17 (dark brown hair), 18 (dark hair)]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 9 September 1861 or 9 October 1861, in company G. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Peirce. He was mustered in as a private, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 1 (9 Sep), 15 (9 Oct), 16 (9 Oct), 17 (9 Oct), 27 (cpl)]
He was promoted on 9 October 1861 to corporal. [source: 1]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 21]
In July 1863, he registered for the draft. He was a bookbinder, and was single. [source: 24]
He was promoted to sergeant on 26 December 1863, by special order 5. [sources: 1, 5, 15, 16]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia. He was enrolled for three years, by Lieutenant Swan. [sources: 1, 16, 18]
On 30 October 1864, he received a commission as First Lieutenant from the Governor of Pennsylvania. On 31 October 1864, Sellers asked that he be discharged to enable him to accept that commission. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 1 November 1864, perhaps effective 10 October 1864, by special order 271, Headquarters 5th Army Corps. [sources: 1, 6, 13 (has both 10 Oct 64 and 1 Nov 64), 16, 17, 18 (to date from 1 Nov), 19]
On 6 November 1864, he was assigned to command company D in addition to his present command (G). On 11 November 1864, Captains John Donnell, William Michael, and Lieutenant John Graham were appointed a board of survey to determine for how much government property in company D he was responsible. On 14 November 1864, Adam Murphy was assigned to command company D. [sources: 7, 8]
On 30 November 1864, he was assigned to command company B in addition to his other command. [source: 9]
On 1 January 1865, he was relieved from command of company B, and ordered to turn over the public property to John Partenheimer. [sources: 10]
He went on leave on 7 January 1865; it expired on 22 January 1865. [source: 11 (citing special order 6, Army of Potomac)]
On 27 January 1865, he and other officers met near Petersburg Virginia and adopted a testimonial to Captain James Closson, who had died in November 1864, of wounds received in action. [source: 4]
He was killed on 6 February 1865 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia. The Philadelphia newspaper death notice on 24 February 1865, says only that a funeral would be held '[i]f the body is recovered'. He was first lieutenant of company G. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 14, 16, 20, 25, 27]
Bates and Welch both call him Captain Edgar, but the Official Army Register calls him a first lieutenant. Perhaps he was promoted to, but never mustered in as, Captain. [sources: 1 (p.192), 2, 3]
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, and on p.192)
3 Address of Chaplain Joseph Welch, Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, vol. 1 (1914), pp.500-507, at p.506.
4 testimonial to James Closson, adopted 27 Jan 1865
5 special order 5, HQ 91st PA, 26 December 1863
[Although the order is dated 26 Dec 63, it is between orders dated 16 Feb 64 and 22 Feb 64, and the order number fits in the 1864 sequence, but not in the 1863 sequence. It was therefore probably issued in February 1864.]
6 letter, Sellers to Tayman, 31 October 1864
7 special order 105, HQ 91st PA, 6 November 1864 John Edgar Jr.
8 special order 107, HQ 91st PA, 7 November 1864
9 special order 115, HQ 91st PA, 30 November 1864
10 special order 2, HQ 91st PA, 4 January 1865
11 undated officers' furlough list, in regimental letter, order, guard, and furlough book (John Edgar, Jr)
12 [undated and untitled chart with officers' names] (two references: John Edgar Jr, and Lt Edgar)
13 company G, list of commissioned officers (John Edgar Jr)
14 company G, register of deaths (John Edgar Jr)
15 company G, list of non-commissioned officers (John Edgar Jr)
16 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 29 January 2005 (John Edgar Jr)
17 company G, descriptive roll, entry 12 (John Edgar Jr)
18 company G, second descriptive roll, entry [2] (John Edgar Jr [?])
19 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 5 November 1864 (Sergt Edgar)
20 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 15 February 1865 (Lt Edgar)
21 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (John Edgar)
22 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 13, microfilm series M653, film 1163, page 510 = 90 handwritten (John Edgar)
23 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Spring Garden, ward 1, microfilm series M432, film 818, page 301 = 604 handwritten = 36 handwritten to page 302 = 605 handwritten = 37 handwritten (John Edgar)
24 Civil War draft registration records, 1863-1865, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 110, Pennsylvania, Third Congressional District, page 181, no. 56 (John Edgar Jr)
25 death notice, Philadelphia inquirer, Friday 24 February 1865, page 5 (John Edgar Jr.)
26 [not transcribed] death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 7 May 1853, Anna Jane Edgar (available on FamilySearch)
27 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Edgar Jr)
| line | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 1 | 2 |
| Dwellings visited | 200 | ||||||
| Families visited | 218 | ||||||
| Name | John Edgar | Anna Jane " | John " | Robert " | Henrietta " | Martha Eaken | Ann Righter |
| Age | 48 | 35 | 11 | 4 | 6/12 | 24 | 50 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | F | F | F |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Bookbinder | ||||||
| Real estate owned | 3.500 | ||||||
| Birthplace | N. York | Pa | " | " | " | Ireland | Pa |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| Dwelling number | 611 | |||||
| Family number | 612 | |||||
| Name | John Edgar | Rachel " | Robert " | John " | Henrietta " | Marg. Surly [?] |
| Age | 56 | 36 | 13 | 20 | 10 | 22 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | F | F |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Bookbinder | App to Book Bind | Domestic | |||
| Value of real estate owned | 12,000 | |||||
| Value of personal estate | 6,000 | |||||
| Place of birth | N York | " | Penna | " | " | Wurtemberg |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
EDGAR.--Killed at the battle of Hatcher's Run, on the 6th instant, Lieutenant JOHN EDGAR, Jr., Company G, Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.
If the body is recovered due notice will be given of the funeral.