He was born in Schurzburg [perhaps Schwarzburg?], Germany, about 1837. [sources: place: 10. date: 10 (27 in 1863), 11 (25 in 1861), 16 [27 in 1865], 17 [29 in 1865], 18 (27 in 1865)]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. [sources: 10 (5'11" in 1861, 11 (5'10")]
When he enlisted, he was a jeweler, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 11]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 6 September 1861. He enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a private in company I. [sources: 1, 11, 19 (corporal), 20 (cpl)]
He was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville. [sources: 5, 13 (wounded in shoulder), 14 (shoulder).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 12]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863. He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan. [sources: 1, 10, 11]
He was promoted to corporal. [source: 11]
He was promoted on 1 January 1864 to sergeant. [sources: 3, 11]
On 14 November 1864 he was promoted to first sergeant, effective 11 November 1864. [sources: 4, 8]
On 12 January 1865, he went on a furlough, which ended on 27 January 1865. He returned. [source: 6]
He was discharged on 30 April 1865 by order of Brevet Major General Griffin. He was promoted on 1 May 1865 to first lieutenant. He was mustered in by Captain Chamberlein, in accordance with special order 97, HQ 5th Army Corps. [sources: 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 11]
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company. He was first lieutenant of company I. [sources: 1, 2, 11, 19, 20]
On 12 July 1865, he provided information about James Kiernan. He wrote from Camp Cadwalader, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 15]
On 4 August 1865, about 10 AM, he committed suicide. He went to the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, and claimed he was going to commit suicide. He complained someone had robbed him of $200. He was apparently suffering from mania a potu (a violent state caused by alcohol). As a freight train was approaching, he laid down in front of the first car. The brakeman was unable to stop the train, which ran over him, killing him nearly instantly. [sources: 16, 17, 18, 21]
On 6 August 1865, he was buried, in the City Burial Lot [?], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 18]
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)
3 special order 2, HQ 91st PA, 1 January 1864
4 special order 110, HQ 91st PA, 14 November 1864
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Private Erdman)
6 enlisted men's furloughs (Henry W Erdman)
7 company I, list of commissioned officers (H W Erdman)
8 company I, list of non-commissioned officers (Henry W Erdman)
9 company I, register of men discharged (Henry W Erdman)
10 company I, descriptive roll, #1 (Henry W Erdman)
11 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 24 March 2005 (Henry W Erdman)
12 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (H W Erdman)
13 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (H W Erdman)
14 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (Henry W Erdman)
15 widow's pension certificate file, NARA, RC 15, certificate 51729 (Catherine widow of James Kiernan) (Henry W Erdman)
16 'Suicide', Illustrated New Age, 5 August 1865, page 2 (Henry W Erdman)
17 'Sad suicide of an ex-lieutenant', [Philadelphia] Public Ledger, 5 August 1865, page 1 (Henry W Erdman)
18 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 4 August 1865 (Henry W Erdman)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Henry W Ardman)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Henry W Erdmann)
21 'Distressing occurrence', Press (Philadelphia PA) Saturday 5 August 1865 page 4 (Henry W Erdman)
I have not identified him in any census. I do not know when he came to the United States. The only Henry Erdman in the Philadelphia directories who could be this Henry is the Henry at 807 Perkenpine in the 1865 directory and 807 Perkiomen in the 1866 directory.
Suicide.--About ten o'clock yesterday morning, Henry W. Erdman, aged 27 years, First Lieutenant of Company I, 91st Pennsylvania volunteers, committed suicide by throwing himself under a freight train of cars, in Washington avenue, near Swanson street. The coroner took charge of the body.
Sad Suicide of an ex-Lieutenant.--A suicide, attended with unusually sad circumstances, was committed yesterday morning on Washington avenue, near Swanson [?] street. The self-murderer was Henry W. Erdman, late 1st Lieutenant of Company I, 91st Pennsylvania Volunteers. He called at the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon yesterday morning, and from his conversation, was believed to be laboring under mania-a-potu. Among other things, he said that he intended to drown himself. To Mr. Cooper, the store-keeper at the saloon, he said that he had not tasted liquor for three days, and, holding out his hands, desired him to see how steady his nerves were. Mr. Cooper's business calling him away from Erdman, he left him sitting in the Washington avenue passage to the saloon. A few minutes later, as a freight train was approaching, Erdmann left his seat and walked to the railroad track, then laid down upon it, immediately in front of the first car. The attention of the brakesman was at once called to Erdman, and he tried to stop the train, but was unable to do so. Three wheels passed over the unfortunate man, nearly cutting him in two. Death was almost instantaneous. The body was removed to the Second District Police Station, where an inquest was held on it, and a verdict in accordance with the facts was rendered. Deceased was twenty-nine years old, and was married. He entered the army as a private, was first promoted to a sergeantcy, and subsequently was, on the field, promoted to a first lieutenancy for meritorious services. His commission bears date the 1st of May, 1865. From his mustering papers it appears that he was born in Germany, and that he was enrolled as a jeweller. He was of fine personal appearance, being nearly six feet high, with dark complexion. To some of the persons at the Refreshment Saloon he complained of having been robbed of $200, in Dock street, near Second, and that seemed to trouble him.
DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE.--Yesterday morning persons in the vicinity of Washington avenue and Swanson street were horrified at seeing a man throw himself under a freight car which was passing that locality. The wheels passed over his stomach, crushing him badly, and causing almost instant death. He was subsequently recognized as Henry W. Erdman, aged twenty-seven, formerly First Lieutenant of Company I, 91st Pennsylvania Volunteers.
ward 15, Henry Erdman, pump maker, 28 years old, born Pennsylvania, with Ellan (24) and Ann (2) [microfilm series M653, page 301 = 301 handwritten; note Edw (plumber) Sarah et al. Erdman a few households earlier]
ward 19, Henry Erdman, vinegar maker, 39 years old, born Philadelphia, with Elizabeth (28), Henry (7) George (5) and Mary (3) [microfilm series M653, page 848 = 378 handwritten]
ward 19, Henry Erdman, 7 [see previous entry]
ward 20, Henry Erdman, division 1, 9 years old, born Pennsylvania, in Girard College [microfilm series M653, page 381 = 383 handwritten]
ward 15, Harry Erdman, 2 years old, with Francis (30, gas fitter) and Sarah (30) Erdman [microfilm series M653, page 302 = 302 handwritten]
[also, a Henry Erdman, 20, clerk, born Pennsylvania, is living in Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (series M653, page 292 = 103 handwritten)]