He was born in 1844/45 (5 [20, probably in 1863], 6 [18 in 1861], 7 [18 in 1861], 8 [18 in 1861]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 7, 8).
When he enlisted, he was a clerk, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5, 6, 7, 8).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and brown (or perhaps light) hair (5, 6 [brown hair], 7 [brown hair], 8 [brown hair]).
He enlisted and was mustered into service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 9 December 1861 (1, 5, 6, 9, 13). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by L T Matlack (6). He was mustered in as a musician in company K, by L T Matlack (1, 6, 14 (pvt)).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (12).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 7, 8 [26 Dec 62]). He was enlisted for three years, by Lieutenant Carpenter (7, 8). He was mustered in by Lieutenant Swan (7, 8).
On 30 July 1864 he was ordered by Colonel Gregory to report to the Fifth Corp Hospital at City Point (2, 3, 4 [1 Aug], 10). The detail was to report to brigade headquarters at 8 am on 1 August 1864 (3). He was still detailed as a nurse in September (?) 1864 (4).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 5, 9, 13). He was a musician, in company K (14).
On 24 August 1871, he applied unsuccessfully for a pension (11, 13).
In 1890, he was living in Middleton, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (post office Langhorne) (9).
On 25 February 1907, he again applied for a pension, apparently successfully (13).
He died on 3 June 1913, at Langhorne, [Bucks County,] Pennsylvania (13).
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 letter, Tayman to Reed, 13 August 1864
3 special order 186, HQ 5th Army Corps, 30 July 1864
4 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (Wilm J Kirkpatrick)
5 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (Wm Kirkpatrick)
6 company K, descriptive roll (William Kirkpatrick)
7 company K, third descriptive roll (William Kirkpatrick)
8 company K, fourth descriptive roll (William Kirkpatrick)
9 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Bucks County, Middleton, supervisor's district 135 [?], enumeration district 109, page [3] (William Kirkpatrick)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 August 1864 (Musician Kirkpatrick)
11 pension index, by name (William Kirkpatrick)
12 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Wm Kirkpatrick)
13 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (William Kirkpatrick)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Kirkpatrick)