He was born in 1841/42 (9 (19 in 1861), 18 (38 in 1880)). He was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (9, 18).
When he enlisted, he was 4 feet 11-5/8 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and black hair (9).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 August 1861, as a corporal in company A (1, 7, 8, 9 (as private), 10, 13, 19). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr (8, 9).
On 6 November 1861, he was promoted to the regimental quartermaster staff (6). At some point (by 30 November 1861), he became regimental commissary sergeant (7; see 16). At some point, he became regimental quartermaster sergeant (1, 9 [24 Dec 63, which seems too late, given the evidence that he was sergeant major]).
He was present at the Battle of Gettysburg, as sergeant major (2).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer (1). The two cards in the Pennsylvania State Archives index list his reenlistment date as 26 December 1863 (F&S) and 14 January 1864 (co.A) (9). I would guess that he reenlisted with the rest of the regiment on 26 December 1863.
According to one secondary source, he was commissioned a first lieutenant in company A on 11 March 1864 (9). Since no other source I have seen mentions this, I doubt it is correct.
He began working as a clerk in the Adjutant General's Office, Washington, DC, on 5 April 1864 (3, 5 [by SO 128, 1864, Sec't of War], 13, 14, 15 [and all the consolidated morning reports between 14 and 15]).
He was discharged on 31 December 1864 by general order (1, 9, 13, 14). He was quartermaster sergeant, in Field and Staff (19).
On 15 June 1878, he was working in the Adjutant-General's Office, War Department, Washington, DC (13). Two other men who had served in the 91st were also working there: George McNeil and Joseph S Miller (13).
He was a member of the Union Soldiers' Alliance, in Washington, DC (12).
In 1880, he was living at 1506 Thirteenth Street NW, Washington, DC (18). He was single (18). He was a clerk, with the War Department (18).
On 19 August 1891, he applied successfully from Maryland for a pension (10, 11). (He represented himself.)
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 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
3 letter, Lentz to Bennett, 27 July 1864
4 regimental descriptive book (Franklin B Miller)
5 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (Franklin B Miller)
6 register of transfers, company A (Franklin B Miller)
7 register of non-commissioned officers, co.A (Franklin B Miller)
8 company A descriptive roll, after entry 80 (Franklin B Miller)
9 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (Franklin B Miller) [2 cards--for co.A and for F&S]
10 pension index, by regiment (Franklin B Miller)
11 pension index, by name (Franklin B Miller)
12 'A congenial society'. The Washington Post 5 January 1891, page 6. (Frank B Miller)
13 Employees of the War Department: Letter from the Secretary of War ..., page 11. House of Representatives, 45th Congress, 2nd session, Executive Document Number 99 (in Serial Set volume 1809)
14 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 3 January 1865 (not named)
15 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 5 April 1864 (not named)
16 'Camp Chase', Philadelphia Inquirer 30 November 1861 (F B Miller)
17 'Departure of Col. Gregory's regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1862 page 2 (B F Miller)
18 1880 US census, Washington DC, supervisor's district 17, enumeration district 24, microfilm series T9, film 122, page 26 A = 17 handwritten (Frank B Miller)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Franklin B Miller)
| line | 23 |
| street name | Thirteenth St NW |
| house number | [1506] |
| dwelling visit # | [125] |
| family visit # | [193] |
| name | Miller Frank B |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| age | 38 |
| month born if born in year | |
| relationship | Boarder |
| single | 1 |
| married | |
| widowed/divorced | |
| married during year | |
| occupation | Clerk (War) |
| months unemployed | |
| currently ill? | |
| blind | |
| deaf/dumb | |
| idiotic | |
| insane | |
| disabled | |
| school this year | |
| can't read | |
| can't write | |
| birthplace | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna |
| Name. | Organization in which served. | Length of service. | Discharged for disability contracted in service. | Date of entry in office. | |
| From-- | To-- | ||||
| Miller F. B. .... | 91st Pennsylvania .. | Aug. 20, 1861 | Dec. 31, 1864 | .... | Apr. 5, 1864 |
When in the fall of 1879 Mr. Samuel C. Lovejoy and Mr. William P. Seville conceived the idea of forming in this city a society to unite in good fellowship a congenial body of old soldiers, they could not have anticipated the success which has been the outcome of their plans. The organization of the Union Soldiers' Alliance followed their endeavours, and to-day it is one of the most select and popular societies of its kind in Washington. Membership is eagerly sought in this association by those who are acquainted with its aims and objects. However, the list is limited to 100 names, and besides the fact that the membership is now and has been full for some time there are on the waiting list a large number of names. Until a vacancy occurs these applicants cannot become members.
The purpose in establishing the society was to keep up the old associations of the camp-fire and battlefield by social enjoyment and mutual benefit. Although the members are pledged to secrecy as regards the election of applicants, all semblance to a secret fraternity ends there. A pledge is taken on admission, but it is only of such a character as all true and gallant soldiers would follow from their own instincts of honor and comradeship. Meetings are held quarterly, and on these pleasant occasions the evening is given up to sociability and enjoyment. Stories are told, jolly songs are sung,and the battles are fought over again about the refreshment tables.
Though the pleasure of these social gatherings forms one of the objects of the alliance, there is another which is most praiseworthy. It provides for the widows or children of deceased members. When a death occurs in the society each member subscribes $5 to a mortuary fund. Five hundred dollars is thus collected, $300 of which goes to the deceased's family, and the remaining $200 is added to an always increasing sinking fund. A banquet is held annually during the winter months. At the last, which took place on December 23, eighty-seven out of the one hundred members were present. Some were out of the city and others were sick, but only thirteen failed to appear. Officers also are elected for the year, those for 1891 presiding for the firsttime at a meeting held Saturday night at the Grand Army Hall. They are: President, Alexander F. McMillan; first vice president, Charles P. Lincoln; second vice president, William G. Moore; third vice president, Bernard T. Janney; secretary, John L. Heupel; assistant secretary, John R. Collette; treasurer, Samuel C. Lovejoy; proctor, Edgar H. Klemroth.
The fact that the membership is limited to 100, and to men under sixty years of age, makes the days of the society limited. For it will not be many years before those who participated in the war of the rebellion and are under the age of sixty will be few in number. It has been estimated that when the membership decreases to thirty-five, as it necessarily must, each survivor can draw out $300, and then the benefits will be suspended. This in itself is a feature which makes the society an excellent one. Membership is not solicited by the alliance. Each member has the privilege of offering the name of some person whom he believes would be a credit to the organization. The name is referred to a select committee for examination. His military record and his social and moral standing is looked up, and upon a favorable report balloting is begun for admission. One black ball is sufficient to deny him admission. In this manner the society is made a most congenial one. If no black ball is cast, he is notified of his election and asked to join.
It is a singular fact that although there are a hundred members it is infrequent that two are found who were members of the same regiment during the war. The following is a full list of the members in the order of their admission:
John L. Heupel, Forty-sixth New York Infantry.
Samuel C. Lovejoy, First Maine Cavalry.
William P. Seville (president 1879), First Delaware Infantry.
Newton M. Brooks (president, 1887), Twelfth New Jersey Infantry.
Harrison Dingman (president, 1881-82), Fourteenth New York Infantry.
James M. Edgar, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry.
Alex. F. McMillan, First United States Colored Heavy Artillery.
William A. Olmsted, Fifty-ninth New York Infantry.
Charles C. Royce (president, 1883), United States Navy.
John Gilmore, First West Virginia Cavalry.
James Coleman, First District of Columbia Infantry.
Abraham Hart, Seventy-Third Pennsylvania Infantry.
Zach E. Thomas, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry.
Robert G. Cunningham, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Edgar H. Klemroth, Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Robert S. Lyttle, United States Navy.
William Howard Mills, Fourteenth United States Infantry.
Frank B. Miller, Ninety-first Pennsylvania Infantry.
Henry R. Bennett, Seventh Massachusetts Infantry.
Benjamin Engel, Second United States Cavalry.
Frank T. Howe, Fortieth Massachusetts Infantry.
William R. Morgan, One hundred and forty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry.
Samuel M. Barrows, Fifth Maine Infantry.
Charles H. Brown, Twenty-eighth Connecticut Infantry.
William Blasland, First Massachusetts Cavalry.
William Gibson (President, 1888) Purnell Legion Maryland Infantry.
Charles D. A. Loeffler, Fifth United States Cavalry.
John G. Macgregor, Eighth Minnesota Infantry.
Charles E. Coon, Twenty-third New York Infantry.
Martin Hoyburger, Second United States Artillery.
William G. Moore, National Rifles, District of Columbia.
Henry C. Rogers, United States Volunteers.
Charles King, United States Army.
Delavan W. Harrington, Forty-fourth New York Infantry.
Robert H. Morton, One hundred and thirty-third Ohio Infantry.
George A. Bartlett (President, 1889), First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
Samuel S. Burdett (President, 1886), First Iowa Cavalry.
Simeon H. Merrill, Eleventh Maine Infantry.
Thomas M. Steep, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves.
Almyne H. G. Richardson, One hundred and fourteenth Pennsylvania Infantry.
Smith Townshend, Thirty-second Illinois Infantry.
Augustus S. Worthington, Ninety-eighth Ohio Infantry.
John W. Bradford, Fourth New Jersey Infantry.
S. Willard Saxton, United States Volunteers.
George H. French, Twelfth Massachusetts Infantry.
Charles T. Gardner, United States Volunteers.
William H. Webster, Fifth Connecticut Infantry.
John McElroy, Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry.
Lewis K. Brown, Purnell Legion, Maryland Infantry.
Andrew F. Dinsmore, Third Michigan Infantry.
Orange S. Firman, Seventh Connecticut Infantry.
Fred. W. Mitchell, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry.
Henry Sherwood, Fourth Michigan Cavalry.
Joseph S. Bolway, Fourteenth New York Infantry.
Richard M. Goundie, Second Pennsylvania Artillery.
Bernard T. Janney, One hundred and ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry.
George U. Rose, United States Army.
William Howard Gibson, Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves.
William J. Johnston, Forty-fourth New York Infantry.
Joseph H. Twitchell, Thirteenth Massachusetts Infantry.
Sandford Bradbury, Twenty-seventh New York Infantry.
Franklin G. Butterfield, Sixth Vermont Infantry.
Frank A. Butts, Forty-seventh New York Infantry.
Frank H. Sprague, First Rhode Island Cavalry.
Nathan Bickford, United States Volunteers.
James H. Colt, Fourteenth Connecticut Infantry.
Charles Lowell, Seventh Maine Infantry.
Edward R. Campbell, Eleventh Vermont Infantry.
Charles E. Hartung, Thirty-first New Jersey Infantry.
Albert W. Roome, Seventy-first New York Infantry.
Andrew T. Huntington, Tenth Massachusetts Infantry.
John Cameron, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Adolph Berger, First Louisiana Cavalry.
James L. Davenport, Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry.
Samuel A. Lewis, First Rhode Island Cavalry.
Elanthan Meade, Forty-fourth New York Infantry.
John S. Stodder, United States Navy.
Alva S. Taber, Nineteenth United States Infantry.
John E. Collette, Seventh Kentucky Infantry.
Charles P. Lincoln, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry.
Henry A. Robbins, United States Army.
John M. Young, Thirty-first New Jersey Infantry.
James E. Smith, Fourth New York Light Battery.
Levi P. Wright, First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
Albion B. Jameson, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves.
James B. Carter, Eighty-third New York Infantry.
Frank P. Gross, Ninth United States Cavalry.
Joseph G. Manson, Seventh Tennessee Mounted Infantry.
Octavius L. Pruden, Eleventh New Jersey Infantry.
Levi J. Bryant, Third Wisconsin Infantry.
William Hebrew, Twentieth Pennsylvania Militia.
William Wilson, United States Navy.
George H. Lillebridge, Fourteenth Connecticut Infantry.
Willis B. Pomeroy, Fifth Michigan Infantry.
Andrew J. Huntoon, Twelfth New Hampshire Infantry.
John J. Harrower, Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
Samuel V. Holliday, United States Army.
George E. Corson, Seventeenth United States Infantry.
Theodore F. Swayze, Fifteenth New Jersey Infantry.
Charles H. White, Fourteenth New Jersey Infantry.