He was born in December 1840 or January 1841, in Tamaqua, [Schuylkill County,] Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 2 (23 and 3 months in March 1864). place: 2]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer, and was living in Delaware County. [source: 2]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 11 inches tall, and had a florid complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. [sources: 2, 4]
He enlisted as a volunteer, and was mustered into service as a private, on 16 March 1864, at West Chester, [Chester County,] Pennsylvania. He was not assigned to a company. His enlistment was credited to the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, Delaware County. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 4]
He is listed on a Muster and descriptive roll of a detachment of US volunteers forwarded for the 91st Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, dated West Chester, 19 March 1864. But he was not listed on any company muster rolls of the regiment. [source: 4]
He was not on the muster-out roll when the regiment mustered out. [sources: 1, 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) (James Nichols)
2 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 29 January 2005
3 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Nichols)
4 compiled service record, 91st Pennsylvania (James Nichols)
I, James Nichols, born in Tamaqua in the State of Pennsylvania aged Twenty three 3/12 years, and by occupation a Laborer DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this Sixteenth day of March 1864, to serve 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, James Nichols 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, agreeably 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, James Nichols 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 gray eyes, brown hair, florid complexion, is five feet eleven inches high.
I, James Nichols desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of THREE YEARS, Do declare, That I am Twenty three years and three 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.