He was born in 1839/40 (11 (21 in 1861), 12 (21 in 1861)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11).
When he enlisted, he was a glass blower (11, 12).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-3/4 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair (11 [5'5-3/4"], 12 [5'5-1/2"]).
He also served in company F of the 3rd Pennsylvania Infantry, and company F of the 21st Pennsylvania Infantry (3, 9, 13, 19). The company mustered in on 29 April 1861, and the regiment was mustered out of service on 8 August 1861 (9).
He enlisted and was mustered into service in the 91st Pennsylvania on 16 November 1861 as a private in company G, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Gilbert (11).
He was transferred on 4 December 1861 to company A (1, 12, 14, 19).
He was promoted to 4th sergeant of company A on 1 January 1863 (10).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (16).
He was relieved in charge of Brigade Pioneer Corps on 13 August or 15 August 1863 because his company needed sergeants (2, 4, 5).
On 1 October 1863, he was promoted to 3rd sergeant (6).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 16).
On 17 August 1864, he was sick in the division hospital (15).
On 17 February 1865, he was promoted to first sergeant, effective 1 January 1865 (7).
He began a furlough on 4 March 1865, which expired on 19 March 1865 (8).
On 30 April 1865, he was dropped as a deserter (17). He was reported regained from desertion on 17 May 1865 (18).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 12, 13). He was first sergeant of company A (20).
On 1 May 1891, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 13, 19).
On 11 February 1907, he again applied for a pension (13, 19).
He died on 9 March 1920, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13, 19).
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 Bell, 13 Aug 1863
3 pension index, by name (James Simpson) (searched 25 April 2001, on Ancestry)
4 special order 48, HQ 91st PA, 15 August 1863
5 letter, Tayman to Bell, 15 August 1863
6 special order 99, HQ 91st PA, 1 October 1863
7 special order 9, HQ 91st PA, 17 February 1865
8 enlisted men's furloughs (James Simpson)
9 Bates (see #1), p.197 (21st PA infantry) (James Simpson)
10 register of non-commissioned officers, co.A (James Simpson)
11 company A descriptive roll, entry 72 (James Simpson)
12 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (James Simpson)
13 pension index, by regiment (James Simpson)
14 company G, register of men transferred (James Simpson)
15 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 August 1864 (Sergt Simpson)
16 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (James Simpson)
17 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 30 April 1865 (James Simpson)
18 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 May 1865 (Sergt Simpson)
19 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company G (James Simpson)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Simpson)