He was born in 1829/30 (5 (31 in 1861), 6, 8 (52 in ?1880), 9 (52 in ?1880)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5, 8, 9).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-3/4 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, and brown eyes (5). He had scars on the left side of his neck, from scrofula (5).
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 24 August 1861 (1, 5, 6, 12). He was enlisted for three years, by Colonel Reiff (5, 6). He was mustered in as a private, in company C (1, 6, 15).
He may have been the Joe from company C who accompanied Thomas Walter on his trip to Snicker's Gap, and was captured (2).
He was wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1, 13 [wounded in arm], 14 [arm]). On 7 May 1863, he was reported missing in action (3).
He mustered out near Petersburg, Virginia, when his term expired, on 20 September 1864 (1, 4, 5, 6, 12). He had served for thirty-seven months (8, 9). He was a private, in company C (15).
On 2 June 1868, he applied successfully for a pension (10, 12).
On 5 November 1880, he was admitted to the National Soldiers Home (8, 9). He was admitted from Pennsylvania (9). He had a wounded right arm (from a gunshot), and was receiving a pension of $6 per month (8, 9).
In 1882, he was present in the Central Branch of the National Soldiers Home (8).
In 1890, he was living in the National Military Home in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio (11). He had a bad memory (11).
In 1897 (?), he was receiving a pension of $10 per month (9).
He died on 7 May 1897, at the Central Branch of the National Soldiers Home (9, 12).
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) (Joseph E Smith)
2 Thomas F Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail v.3 #36 page 2. (Joe) (may be Jos Hayward)
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Pri Smith)
4 company C, register of men discharged, number 35 (Joseph E Smith)
5 company C, descriptive roll, number 12 (Joseph E Smith)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 July 2004 (Joseph E Smith)
7 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 57 (Joseph E Smith)
8 Annual report of the Board of Managers of the National Soldiers Home, 30 December 1882 [for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1882]. Serial Set volume 2115, session volume 1, 47th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 13, page 378 (Joseph E Smith)
9 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1897. Serial Set volume 3664, session volume 36, 55th Congress, 2nd Session, House Document 27. Page 750. (Joseph E Smith)
10 pension index, by name (Joseph E Smith)
11 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Ohio, Montgomery County, Dayton, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district special, 2d division Nat Mil Home, page 63 (Joseph E Smith)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Joseph E Smith)
13 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Joseph E Smith)
14 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (Joseph E Smith)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph E Smith)