He was born on 10 May 1827 (15). He was 33 years old when he was enlisted (10, 15 [86 yrs 9 mos. 12 dys at death], 16 [84 in 1910]). He was born in Ireland (10, 15, 16).
He immigrated in 1845 (16). He was naturalized by 1910 (16).
When he enlisted, he was a laborer (10).
He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (10).
He was an employee of the Medical Department of US Volunteers (12, 14).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 3 February 1864 (1, 10, 14). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Shipley (10). He was mustered by Lieutenant Burke (10). He served as a private in company D (1).
On 2 March 1864, Colonel Gregory detached him for duty with the recruiting service in Chester, Pennsylvania (3, 5). On 27 April 1864, Sinex asked that he be returned to the regiment (4).
He served at Petersburg, and was in City Point Hospital, for typhus (2).
On 9 September 1864, he was detailed as hospital attendant, replacing Andrew Fleming (A) (7, 9, 11). On 15 October 1864, Sellers reported that Buchanan was a hospital attendant at the division hospital under the authority of surgeon William Kier, but had not been regularly detailed (6).
On 26 January 1865, he went on a furlough, which ended on 5 February 1865 (8).
He was mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 14).
On 26 March 1890, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (12, 14). He continued receiving that pension until his death (13).
He again applied for a pension on 13 February 1907 (14).
In 1910, he was living at 309 51st Street, ward 34, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He was living with his son Robert and his grandson Jerico [?] (16). He was not working (16).
He died of chronic valvular heart disease (duration 10 years), with bronchitis (duration 7 days) contributing, on 22 February 1914, at 652 N 38th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13, 14, 15). He was widowed (15). He was a weaver (15). He was buried at Fernwood Cemetery on 26 February 1914 (15).
Jim Ryan is researching him; contact him at sailcara@verizon.net. Jim has a letter he wrote from the hospital, in which he stated that he lost his brother at the seven day battle.
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 Jim Ryan
3 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
4 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 27 April 1864
5 special order 14, HQ 91st PA, 2 March 1864
6 letter, Sellers to Perkins, 15 October 1864 (D B Buchanan)
7 special order 74, HQ 91st PA, 9 September 1864
8 enlisted men's furloughs (David Buchanan)
9 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (David Buchanan)
10 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 19 (David A Buchanan)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 10 September 1864 (Priv Buchanan)
12 pension index, by name (David A Buchanan)
13 e-mail, James Ryan, 15 August 2008
14 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (David A Buchanan)
15 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 22 February 1914 (David Alexander Buchanan)
16 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 34, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 823, microfilm series T624, film 1405, page 168 = 11 B handwritten (David A Buchanan)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched April 2007)--but one entry, in Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, had no identifying information]
| line | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| street | 51st | ||
| house nr | 309 | ||
| dwelling nr | 245 | ||
| family nr | 252 | ||
| name | Buchanan David A | - Robert | - Jerico [?] A |
| relationship | Head | Son | Grand Son |
| sex | M | M | M |
| color | W | W | W |
| age | 84 | 59 | 21 |
| marital status | W | W | S |
| #years present marriage | |||
| mother of # children | |||
| mother of # living children | |||
| birthplace | Ireland - English | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Ireland - English | Ireland - English | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland - English | Ireland - English | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | 1845 | ||
| naturalized/alien | Na | ||
| speaks English | English | English | English |
| occupation | None | Bricklayer | Apprentice |
| nature of industry etc. | Cement Work | ||
| employer etc. | W | W | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 15 | |
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |||
| owned/rented | R | ||
| owned free or mortagaged | |||
| farm/house | H | ||
| nr on farm schedule | |||
| civil war vet | UA | ||
| blind | |||
| deaf & dumb | |||