He was 40 (or possibly 41) when he enlisted (3, 4 [40], 11 [58 at death in 1878]). He was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (3, 11 [PA]).
He was a brickmaker (3).
He was 5 feet 9-1/2 inches tall, had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair (3).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private in company E on 20 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 3, 8). He was enlisted by Captain Lentz, for three years (3). He was mustered into service by Colonel Reiff (3).
He was promoted to corporal on 25 February 1862, for soldierly appearances, replacing Michael Snyder, who had been discharged (2, 3).
He fought, as a corporal, at the battle of Gettysburg (7).
On 12 October 1863, the Philadelphia Press published a letter signed by men on duty at Camp Cadwalader, including Samuel Burns, asking Pennsylvanians to re-elect Governor Curtin (13).
He was wounded on 12 May 1864 at the Battle of Laurel Hill (1, which has Spottsylvania; 3, 10).
He mustered out on 9 September 1864, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when his term expired (1, 3, 8, 9).
He applied successfully for a pension on 25 November 1864 (5, 12).
He died of phthisis at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 18 November 1878 (11, 12). He was then a brickmaker (11). He either died at or was buried from 1120 Peirce Street (11). He was buried on 21 November 1878, at Philanthropic Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11).
He (presumably his widow) was living at 1814 Pallas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was a brickmaker, in 1890 (6).
His widow, Margaret Burns, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 2 July 1890 (5, 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)
2 list of non-commissioned officers, company E
3 descriptive roll, company E, entry 18 (Samuel Burns)
4 company E, register of men discharged, number 22 (Samuel Burns)
5 Veterans' administration. Pension index, by name. (Searched 13 Jan 2001, on <www.ancestry.com>.) (Samuel Burns)
6 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, 1890. (Searched 13 Jan 2001, at <www.ancestry.com>.) ("Burns Samuel brickmkr h 1814 Pallas")
7 Pennsylvania Memorial, 91st Pennsylvania plaque, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Samuel Burns)
8 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (Samuel Burnes; rolls have 'Burns')
9 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 10 September 1864 (Corp Sam'l Burns)
10 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (Samuel Burns)
11 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 18 November 1878 (Samuel Burns)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (Samuel Burns)
13 'An urgent appeal from the soldiers', Philadelphia Press, 12 October 1863, page 2 (Samuel Burns)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched April 2007)]