Bates has a Wilfred Bywater in co.K, and a Welfred Bywater in co.B. The co.B Bywater was not on the muster-out roll, and both enlisted on the same day. I have therefore assumed they are the same person (which (7) seems to confirm).
He was born on 25 November 1845 (18, 19 [Nov 1847]). He was 18 years old when he was enrolled (7, 9, 12, 13). He was born in Sheffield, England (7, 9 [Philadelphia England!], 12 [England], 13, 18, 19).
In 1855, he immigrated to the United States (19).
When he was enlisted, he was a clerk (7, 9, 12, 13). He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enrolled (7).
He was 5 feet 5 [or 7] inches tall, and had a dark complexion, gray eyes, and dark hair (7 [5'7"], 9 [5'5"], 12 [5'5", hazel eyes], 13 [5'5", hazel eyes]).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 1 December 1861 (1, 7, 9, 10, 17, 18 [Nov 61]). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Casner (7, 9). He was mustered in as a private in company B, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant James B Diehl (1, 7, 9).
He was transferred to company K (7).
He "took part in" Antietam, Fredericksburg, the mud march, and Chancellorsville (18).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (15, 18).
He "was laid up for several months" because of disability (18).
He rejoined the army in March 1864 (18).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 30 March 1864, at Warrenton Junction, Virginia (1, 7, 12 [26 Mar], 13 [26 Mar]). He was enlisted for three years, at Warrenton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Shipley (12, 13). He was mustered by Captain Bernard (12, 13).
He "took part in" Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg (18).
He was reported on a ten-day furlough on 27 April 1864 (8).
On 30 June 1864, he was detailed by General Griffin for duty in the commissary department (2, 6 [29 June]). He was still detailed as a cattle guard in September (?) 1864 (6). He was returned to duty (6)--perhaps on 27 September 1864 (14).
He was wounded on 30 September 1864 (10). He was wounded by a bullet in the left leg, at Peeble's Farm (18).
On 17 February 1865, he was promoted to corporal, effective 1 January 1865 (3, 10).
He "took part in" Hatcher's Run and Five Forks (18).
On 27 April 1865, he was initially ordered to be promoted to sergeant, effective 1 April 1865, but his name was then crossed out (4).
He was promoted from corporal to sergeant on 6 June 1865 (1, 7, 10). On 15 June 1865, he was promoted to sergeant, effective 7 June 1865 (5).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 7, 17).
On 17 April 1891, he applied successfully from California for a pension (16, 17).
He was a member of Rawlins Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in Stockton, California (18). He was then living in Stockton, California (18).
In 1900, he was living in Sixth Township, * County, California (19). He was single. He was a cook at a boarding house (19). He was not naturalized (19).
He died in 1908 (17).
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 special order 56, HQ 91st PA, 30 June 1864
3 special order 9, HQ 91st PA, 17 February 1865
4 special order 25, HQ 91st PA, 27 April 1865 (Wilfred Bywater) (nb: the line with his name on it is crossed out)
5 special order 35, HQ 91st PA, 15 June 1865
6 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (Welford Bywater)
7 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 27 June 2004 (Wilfred Bywater [co.B card has 'Welfred'])
8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 27 April 1864 (Bywater)
9 company K, descriptive roll (Wilfred Bywater)
10 company K, second list of non-commissioned officers (Wilfred Baywater [sic] + Wilfred Bywater [2 entries])
11 company K, second descriptive roll (Wilfred Bywater)
12 company K, third descriptive roll (Wilfred Bywater)
13 company K, fourth descriptive roll (Wilfred Bywater)
14 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 27 September 1864 (Privt Bywater)
15 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Wilfred Bywater)
16 pension index, by name (Wilfred Bywater)
17 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (Wilfred Bywater)
18 'Wilfred Bywater'. Records of Members of the Grand Army of the Republic (Wilfred Bywater)
19 1900 US census, California, Tuolumne County, Sixth Township, supervisor's district 4, enumeration district 130, microfilm series T623, film 116, page 124 = 19 B handwritten (Wilfred Bywater)
[I did not find an entry for him in the Ancestry index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]
Was born in Sheffield, England, November 25, 1845; has been a farmer. Enlisted in November, 1861, in Company K of the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, and served as private and sergeant; was attached to the 5th Army Corps; first served in Washington and Alexandria until September, 1861, then joined the Army of the Potomac and took part in the battle of Antietam; thence to the battle of Fredericksburg, the mud [page 483] march, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg; was laid up for several months on account of disability; rejoined the army in March, 1864, and took part in the battles of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg; was wounded in left leg by bullet at Preble's [sic] Farm, September 30, 1864; after recovery took part in the battles at Hatcher's Run and Five Forks; was present at the surrender of General Lee, his brigade being the one that received the arms of the Confederate soldiers at Appomattox. Comrade Bywater is a member of Rawlins Post, G.A.R., of Stockton, Cal., where he resides.
| line | 64 |
| street | |
| house number | |
| dwelling number | [431] |
| family number | [442] |
| name | Bywater Wilfred |
| relationship | servant |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| birth date | Nov 1847 |
| age | 52 |
| married? | S |
| # years married | |
| mother of how many children? | |
| # of children living | |
| birthplace | England |
| father's birthplace | England |
| mother's birthplace | England |
| immigration year | 1855 |
| # years in USA | 45 |
| naturalized citizen? | No |
| occupation | Cook B.H. |
| # months not employed | 0 |
| # months in school | |
| can read | Yes |
| can write | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes |
| owned/rented | |
| free or mortgaged | |
| farm/house | |
| # of farm schedule |