He was 22 years old when he enlisted (2 [25 in 1863], 8 [22], 9 [38 in ?1878], 10 [40 in 1880]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2, 8, 9 [Ireland], 10 [Ireland]).
He was a seaman (2, 8). He was living in Philadelphia when he was enrolled (8).
He was 5 feet 5-3/4 inches tall, had a light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair (2, 8 [5'6"]).
He was enrolled and mustered into service as a private in company I on 25 October 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 8, 11).
In August 1862, he was tried by court martial (13). He was tried for theft (14). He was sentenced to be publicly reprimanded by Colonel Gregory at dress parade, and to be confined for fourteen days with only bread and water for rations (14). (The sentence was to be carried out after he was discharged from hospital (14).)
He was transferred to company E on 19 August 1862 (1, 11).
He may have been wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville (5 [see my note below], 12, 15 [hand]).
He was initially listed on the plaque recording men who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, but his name was later deleted (16).
He was at Camp Convalescent, Alexandria, Virginia, on 8 September 1863, when Lieutenant Colonel Sinex asked for his return (4).
On 27 September 1863, he returned to duty (6).
On 14 December 1863, the regiment reported him transferred to the Invalid Corps under general order 365 (7).
He re-enlisted for three years as a veteran volunteer, at Bealton Virginia, on 24 December 1863 (1, 2, 8 [26 Dec]).
He was wounded on 1 June 1864 at Bethesda Church (Cold Harbor, Virginia) (1, 2).
He was transferred to the Veterans' reserve corps, because he was unfit for field duty (1, 3, 8). He served for forty-one months (9).
On 10 May 1867, he successfully applied for a pension (11).
On 27 December 1878, he was admitted to the National Soldiers Home (9). He had wounds in his right hand, and received a pension of $2 per month (9).
In 1880, he was living in the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home (10). He was disabled (10).
In 1882, he was present in the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home (9).
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 descriptive roll, company E, entry 93
3 register of men transferred, company E, entry 15 [no date, but cites order 365 of 1863]
4 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 8 Sep 1863
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863
(Private Calahan)
[This Private Calahan is in company I, but Bates lists no other Callahan's in co.I.]
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 27 September 1863 (Private Calahan)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 14 December 1863 (Pri Jno Callahan)
8 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (John Callahan)
9 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 (John Callahan)
10 1880 US census, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, Hampton, National Home for Disables Vol. Soldiers, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 13, page 26B = 52 handwritten (John Callahan)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company I (John Callahan)
12 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (John Callahan)
13 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (John Callahan)
14 'From Washington' (Philadelphia Inquirer 25 September 1862, page 4) (John Callahan)
15 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 [see note on source 5 above] (John Callahan)
16 card, with the original version of the 91st PA plaque on the Pennsylvania memorial at Gettysburg (from the papers of William C Reiff; thanks to Susan Stickles!) (John Callahan)
| line | 16 |
| street name | |
| house number | |
| dwelling visit # | |
| family visit # | |
| name | Callahan John |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| age | 40 |
| month born if born in year | |
| relationship | |
| single | 1 |
| married | |
| widowed/divorced | |
| married during year | |
| occupation | |
| months unemployed | |
| currently ill? | Disabled |
| blind | |
| deaf/dumb | |
| idiotic | |
| insane | |
| disabled | |
| school this year | |
| can't read | |
| can't write | |
| birthplace | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland |