He was 28 years old when he was enlisted (8). He was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (8).
He was 6 feet 0 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (8). He had a scar on his right great toe from a cut [?] (8).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 27 August 1861 (1, 8, 9). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff (8, 9 [Lt Col Reiff]). He served as a private in company C (1).
He was appointed corporal on 21 September 1861 (5, 6).
He was reduced to the ranks (6).
On 18 March 1863, he returned to duty from being absent sick (2).
He was wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1, 10). On 7 May 1863, he was reported missing in action (3).
He was transferred on 30 June 1863 to the Veterans' Reserve Corps (1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9). He served in A 21 and D 13 VRC (11, 13).
On 8 September 1865, his widow, Susan A Carpenter, applied successfully for a pension (11, 13).
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 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 18 March 1863 (Wm H Carpenter)
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Pri Carpenter)
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 1 August 1863 (Wm H Carpenter)
5 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 1, corporals (Wm H Carpenter)
6 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 2, corporals (Wm H Carpenter)
7 company C, register of men transferred (William H Carpenter)
8 company C, descriptive roll, number 7 (William H Carpenter)
9 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 69 (William Carpenter)
10 'Further from General Hooker's army', Philadelphia Inquirer, 7 May 1863, page 1 (WF Carpenter)
11 pension index, by name (William H Carpenter)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (William H Carpenter)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)--but a Susan A Carpenter was living in Theresa, Jefferson County, New York, with no identifying information]