He was from Delaware (2). He was 20 years old when he was enlisted (6, 10, 13 [16 in 1860]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (10, 13).
In 1860, he was living in ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13). He was an apprentice (13). He was living with John and Rebecca Chism (presumably his parents), and with four other people (13).
He was a clerk when he was enlisted (6, 10). He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enrolled (6).
He was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair (6 [light complexion, blue eyes, light hair], 10 [dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair]).
He was enlisted and mustered into service as a private on 4 November 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 6). (Given the date he was appointed corporal, he may have been mustered in on 8 October.) He was enlisted for three years, by Captain Casner (10). He was mustered into company K by Lieutenant George Murphy (1, 10).
He was appointed corporal, probably on 8 October 1861 (9).
On 23 February 1863, he returned to the regiment from duty at Windmill Point Hospital (5).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (12).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 6).
On 24 April 1864, Lieutenant Colonel Sinex recommended him for a detail to accompany surplus baggage to Alexandria, Virginia (4).
As Color Sergeant, he was trampled in a stampede of horses (or mules? (2)) that had been frightened by skirmishers' firing, about midnight on 7 May 1864 (1, p.191; 2, 8). One of his legs had to be amputated (1, p.191).
He died of those wounds on 2 June 1864 (1, 6, 7, 8, 14 [1 Jun 1863, Philadelphia]). He was buried at the National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia (1). He was then a private (1).
On 27 August 1864, his widow, Mary Chism, applied successfully for a pension (11, 14).
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, and on page 191)
2 Thomas Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldier's Review volume 3 number 46, page 2
3 Advance the colors
4 letter, Sinex to Fowler, 24 April 1864
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 23 Feb 63 (Sgt Chism)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 31 May 2004 (Robert Chism)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 9 June 1864 (Sergt Chism)
8 company K, register of deaths (Robert Chism)
9 company K, list of non-commissioned officers (Robert Chism)
10 company K, descriptive roll (Robert Chism)
11 pension index, by name (Robert Chism)
12 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Robert Chism)
13 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 721 (Robert Chism)
14 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (Robert Chism)
[I did not find an entry for him in the Ancestry index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]
[I did not find an entry for him in the HeritageQuest index to the 1850 census (searched March 2009)]
| line | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| Dwelling number | 139 | ||||||
| Family number | 172 | ||||||
| Name | John Chism | Rebecca | Robert | Mary Jane | Margaret | Annie | Margaret Strahen [?] |
| Age | 35 | 35 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 3 1/2 | 40 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | F | F | F |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation | Laborer | Apprentice | Spooler | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||||
| Value of personal estate | |||||||
| Place of birth | Ireland | " | " | " | " | Phila | Ireland |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |