James B Diehl
Before the war
He was 21 years old when he was enlisted (12, 21 [38 in 1880], 24 [45 at death in 1886?]). He was born in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania (21, 24).
He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enlisted (12).
During the war
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 7 October 1861 (1, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24). He was enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12). He was mustered in as a first lieutenant, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Dye (11, 12). He served as a first lieutenant in company D (1). On an undated recruiting poster, he is listed as company D's first lieutenant (13).
On 29 June 1862, he, along with the other commissioned officers in the regiment (except Colonel Gregory), signed a statement denying accusations that they were on the verge of open mutiny, that the regiment had been reduced to 400 men, and that Colonel Gregory was too lenient to Confederates and too harsh to men in the regiment (17).
Brigadier General Tyler detailed him as aide-de-camp on 4 November 1862 (4, 5, 6, 24). He was still detailed there on 7 February 1863 (10), 28 August 1863 (4), 14 November 1863 (5), and 7 March 1864 (6).
While serving as Brigadier General Tyler's Aide during the Battle of Fredericksburg, he conveyed to Colonel Gregory (commanding the 91st PA) and to Lieutenant-Colonel Rowe (commanding the 126th PA) orders to retreat across the river. When Colonel Gregory did not want to leave until his detached company E returned, he assured Colonel Gregory that the order had been conveyed to Captain Lentz. Unfortunately, he was wrong.(22)
He was commissioned captain on 16 December 1863, but he refused the commission (12).
On 4 July 1864, he was the only commissioned officer in company D, which had 37 enlisted men present for duty, and a total of 74 enlisted men (7).
He was discharged on 24 July 1864 on surgeon's certificate of disability, by special order 186, War Department, 25 July 1864 (1, 2 [resigned], 7 [25 Jul], 9 [25 Jul], 12 [24 Jul], 15 [25 Jul], 24 [25 Jul]). He was still aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Tyler when he resigned (8).
After the war
He was an original member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (16).
On 11 December 1872, he was mustered into George G Meade Post, Number 1, Department of Pennsylvania, of the Grand Army of the Republic (24).
In 1880, he was living on 1735 Lambert Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21). He was a clerk (21). He was living with his wife Mary, and his daughters Geneve and Mabel (21).
On 13 November 1886, he applied successfully from Washington DC for a pension (14, 23).
He died on 26 March 1886 [?] (24). He was still a member of the George Meade Post, GAR, which made "a liberal donation" for the funeral expenses (24). He was buried in the National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia (24). Lincoln Post, number 3, Department of the Potomac, GAR, provided full GAR services (24).
He worked in the Post Office Department (presumably of the GAR) (24). For six or seven months before his death, he couldn't work because of his illness, and his daughter had worked for him (24). After his death, the George Meade Post Number One supported her permanent appointment to the job, and she was appointed (24).
Sources
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.)
3 Thomas F Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail volume 3 number 45 page 2. [Possible reference]
4 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 28 August 1863
5 letter, Gregory to Marvin, 14 November 1863
6 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
7 letter, Sellers to [unnamed] Captain, 4 July 1864
8 special order 184, HQ Middle Department, Eighth Army Corps, Baltimore, 25 July 1864 (James B Diehl)
9 regimental descriptive book (James B Diehl)
10 consolidated morning report, 7 February 1863
11 company D, list of commissioned officers (James B Diehl)
12 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 30 July 2004 (James B Diehl)
13 recruiting poster, company D, Colonel Gregory's regiment (Jas B Diehl)
14 pension index, by name (James B Diehl)
15 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 August 1864 (J B Diehl)
16 "Original Companions of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States" (James B Diehl)
17 'Ninety-first Pennsylvania Regiment'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 July 1862, page 2 (James B Diehl)
18 'Camp Chase at Gray's Ferry' Philadelphia Inquirer 19 October 1861 page 8 (- Drihl)
19 'Camp Chase', Philadelphia Inquirer 30 November 1861 (JB Diehl)
20 'Departure of Col. Gregory's regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1862 page 2 (JB Diehl)
21 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 629, microfilm series T9, film 1188, page 254 C= 27 handwritten (James B Diehl)
22 court-martial record, trial of James B Bonsall, 3 January 1863, and trial of D B Baker, 3 January 1863, National Archives, Record Group 153 (Judge Advocate General, Army), file KK691; and court-martial record, trial of James B Bonsall, 12 January 1863, and trial of D B Baker, 12 January 1863, National Archives, Record Group 153 (Judge Advocate General, Army), file KK664 (Lieutenant Diehl)
23 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (James B Diehl)
24 History of George Meade Post Number One , page 221 [image 463 of 560 on Google Books] (James B Diehl)
[I did not find an entry for him in the Ancestry index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]
History of GAR post
[History of George Meade Post Number One , page 221 [image 463 of 560]On April 5th, a communication was received from Headquarters, Department of the Potomac, G.A.R., announcing the death of Comrade James B. Diehl, of this Post. The comrade had been employed in the Post Office Department, and for six or seven months his severe illness prevented him from attending to his duties, but the officials of that department had accepted his daughter as his substitute, and now the Department of the Potomac, G.A.R., desired the influence of this Post to secure for her the permanent appointment to the vacancy caused by her father's death. This Post at once adopted strong resolutions, endorsing her for the appointment, and a copy was sent to the Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the Potomac, G.A.R., and the appointment was made. The Charity Committee of this Post made a liberal donation towards the funeral expenses of our late comrade, and he was buried with full Grand Army services by Lincoln Post, No. 3, Department of the Potomac, in the National Cemetery, at Arlington.
James B. Diehl was born in Elizabeth, State of Pennsylvania. Entered the service as First Lieutenant, Co. D, Ninety-first Regiment, Pa. Volunteers, on the 7th day of October, 1861, served as Aide de Camp, and was discharged, as First Lieutenant, July 25, 1864. He was mustered into George G. Meade Post, No. 1, Department of Pennsylvania, G.A.R., December 11, 1872. Held the office of Adjutant and Officer of the Day, and died March 26, 1886 [?], aged 45 years. Buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
1880 census
[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 629, microfilm series T9, film 1188, page 254 C= 27 handwritten]| line | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 |
| street name | Lambert Street | |||
| house number | 1735 | |||
| dwelling visit # | 195 | |||
| family visit # | 214 | |||
| name | Diehl, James B | - Mary G [?] | - Geneve B | - Mabel [?] |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F |
| age | 38 | 36 | 12 | 9 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | wife | daughter | daughter | |
| single | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||
| widowed/divorced | ||||
| married during year | clerk | keeping house | at school | at school |
| occupation | ||||
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | ||
| can't read | ||||
| can't write | ||||
| birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| father's birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
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revised 19 May 09
contact Harry Ide at hide1@unl.edu with comments or questions