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Theodore A Hope

Before the war

He was 25 when he enlisted (perhaps when he re-enlisted in 1863 rather than 1861) (5, 24 [26], 30 [22 in 1860]). He was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (5, 24, 30).

In 1860, he was living in the 1st ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (30). He was living with Sarah Hope (presumably his mother), Hannah Hope (presumably his sister), along with William Irvin and his family (30). He was a carpenter, and owned $100 in personal property (30).

He was a carpenter (5, 24). He was living in Philadelphia when he was enrolled (24).

Description

He was 5 feet 8-3/4 inches tall, had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair (5, 24 [5'9", sandy complexion, blue eyes, brown hair]).

During the war

He was enrolled and mustered into service as a sergeant in company E on 20 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 24 [private]). He was mustered into service by Lieutenant Swann (perhaps this is related to his re-enlisting) (5). He was appointed sergeant on 10 September 1861 (6).

On 23 August 1863, he returned to duty from corps headquarters (22). On 26 August 1863, Sinex reported that he had been on duty as Provost Guard at Corps Headquarters, and had returned (12).

He fought, as a sergeant, in the battle of Gettysburg (11).

He re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer (1), on 24 December 1863, in Bealton Virginia (5, 24 [26 Dec 63]). He was reenlisted by Lt Carpenter [perhaps William H Carpenter, lt, co K] (5).

He left Alexandria, Virginia, with Francis Gregory, on 2 May 1864. (13). They arrived at Culpepper on 3 May 1864 (13). They left Culpepper on the 4th (13). When they stopped at Brandy Station, and could not learn where the regiment was, the provost marshall told them to follow the 5th corps wagon train until they found the regiment, which they did on 9 May 1864 (13). He was arrested by order of General Ayres on 9 May 1864, but was released from arrest on 28 June 1864, because the regimental headquarters did not have a copy of the order placing him under arrest (7). He still had to face a court martial (7). I have no other record of the charges or the court martial.

On 29 June 1864, Colonel Gregory requested that he be mustered out, so that he could be remustered in as first lieutenant of company E (14). He had received a commission from Governor Curtin on 9 June 1864, dated 7 April 1864 (14), and his promotion to first lieutenant apparently was effective 7 April 1864 (19).

He was discharged effective 1 July 1864, to allow him to accept a commission (8). He was mustered in as a first lieutenant on 2 July 1864 (1, 3, 5, 6, 19 [which also records him as a second lieutenant, with no elaboration], 24, 26).

On 24 September 1864, he was appointed to a board of survey to determine how much government property John Hamill was responsible for (9). On 27 September 1864, Matthew Hall was ordered to turn over to him the ordnance, ordnance stores, and other property in company E (16). On 28 September 1864, James Closson was ordered to turn over to him company H's surplus ordnance and ordnance stores (17).

On 21 October 1864, near Peeble's Farm, Virginia, he relieved John Hamill, who was charged with being drunk while on picket duty (27). He later testified for Hamill at his court-martial, claiming that Hamill appeared to have been drinking but was not drunk, was able to carry out his duty, and gave him a complete and accurate report of the details of the picket (28).

He was promoted to captain on 31 October 1864 (1, 2, 3, 5, 24).

On 18 January 1865, he went on leave; it expired on 2 February 1865 (20, citing SO 16, Army of the Potomac).

On 16 March 1865, he was the senior captain present (23). While Eli Sellers was at a court martial, he was in command (23). Sellers returned while the regiment was paraded for review in front of the Division Hospital (23). Hope said something like "I suppose I'm relieved. I may get out of this", but Sellers ordered him to take command of the first division (23).

On 22 March 1865, he was appointed to a regimental court martial to try John Wright (G) during March 1865 (18).

He was wounded in the chest on 31 March 1865 in action (1 [roster & p.193])--a bad wound, according to Walter (4).

On 31 March 1865, John Graham was ordered to take command of company E and receipt to Hope for all property (10).

On 27 April 1865, Sellers recommended that he received a brevet appointment "[f]or meritorious conduct during the late campaign" (15).

He was discharged on 28 October 1865 by general order (1, 24 [surgeon's certificate of disability]).

After the war

On 25 November 1865, he applied successfully for a pension (25, 29).

On 24 December 1911 [?], his mother, Sarah Iseminger [?], applied successfully for a pension (25, 29).

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, and p.193.)

2 Official Army Register

3 list of commissioned officers, company E

4 Thomas F Walter, 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier', Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail v.4 #1 p.2.

5 company E descriptive roll, number 3 (Theodore A Hope)

6 list of non-commissioned officers, company E

7 special order 53, headquarters, 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, 28 June 1864

8 special order 160, headquarters, 5th army corps, 3 July 1864

9 special order 84, headquarters 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, 24 September 1864

10 special order [blank], headquarters, 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, 31 March 1865

11 Pennsylvania Memorial, 91st Pennsylvania plaque, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Theodore A Hope)

12 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 26 August 1863

13 letter, F Gregory to Tayman, 20 June 1864

14 letter, Gregory to Bennett, 29 June 1864

15 letter, Sellers to Farnsworth, 27 April 1865

16 special order 87, HQ 91st PA, 27 September 1864

17 special order [unnumbered], HQ 91st PA, 28 September 1864

18 special order 19, HQ 91st PA, 22 March 1865

19 regimental descriptive book

20 undated officers' furlough list, in regimental letter, order, guard, and furlough book (Theo A Hope)

21 [undated and untitled chart with officers' names] (two references: Theo A Hope, and Capt Hope)

22 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 23 August 1863 (Sergt Hope)

23 record of Joseph Gilbert's court martial

24 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 6 May 2004 (Theodore A Hope)

25 pension index, by name (Theodore A Hope)

26 consolidated morning report, 6 July 1864 (Sergt Hope)

27 letter, John Hamill to Secretary of War, 11 February 1875 (Lieut Hope)

28 court-martial record, John Hamill (Theodore A Hope)

29 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (Theodore A Hope)

30 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1st ward, mnicrofilm series M653, film 1151, page 500 = 326 handwritten (Theodore Hope)

[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1st ward, mnicrofilm series M653, film 1151, page 500 = 326 handwritten]
line9101112131415
Dwelling number2173      
Family number2511      
NameSarah HopeTheodore "Hannah "William IrvinDelorah "James M. C. "John W. "
Age382213282681
Sexfmfmfmm
Color       
OccupationSeamstressCarpenter Ropemaker   
Value of real estate owned       
Value of personal estate200100 100   
Place of birth" [sc. Penna]""""""
Married within year       
Attended school within year  1  1 
Cannot read & write       
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.       

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revised 30 May 09
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