He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 4, 7, 8). He was 18 years old when he enlisted (3, 4 [19], 7 [42 in ?1888], 8 [42 in ?1888]).
When he enlisted, he was a roofer (4). He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enrolled (4).
He was 5 feet 2 inches tall, had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair (3, 4).
The pension index card refers to Michael Birmingham, who served in company K of the 115th Pennsylvania Infantry (10).
According to the 1890 census, he served from May 1861 to May 1864 (5).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private, for three years, as a recruit, on 6 February 1864, at Philadelphia Pennsylvania (1, 3, 4 [5 Feb], 10 [5 Feb]). He was enlisted and mustered into service by Captain Lane (3). He served in company E (1).
He was wounded in action on 23 May 1864, at the North Anna River, in his leg (3, 9).
On 9 [or perhaps 17?] March 1865, he deserted from McClellan US General Hospital, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (2). He was readmitted there from desertion on 18 April 1865 (2).
He was discharged on 12 July 1865 by general order (1, 4, 10). He served for seventeen months (7, 8).
On 2 December 1870, he applied successfully for a pension (6, 10).
On 17 July 1888, he was admitted to the National Military Home (7, 8). He was admitted from Pennsylvania (7, 8). He had a gunshot wound of the thigh (7, 8).
In 1889, he was present in the Southern Branch of the National Military Home (7). He was receiving a pension of $6 per month (7).
In 1890, he was living in the National Soldiers Home, Southern Branch, in Elizabeth City County, Virginia (5). He had "pros" [prostate?] and kidney disease (5).
He died on 11 August 1892, in the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home (8, 10 [29 July 1892, Philadelphia PA]). He was then receiving a pension of $6 per month (8).
On 24 July 1896, his widow, Joanna A Kneedler, unsuccessfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension (6, 10).
On 12 February 1910, a contesting widow, Mary Wills, unsuccessfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension (6, 10).
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 register of deserters, company E, entry 22
3 descriptive roll, company E, entry 142
4 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 24 May 2004 (Freeman Kneedler)
5 1890 US census, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, National Soldiers Home, page 35 (image 34 on <www.ancestry.com>), line 39 (Freeman Kneedler)
6 pension index, by name (Freeman M Kneedler)
7 Letter from the President of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the Board for the fiscal year 1889. Serial Set volume 2768, session volume 9, 51st Congress, 1st Session. House Miscellaneous Document 77. Page 312. (Freeman Kneedler)
8 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893. Serial Set volume 3151, session volume 1, 53rd Congress, 1st Session. House Miscellaneous Document 35. Page 717. (Freeman Kneedler)
9 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (Freeman Kneeder [sic])
10 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (Freeman M Kneedler)