David Henry Lentz
Before the war
He was 23 years old when he was enrolled (21, 25 [58 in ?1895], 26 [65 in 1903], 32 [11 in 1850]). He was born in Pennsylvania (25, 32). He was the oldest child of Samuel and Jane Lentz (26).
In 1850, he was living in the 4th ward of Southwark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (32). He was living with his parents Samuel and Jane Lentz, others (presumably his siblings) and Mary Hagen (32). He had attended school within the year (32).
In June 1861, he was second lieutenant of the Ellsworth Guard, which was a Home Guard company from the first ward of Philadelphia (27).
He was living in Philadelphia when he was enrolled (21).
During the war
He was enrolled and mustered into service as second lieutenant of company E on 9 September 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 3, 4, 15, 19, 21, 28, 31 [8 Sep]).
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 (25).
He was promoted to first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster effective 1 January 1863, replacing George Eyre (1, 3, 15, 17, 19, 21, 31).
On 7 February 1863, he was a lieutenant, and was acting regimental quartermaster (16).
He was absent on leave for 10 [?] days starting 20 March 1863 (18).
He was present at the Battle of Gettysburg, as regimental quartermaster (6).
Adam Stitzman was detailed as regimental butcher and ordered to report to Lentz, as regimental quartermaster, on 24 September 1863 (8).
As regimental quartermaster, he served on a Board of Inspection, which reported on 19 November 1863 that deficiencies in rations were caused by spoilage and other unavoidable circumstances (7).
On 10 December 1683, Frank Toner, company E, was detailed as brigade teamster and ordered to report to Lentz ("RQM") (9). During December 1863, he was the only officer other than company officers responsible for ordnance (14).
He began a twenty-day sick leave on 24 December 1863 (20).
On 19 February 1864, Adam Stitzman (F) was ordered to report to him for duty in the quartermaster department (12). On 7 March 1864, Sinex reported that he expected Lentz to be detached (but, unfortunately, I can't read the name of the Major who was going to detach him) (10).
Sinex requested his return on 27 April 1864 (11). He returned to the regiment on 6 June 1864, at Cold Harbor (5).
He was promoted to captain and assistant quartermaster of volunteers effective 18 May 1864 (19, 22, 31). On 27 June 1864, he was discharged to allow him to accept a commission as Captain and assistant quartermaster, US Volunteers (2, 13, 15, 21 [8 May 64], 23). (Bates (1) and the pension index (4) have 8 May 1864.)
He was honorably mustered out on 5 June 1866 (19). He had served for fifty-seven months (25).
After the war
On 1 August 1895, he was admitted from California to the Veteran's Home in California (25). He had rheumatism (25). When he was admitted, he was a plumber (25).
He applied successfully from California for a pension on 14 August 1895 (4, 31).
He died on 11 September 1903, at the Veterans' Home, in Napa, California (4 [1908?], 26, 31). He was buried on 14 September 1903, in Napa, California (26)
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 List of commissioned officers, company E
4 pension index, by regiment (David H Lentz)
5 Welch, p.505
6 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
7 letter, Gregory to Marvin, 19 November 1863
8 special order 93, HQ 91st PA, 24 September 1863
9 special order 111, HQ 91st PA, 10 December 1863
10 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
11 letter, Sinex to Fowler, 27 April 1864
12 special order 7, HQ 91st PA, 19 February 1864
13 special order 49, HQ 91st PA, 26 June 1864
14 letter, Sellers to Bennett, 7 September 1864
15 regimental descriptive book
16 consolidated morning report, 7 February 1863 (Lieut David Lentz)
17 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 16 March 1863 (Lieut David H Lentz; Lieut D H Lentz)
18 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 20 March 1863 (Lieut Lentz)
19 Heitman, Francis B. Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army, from its organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903. (David Henry Lentz)
20 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 25 December 1863 (Lt Lentz)
21 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (David H Lentz)
22 pension index, by name, searched 21 May 2004, at <www.ancestry.com> (David H Lentz)
23 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 29 June 1864 ([not named])
24 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896. Serial Set volume 3516, session volume 40, 54th Congress, 2nd Session, House Document 46. Page 606. (David H Lentz)
25 'Ninety-first Pennsylvania Regiment'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 July 1862, page 2 (David H Lentz)
26 [death notice], Philadelphia Inquirer, 12 September 1903, page 7 (David H Lentz)
27 'The Home Guard organization', Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 June 1861, page 2 (David H Lentz)
28 'Camp Chase at Gray's Ferry' Philadelphia Inquirer 19 October 1861 page 8 (David Lentz)
29 'Camp Chase', Philadelphia Inquirer 30 November 1861 (DH Lentz)
30 'Departure of Col. Gregory's regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1862 page 2 (DH Lentz)
31 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (David H Lentz)
32 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Southwark, ward 4, microfilm series M432, film 822, page 252 = 543 handwritten (David H Lentz)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veterans' census]
[I have not been able to find him in the 1900 census]
1850 census
[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Southwark, ward 4, microfilm series M432, film 822, page 252 = 543 handwritten]| line | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| Dwellings visited | 159 | ||||||||
| Families visited | 203 | ||||||||
| Name | Samuel Lentz | Jane " | David H. " | Jane E. " | Clara R. " | Samuel W. " | Henry " | Henry D. " | Mary Hagen |
| Age | 38 | 36 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 48 | 17 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | F | M | M | M | F |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Grocer | Bottler | |||||||
| Real estate owned | $1000 | ||||||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Penna] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | Scotland |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
death notice
[Philadelphia Inquirer, 12 September 1903, page 7]LENTZ.--September 11, 1903 [sic], at Napa, Cal., Captain DAVID H. LENTZ (formerly of Phladelphia), eldest son of the late Samuel and Jane Lentz, aged 65 years. Interment will be made at Napa, Cal., Monday, September 14.
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revised 30 May 09
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