He was 18 years old when he enlisted in 1864 (2). He was born in York County, Pennsylvania (2).
He was a laborer (2).
He was 5 feet 2-1/4 inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and light hair (2).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 28 January 1864 (1) or 20 January 1864 (2). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Stretch (2). He served as a private in company A (1).
He deserted on 12 May 1864 (1, 2, 4 [missing]). On 3 July 1864, he was reported regained from missing in action, and dropped as a deserter (3).
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) (William Mathews)
2 company A descriptive roll, entry 124 (William Mathias [sic])
3 consolidated morning report, 4 July 1864 (Pri Mathias)
4 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (William Mathias)
[I did not find an entry for him in the index on <www.ancestry.com> to the 1890 veterans' census]
[I did not find an entry for him in the index on <www.ancestry.com> to the pension index by name cards (searched April 2006)]