He was 20 years old when he was enlisted (29). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (29).
He was a paperhanger when he was enlisted (29).
He also served in company D of the 22nd Pennsylvania Infantry (34).
He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair (29).
He was enlisted, for three years, by Lieutenant Murphy, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 24 September 1861 (29, 34 [24 Oct]). He was mustered into service as a sergeant on 24 October 1861 (1, 28). He served in company F (1).
He was promoted on 5 August 1862 from sergeant to first sergeant (1, 28, 29).
He was promoted to second lieutenant on 12 or 16 October 1862, replacing Enoch Brewster (1, 20 [which has both 12 September and 30 October], 27 [16 Oct], 28 [14 Oct], 29 [11 Oct 62]). He was mustered in by Captain Girrard [?] (27).
On 23 February 1863, he returned to the regiment from duty at Windmill Point Hospital (21).
On 24 May 1863, he went on leave for five days (24).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (33).
He led picket details on 26 August 1863 (6, 25), on 2 September 1863 (7), and "accompan[ied]" one on 9 September 1863 (8).
He may have been relieved from command of company E on 22 September 1863; the order is crossed out in the regimental orders book, which may mean it did not take effect (9).
He accompanied a picket detail on 30 September 1863 through 1 October 1863 (10, 26).
A detail under his command buried two confederate commissioned officers and 62 confederate enlisted men some time before 3 October 1863 (5).
He was acting regimental quartermaster on 2 April 1864 [possibly 2 March], and was ordered to requisition ordnance and ordnance stores and deliver them as quickly as possible, and to deliver clothing, and camp and garrison equippage to the senior sergeants of companies A, D, and E, since they weren't commanded by commissioned officers (11).
On 4 July 1864, he was commanding company F, and reported about Oscar Foust (12). On 5 July 1864, he was appointed to a Board of Survey to determine what government property was in company C (14).
On 12 October 1864, he was commanding company F, and was assigned to command company A also (15). He was to give Francis Gregory receipts for all ordnance, ordnance stores, and other property (15).
On 21 October 1864, he was appointed judge advocate on a regimental court martial to try George Justice (D) (16).
He was promoted to captain on 31 October or 1 November 1864 (1, 2, 27 [1 Nov], 31).
On 5 November 1864, John Graham was ordered to give a receipt to Michael for the public property possessed by company A (4).
On 11 November 1864, he was appointed a member of a board of survey to determine for how much government property in companies D, B, and K respectively, John Edgar, George Finney, and John Allen were responsible (17).
He went on a furlough on 16 November 1864; it expired on 27 November 1864 (22 [citing Army of Potomac SO 308], 32 [ibid]). He returned on 26 November 1864 (22).
On 27 January 1865, he and other officers met near Petersburg Virginia and adopted a testimonial to Captain James Closson, who had died in November 1864, of wounds received in action (3).
On 28 February 1865, he was assigned to command company G in addition to his current command, effective 7 February 1865 (18).
On 8 March 1865, he began a leave, which expired on 23 March 1865 (22).
On 22 March 1865, William Spangler was assigned to command company G and ordered to receipt to Michael for all property in the company (19).
On 27 April 1865, Sellers recommended that he received a brevet appointment "[f]or meritorious conduct during the late campaign" (13).
On 22 June 1865, he went on a leave, which expired on 7 July 1865 (22, citing SO 138 5th Corps).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 2, 34).
On 27 May 1891, he successfully applied from Ohio for a pension (30, 34).
On 12 October 1911, he again applied for a pension (34).
He died on 19 December 1919, at the National Military Home in Ohio (34).
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 testimonial to James Closson, adopted 27 Jan 1865
4 special order 103, headquarters, 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, 5 November 1864
5 letter, Gregory to Marvin, 3 October 1863
6 special order 61, HQ 91st PA, 26 August 1863 ('Lieut Michaels Co. "E"')
7 special order 69, HQ 91st PA, 2 September 1863
8 special order 76, HQ 91st PA, 9 September 1863
9 special order 91, HQ 91st PA, 22 September 1863
10 special order 98, HQ 91st PA, 30 September 1863 [note: this is the second order numbered 'Special order 98']
11 special order 32, HQ 91st PA, 2 March [sc. April] 1864
12 letter, Sellers to Breck, 4 July 1864 (William E Michaels)
13 letter, Sellers to Farnsworth, 27 April 1865
14 special order 63, HQ 91st PA, 5 July 1864
15 special order 94, HQ 91st PA, 12 October 1864
16 special order 99, HQ 91st PA, 21 October 1864 (William E Michaels)
17 special order 107, HQ 91st PA, 7 November 1864
18 special order 11, HQ 91st PA, 28 February 1865
19 special order 20, HQ 91st PA, 22 March 1865 (William L [?] Michael)
20 regimental descriptive book (William E Michaels)
21 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 23 Feb 63 (2nd Lt Michael)
22 undated officers' furlough list, in regimental letter, order, guard, and furlough book (three entries) (William E Michaels, Wm Michael, and Wm E Michael)
23 [undated and untitled chart with officers' names] (two references: Wm E Michaels, and Capt Michael)
24 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 24 May 1863 (Wm E Michaels)
25 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 26 Aug 1863 (Lieut Michaels)
26 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 1 Oct 1863 (Lieut Michael)
27 list of commissioned officers ([William] D [?] Michael)
28 company F, list of non-commissioned officers (William Michaels)
29 company F, descriptive roll, #3 (William Michaels)
30 pension index, by name (William E Michael)
31 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 November 1864 (Lt Michael)
32 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 16 November 1864 (Capt Michaels)
33 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Wm E Michael)
34 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (William E Michael)
[I did not find an entry for him in the index on <www.ancestry.com> to the 1890 veterans' census (searched February 2006)]