He was 21 years old when he was enlisted (7, 8). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7, 8).
He was a seaman (8). He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enlisted (8).
He was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown [?] hair (7, 8 [5'8", light complexion, blue eyes, light hair]). He had a scar on the back of his right hand, and a large wart [?] on the knuckle of his "left far finger" (7).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 27 August 1861 (1, 7, 8). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff (7). He was mustered in as a private, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He served as a private in company C (1).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (11).
He seems to have been detailed as a teamster on 22 September 1863, but his name is crossed out, and the order may have been rescinded (3).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer, on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 8, 9 [24 Dec 63]). He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan (9).
He was killed in action on 18 June 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia (1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). His body was rescued, and brought within the lines, by Charles Coates (C), while under enemy fire (4).
He was buried either on 20 June 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia (1, 8), or at City Point National Cemetery, Virginia (2). He was buried on the field (6). The Record of the Federal Dead lists him as being originally buried on Prince George Road, one-half mile east of Meade Station; other soldiers from this same area were moved to Poplar Grove Cemetery, but most of them are now listed as unknown soldiers at Poplar Grove (5, 12).
On 30 July 1864, his widow, Eliza J Miller, applied successfully for a pension (13, 14).
On 10 March 1891, his father, James Miller, applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (13, 14).
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 City Point National Cemetery, interment index (searched 5 October 2000)
3 special order 88, HQ 91st PA, 22 September 1863
4 special order 54, HQ 91st PA, 28 June 1864
5 Poplar Grove Cemetery records (thanks to Elizabeth Dinger-Glisan for the information!) (William D Miller)
6 company C, register of deaths (Wm B Miller)
7 company C, descriptive roll, entry 54 (William B Miller)
8 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 7 July 2004 (William B Miller)
9 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 97 (Wm B Miller)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 29 June 1864 (Pri Miller)
11 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Wm B Miller)
12 'Our illustrious dead', Philadelphia Inquirer 20 July 1865 page 2 (William D Miller)
13 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (William B Miller)
14 pension index, by name (William B Miller)