He was 21 years old when he enlisted (5, 6). He was born in London, England (5).
He was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (5).
He was enlisted and mustered into service in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry on 12 August 1862 (1, 3, 5, 6, 7 [2 Aug]). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Townsend (5). He was mustered in as a private at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6). He served as a private in company H (1).
He reported to duty under the President's Proclamation, presumably after deserting (5).
He was transferred from the 118th Pennsylvania (1, 6). He served in company B of the 91st Pennsylvania (1).
He may have been charged for lost equipment, perhaps when the regiment mustered out (4).
He was mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1, 6).
He unsuccessfully applied for a pension on 6 January 1870 (2, 7).
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) (Joseph Wade)
2 pension index by name (supplied by Dennis Clowney) [note: this mentions only his service in the 118th PA] (Joseph Wade)
3 Bates [see #1], volume 3, page 1336 [note: this lists him as not accounted for] (Joseph Wade)
4 list of men who owed money [?] (Joseph Wade)
5 company B, [third] descriptive roll, entry 111 (Joseph Wade)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 23 June 2004 (Joseph Wade)
7 pension index, by regiment, 118th PA Infantry, company H (Joseph Wade)
[I did not find an entry for him under the 91st PA Infantry in the pension index by unit (viewed Dec 2008)]
[I did not find an entry for him in the index on <www.ancestry.com> to the 1890 veterans' census (searched February 2006)]