He was 16 years old when he was enrolled (7). He was 18 years old when he was reenlisted, in 1863 (6, 8). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7, 8).
He was a clerk (6, 7, 8). He was living in Philadelphia when he was enrolled (6).
He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (6, 7, 8 [5'4"]).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 15 October 1861 (1, 6, 7). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Sinex (7). He was mustered in service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a musician, by Captain Sinex (6, 7). He served as a musician in company D (1).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (10).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863 (1, 6, 8). He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan (8).
On 30 July 1864 he was ordered by Colonel Gregory to report to the Fifth Corp Hospital at City Point (2, 3, 5 [1 Aug], 9 [1 Aug]). The detail was to report to brigade headquarters at 8 am on 1 August 1864 (3). He was still detailed as a nurse in September (?) 1864 (5).
On 10 March 1865, he went on a furlough, which ended on 25 March 1865 (4). He returned on 28 March 1865 (4).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 6).
On 16 March 1892, he applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (11, 12).
On 6 August 1897, his widow, Mary E C Widdifield, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (11, 12).
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 letter, Tayman to Reed, 13 August 1864
3 special order 186, HQ 5th Army Corps, 30 July 1864
4 enlisted men's furloughs (Jos Widdifield)
5 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (Joseph Weddefield)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 18 May 2004 (Joseph Widdefield; rolls have 'Widdifield')
7 company D, descriptive roll, musicians, entry 2 (Joseph Widdifield)
8 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 10 (Jos Widdifield)
9 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 August 1864 (Musician Widdifield)
10 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Joseph Widdefield)
11 pension index, by name (two cards) (Joseph Widdifield)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Joseph Widdifield)
[I did not find an entry for him in the index on <www.ancestry.com> to the 1890 veterans' census (searched April 2007)]