Joseph Gilbert

During the war

He was enlisted and mustered into service on 20 August 1861 (4, 18, 1 [26 Sep 61], 19). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff (18). He served in company C, initially as a private (1).

He was appointed corporal on 21 September 1861 (16).

On the recapitulation for the muster roll dated 31 October 1861, he was the 8th corporal, and was present (4). He was also present, as a corporal, on the muster roll dated 31 December 1861 (recapitulation) and the rolls for January/February 1862, March/April 1862, May/June 1862, and a special muster roll dated 18 August 1862 (4). According to the July/August 1862 muster roll, he was promoted to 4th Corporal on 15 August 1862 (4). He was again present on the September/October 1862 muster roll (4).

He was promoted to fifth sergeant on 22 December 1862 (4, 16). He was present as sergeant on the muster rolls for November/December 1862, January/February 1863, 28 February to 10 May 1863, a special muster roll dated 10 April 1863, July/August 1863, 10 May to 30 June 1863, September/October 1863, and November/December 1863 (4).

On 7 May 1863, he was reported missing in action (11). He was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville (35).

He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (30). He was then a sergeant (30).

He married Sylvania B [unknown surname] in 1863/64 (23). In 1900, she had had four children, all of whom were still alive (23). In 1910, she had had four children, three of whom were still alive (29).

On 9 October 1863, he went on a ten-day furlough (12). He had returned by 23 October 1863 (13).

He re-enlisted at Bealton Virginia for three years as a veteran volunteer on 24 December 1863 (1, 4). He was enlisted by Lieutenant Carpenter, examined by Assistant Surgeon Kier (4). He was discharged on 25 December 1863, and mustered into service by Lieutenant Swann on 26 December 1863 (4). According to the muster-out roll dated 25 December 1863, he was due $6.22 for clothing (4).

According to the muster roll for January/February 1864, he had received $13 (one month's pay) in advance pay, a $2 premium, and a $60 bounty (4). He was due $4 for the difference between a private's and a sergeant's pay, and was due $50 in bounty (4). He was present, as a sergeant, on the muster roll for March/April 1864 (4).

He was promoted to first sergeant (orderly sergeant) on 30 June 1864, replacing John Stewart, who had died on 22 June 1864 (4, 5, 17). He was present on the May-June 1864 muster roll, and was due the second and third instalments of the bounty--$100 (4).

He was accidentally wounded on 3 July 1864 (1, 4). He was still absent, in the hospital, on the July-August, September-October, and November-December muster rolls (4). By December, he was also due the fourth instalment of the bounty (4).

On 20 February 1865, he received a commission as Captain from the governor of Pennsylvania, which was dated 10 October 1864 (4, 15 [appointed 10 Oct 64], 18 [promoted 10 Oct 64]). On 21 February 1865, Lieutenant Colonel Sellers requested that he be discharged to enable him to accept that commission (4, 6). He was discharged in accordance with Special Order 49 (1865), from the Head Quarters of the 5th Army Corps (4, 32). He was promoted on 24 February 1865 from 1st sergeant to captain, replacing Maguigan, whose term of service had expired (1, 3, 4, 32). (His muster-in was dated 15 October 1864, under acts approved 3 June 1884 and 3 February 1887 (4).)

On 26 February 1865, he was assigned to command company C, and ordered to receipt to Joseph Everhart for all ordnance, ordnance stores, and other property (9).

He was present as Captain on the January/February 1865 muster roll, according to which he was due pay as a first sergeant from 31 December 1864 to 20 February 1865, and was due pay for commanding company C starting 24 February 1865 (4).

On 16 March 1865, the regiment was paraded for review in front of the Division Hospital (14). Gilbert was initially in command of the first division, and Theodore Hope was commanding the regiment, while Eli Sellers was at a court martial (14). When Sellers returned, he ordered Hope to take command of the first division (14). Gilbert then rode to the rear of the regiment (14). When Sellers realized that Gilbert had been commanding the first division, he sent the adjutant to order him to take command of company F (14, 7). Gilbert then came next to Sellers, on the way to company F, and asked whether he should take command of his own company (14). Sellers repeated that his orders were to take command of company F, and Gilbert said (in a disrepectful manner) that there was some "God damned funny things [or work] going on here" (14, 7). Sellers immediately placed him under arrest, and ordered him to go to his quarters (14, 4, 8, 33).

On 23 March 1865, he was charged with disobeying orders and with contempt and disrespect towards his commanding officer (7), or perhaps with disobeying orders and with conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline (8).

He and Thomas Walter (who was also under arrest) rested in a deserted log cabin while the regiment fought at Dabney's Mill (2).

He was tried before a court martial on 28 March 1865 (8). Howard W Prince, 20th Maine Volunteers, was the judge advocate (8). Sellers was the only witness (14). Gilbert's cross-examination of Sellers was especially inept; it consisted only of asking whether Sellers was sure of details of his testimony (14). The court stopped him on his third question (14). Fortunately for him, the court questioned Sellers about whether Gilbert could have been going to take command of company F when he spoke to Sellers, and whether Gilbert had time to obey the order (14). They decided he was not guilty of disobeying orders, but was guilty of disrespectful behavior (14).

Gilbert was absent without proper authority from about 31 March 1865, until 23 April 1865 (8).

On 31 May 1865, Sellers had not heard a verdict (8). Gilbert had forwarded a resignation to him, but he thought it was inappropriate to pass it on while he was still waiting for the verdict (8).

By order of General Court Martial, he forfeited one months pay and allowances (G. O. number 6, 13 March 1865, Head Quarters 1st Division 5th Army Corps) (4). He was again to be paid for commanding company C beginning 8 June 1865 (4). On 8 June, he was ordered to resume command of company C, giving Joseph Everhart a receipt for all public property (10).

He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1, 19). According to the muster-out roll, he was still due first sergeant's pay to 20 February 1865, and was still due the extra pay for commanding company C (4). He owed the US $6.45 for clothing, and still had to forfeit one months' pay and allowances (4).