Morris Kayser
Before the war
He was 22 years old when he was enrolled in 1861 (33).
He was Jewish (43).
He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enrolled (33).
During the war
He was mustered into service as a private in company F of the 17th Pennsylvania Infantry on 25 April 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21, 22, 33). He mustered out with the regiment on 2 August 1861 (33).
He was mustered into service as a first lieutenant in company B, on 6 November 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 14, 20, 21, 32, 33, 40).
On 29 June 1862, he, along with the other commissioned officers in the regiment (except Colonel Gregory), signed a statement denying accusations that they were on the verge of open mutiny, that the regiment had been reduced to 400 men, and that Colonel Gregory was too lenient to Confederates and too harsh to men in the regiment (39).
From the time the company formed, Kayser and his Captain, Alpheus Bowman, clashed (20). Kayser behaved disrespetfully toward Bowman, and apparently perpetrated many "provocations" (20). At least one soldier believed that Kayser wanted to command the company (20).
This long-simmering tension came to a head on 26 July 1862 (20). Bowman had asked Sergeant William Elder to bring the morning report to him in his quarters for his signature (20). Kayser asked Elder whether taking the report to the Captain was his custom, and Elder said it was, when the Captain so ordered (20). Kayser insisted the Captain had no right to sign it if he was not at the company quarters, and Kayser signed it (20). When Elder told Bowman, this obviously infuriated Bowman, who went to the regimental headquarters, at the provost marshall's office, in Alexandria Virginia (20). Kayser had just entered the quartermaster's office, with Francis Gregory (20). Bowman asked, "Who put you in charge of my company?" (20). Kayser replied, "In your absence I supposed I was in command" (20). (Bowman suggested that he also said "I'm always in command of the company", but no witnesses confirmed that (20).) Bowman then told Kayser, 'You are a liar, you God damned son of a bitch' (20). He hit him twice in the face, knocking a pipe out of his mouth, and was about to hit him a third time when Benjamin Tayman intervened (20). Kayser then stepped into a doorway, and told Bowman, "Captain, you are my superior, but I'll strike you if you do it again" (20). Bowman walked out and sat down, holding the morning report book (20). Kayser stood near George McNeil, who apparently was a clerk in the office, and according to McNeil said "I've got him where I want him. I've been waiting for this", and left (20). According to Charles King (A) [either Charles King or Charles J King], Bowman also called Kayser a "damned rascal", said he could whip him in two minutes, and said (looking King in the face) "I would put a ball through him" (20). Francis Gregory (A) and Lt M B Ewing (1st Ohio Light Artillery) were also present (20).
On 8 February 1863, he erroneously reported that Joel Weeks was dead, having received an official report of his death (15). He left the regiment without permission on or about 9 February 1863, near Falmouth, Virginia (8).
On 19 February 1863, the regiment and his company were on picket duty (8). While he was reported sick in camp, he went to Philadelphia, and did not return until 23 February 1863 (8). According to Benjamin Tayman, Kayser later told Colonel Gregory that he left to see his sister's wedding; he also told this to Justus Gregory, and claimed that getting to Philadelphia without a pass was easy (23). Kayser claimed his sister was ill and about to move west (23). This was about the time Captain Alpheus Bowman returned to the regiment, having been recommissioned after having been court-martialed.
Kayser was assigned to duty with company I on 28 February 1863 (17).
In April 1863, he applied for a leave, but Colonel Gregory rejected the application when Kayser admitted he had been in Philadelphia in February (23, Tayman's testimony).
He was transferred from company I to company H on 7 May 1863 (18).
When the regimental adjutant, Benjamin Tayman, was arrested, on 13 May 1863, he was returned to company B, and assigned to duty as the acting regimental adjutant (19). On 23 May 1863, he was on leave for two days (but continued to sign the consolidated morning reports!) (24).
During this time, he repeatedly attempted to resign, because (as he said) "
When he was relieved from duty as acting regimental adjutant, on or about 11 June 1863, he refused to obey an order to report for duty to Captain Bowman, company B (8; see also 25):
Camp near United States Ford Va June 11nt 1863. Lieut B. J. Tayman, Adjutant 91st Reg. Pa Vols. Lieutenant, Having been relieved from duty as Acting Adjutant, I therefore most respectfully but positively refuse returning to duty in co "B" I am Lieutenant, very Respectfully Yours & c Morris Kayser 1st Lieut Co. "B" 91st Reg. Pa. Vols.
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (38).
On 1 July 1863, Isaac Knight gave him a pass to ride in the ambulance, because he was suffering from acute rheumatism (23). Lieutenant Colonel Sinex gave him a pass to go to the rear of the regiment, on 2 July 1863 (23). He left the regiment on 2 July 1863 because of illness, and went to Washington without permission (3). He claimed he was "sent from Division Hosptial to Baltimore" (23). He rejoined the regiment at Purcellville, Virginia, on 19 July 1863 (3).
On 30 July 1863, he was tried before a general court martial at the 3rd Brigade 2nd Division 5th Corps headquarters, with Lieutenant Colonel Ernst (140th NY) presiding (7, 23; see also 26). The other members of the court came from the 140th NY, 146th NY, 91st PA, and 155th PA infantry (23). The only member of the 91st on the court was Captain Joseph Casner (23).
Kayser was charged with two counts of absence without leave (one while the regiment was on picket duty), and with positive and wilfull disobedience of orders (7, 8, 23). Witnesses were Edgar Gregory, Benjamin Tayman, Eli Sellers, Howard Shipley, Justus Gregory, Charles Leipold, and William McCalla (8, 23). Kayser pled guilty to absence without leave in February 1863, not guilty to having been absent without leave while the regiment was on picket duty, guilty to disobeying an order, and not guilty to absence without leave in July 1863 (23).
He was found guilty on all counts, except for having been absent without leave while the regiment was on picket duty (23). He was sentenced to lose all pay and allowances for two months (7, 23, 27). The Assistant Adjutant General, Fred Locke, found the sentence "entirely inadequate", since the offenses merited death, and dismissal would have been a lenient punishment (7). Nevertheless, he approved the sentence, perhaps because he did not have authority to do anything else (7; see articles of war, article 89).
On 29 August 1863, he was detailed to take charge of conscripts (9, 28).
On 31 August 1863 someone wrote a letter under the pseudonym "J Burnside" denouncing Alpheus Bowman (16). Lieutenant Colonel Sinex claimed that he believed the author was "by a Brother Officer of Capt. Bowman's", and said that "these two Officers have for a long time been on unfriendly terms, & each would consider he had done good service, by having the other Cashiered" (16). This seems to make it likely that Kayser was the author.
He may have been assigned to command company E on 22 September 1863, but the entire order is crossed out in the regimental orders book, and may not have taken effect (10).
He was commissioned captain on 24 September 1863, but not mustered in (1, 33).
He accompanied a picket detail on 27 September 1863 (11, 29).
He received public property as a result of the discharge of Captain Bowman; on 3 October 1863, a board of survey was appointed to inventory and report the condition of that property (12).
Edward Gamble became his cook on 28 October 1863, and was still his cook on 14 November 1863 (4), and 30 December (5).
He accompanied a detail on picket duty on 14 November 1863 (13, 30).
He resigned on 16 February 1864 (1, 2, 14 [accepted 6 Feb 64], 21, 31 [dis by order of War Dept 6 Feb 64], 33).
After the war
On 16 December 1902, and again on 19 February [?] 1907, he successfully applied from New York for a pension (6, 21).
He died on 29 May 1933, at New York, New York (21). Perhaps he is the Max Kayser who died on 29 May 1933 (34). If so, he lived at 230 West 79th Street, was married to Milly, and was the father of Edna Kayser (34). (See below for the 1880 through 1920 census records for this Max Kayser. According to the 1890 census, this Max Kayser was a civil war veteran.)
Sources
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 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 2 Aug 1863
4 letter, Gregory to Marvin, 14 November 1863
5 letter, Sellers to Marvin, 30 December 1863
6 Pension index, by name. (Searched 8 May 2001, on <www.ancestry.com>.)
7 general order 36, HQ 5th Corps, 22 August 1863
8 charges and specifications preferred against Morris Kayser
9 special order 64, HQ 91st PA, 9 August 1863
10 special order 92, HQ 91st PA, 22 September 1863
11 special order 94, HQ 91st PA, 27 September 1863
12 special order 101, HQ 91st PA, 3 October 1863
13 special order 105, HQ 91st PA, 14 November 1863
14 regimental descriptive book
15 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 14 February 1863
16 letter, Sinex to Thomas, 14 September 1863
17 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 February 1863 (Lieut M Kayser)
18 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Lieut Kayser)
19 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 13 May 1863 (Lt Kayser) [see also the subsequent consolidated morning reports, which Kayser signed as acting adjutant]
20 court-martial record, Alpheus Bowman
21 pension index, by regiment (Morris Kayser)
22 Bates [see 1 above], volume 1, page 165 (Morris Kayser)
23 court-martial record, Morris Kayser
24 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 23 May 1863 (Lieut Kayser)
25 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 11 June 1863 [not named; he is apparently still reported on "special duty", but Tayman signed the incomplete report]
26 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 July 1863 [not named; present under arrest--the previous report is from 11 June]
27 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 26 Aug 1863 (Lieut Kayser)
28 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 30 August 1863 (Lieut Kayser)
29 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 September 1863 (Lieut Kayser)
30 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 15 November 1863 (Lt Kayser)
31 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 17 February 1864 (#1) (Lt Kayser)
32 Co. B, List of commissioned officers (Morris Kayser)
33 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 22 May 2004 (Morris Kayser)
34 [death notice], New York Times 30 May 1933, page 15 (Max [sic] Kayser)
35 1920 US census, New York, New York County, Manhattan, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 569, microfilm series T625, film 1198, page 130 = 11A handwritten] (Max Kayer [sic])
36 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New York, New York, New York, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 739 (image 1163 of 1461 on <www.ancestry.com>)] (Max Keyser)
37 1880 US census, New York, New York County, New York City, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 583, microfilm series T9, film 895, page 443 = 26B handwritten] (Max Keyser)
38 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Morris Kayser)
39 'Ninety-first Pennsylvania Regiment'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 July 1862, page 2 (Morris Harper [sic])
40 'Camp Chase at Gray's Ferry' Philadelphia Inquirer 19 October 1861 page 8 (- Keyser)
41 'Camp Chase', Philadelphia Inquirer 30 November 1861 (Morris Kayser)
42 'Departure of Col. Gregory's regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1862 page 2 (Morris Kayser)
43 Morais, Henry Samuel. The Jews of Philadelphia: their history from the earliest settlements to the present time. A record of events and institutions, and of leading members of the Jewish community in every sphere of activity.. Philadelphia: the Levytype Company, 1894. [Based on a series of articles published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger in 1891.] Page 501. (Morris Kayser)
[I have not been able to find Morris Kayser in the 1860 or 1870 censuses. In the 1860 census (based on the Ancestry index ), the only relevant person in Philadelphia is Morris Keyser, who was ten years old; there is also a Morris Kizer, 23, in Tioga County. The 1870 census is no better.]
death notice
[New York Times 30 May 1933, page 15][note: I could not find any other death notice that could be his]
KAYSER--On May 29, Max, beloved husband of Milly, father of Edna. Funeral from his late residence, 230 West 79th St., on Tuesday afternoon, May 30, at 2:30 o'clock.
1880 census
[1880 US census, New York, New York County, New York City, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 583, microfilm series T9, film 895, page 443 = 26B handwritten]| line | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| street name | East 55th | |||||
| house number | 72 | |||||
| dwelling visit # | 136 | |||||
| family visit # | 178 | |||||
| name | Keyser Max | - Amelia | - Edna | Simon Rosa | Metzner Lizzie | Harold Mary |
| color | - [sc. W] | - | - | - | - | - |
| sex | M | F | - | - | - | - |
| age | 39 | 28 | 2/12 | 22 | 20 | 26 |
| month born if born in year | Mch | |||||
| relationship | Wife | daughter | servant | - | - | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||
| married during year | ||||||
| occupation | Shirt Man'r | Keep house | At home | servant | - | - |
| months unemployed | ||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||
| idiotic | ||||||
| insane | ||||||
| disabled | ||||||
| school this year | ||||||
| can't read | ||||||
| can't write | ||||||
| birthplace | Pena | Ohio | NY | Darmstadt | Bavaria | |
| father's birthplace | Saxony | Bavaria | Pa | Darmstadt | Bavaria | |
| mother's birthplace | Saxony | Prussia | Ohio | Bavaria | Bavaria | |
1890 census, veterans schedule
[1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New York, New York, New York, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 739 (image 1163 of 1461 on <www.ancestry.com>)][I did not find an entry for Morris Kayser in the index on <www.ancestry.com> to the 1890 veterans' census (searched November 2005)]
[I did not find a Max Kayser in the Ancestry Civil War service records, or in the index to the pension index by name on Ancestry]
[line] 6
[house] 11
[family] 17
[name] Max Keyser [the index on <www.ancestry.com> reads his first name as 'Marx']
[rank] U.S. Sol
[company] [blank]
[unit] [blank]
[enlistment date] [blank]
[discharge date] [blank]
[length of service] [blank]
[post office address] 175 East 79th St
[disability incurred] [blank]
[remarks] [blank]
1900 census
[1900 US census, New York, New York, Manhattan Borough, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 757, microfilm series T623, film 1114, page 147B, lines 68-70][NB: Whether this Max Kayser is Morris Kayser is not clear; see the text above]
| line | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 |
| street | 79 St | ||||
| house number | [175] | ||||
| dwelling number | [7] | ||||
| family number | 14 | ||||
| name | Kayser Max | Millie | Edna | Simon Lottie | Meeham Ellen |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Mother | Servant |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F | F |
| birth date | June 1841 | July 1851 | Mar 1880 | Oct 1833 | Nov 1872 |
| age | 58 | 48 | 20 | 66 | 27 |
| married? | M | M | S | Wd | S |
| # years married | 29 | 29 | |||
| mother of how many children? | 1 | 1 | |||
| # of children living | 1 | 1 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Connecticut | New York | Germany | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Germany | Germany | Pennsylvania | Germany | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Germany | Germany | Connecticut | Germany | Ireland |
| immigration year | 1840 | 1884 | |||
| # years in USA | 60 | 16 | |||
| naturalized citizen? | |||||
| occupation | Real Estate | At School | Servant | ||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | |||
| # months in school | 10 | ||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| free or mortgaged | |||||
| farm/house | H | ||||
| # of farm schedule |
1910 census
[1910 US census, New York, New York, Manhattan Borough ward 12, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 481, page 144A (handwritten 11A), lines 5-10][NB: Whether this Max Kayser is Morris Kayser is not clear; see the text above]
| line | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| street | Madison Avenue | |||||
| house nr | [1237] | |||||
| dwelling nr | ||||||
| family nr | 215 | |||||
| name | Kayser, Max | _ Milly | _ Edna | Simon Lottie | Buchman Caroline | Meehan Ellen |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Mother-in-law | Sister-in-law | Servant |
| sex | M | F | F | F | F | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 68 | 58 | 30 | 88 | 63 | 40 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | Wd | Wd | S |
| #years present marriage | 39 | 39 | ||||
| mother of # children | 1 | 5 | 2 | |||
| mother of # living children | 1 | 4 | 0 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Ohio | New York | Ger German | Ohio | Ire Irish |
| father's birthplace | Ger German | Ger German | Pennsylvania | Ger German | Ger German | Ire Irish |
| mother's birthplace | Ger German | Ger German | Ohio | Ger German | Ger German | Ire Irish |
| immigrated | 1845 | 1880 | ||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Broker | none | none | none | none | Gen housework |
| nature of industry etc. | Real Estate | Private family | ||||
| employer etc. | W | W | ||||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | ||||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||||||
| owned/rented | R | |||||
| owned free or mortagaged | ||||||
| farm/house | H | |||||
| nr on farm schedule | ||||||
| civil war vet | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf & dumb |
1920 census
[1920 US census, New York, New York County, Manhattan, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 569, microfilm series T625, film 1198, page 130 = 11A handwritten][NB: Whether this Max Kayser is Morris Kayser is not clear; see the text above]
[I did not transcribe the numberous other families living at this address]<
| line | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| street | West 79th St | |||
| house number | [226] | |||
| dwelling visit number | [16] | |||
| family visit number | [220] | |||
| name | Kayer Max | - Millie | - Edna | Meehan Ellen |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Servant |
| own/rent | R | |||
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | ||||
| sex | M | F | F | F |
| race | W | W | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 78 | 68 | 39 | 50 |
| marital status | M | M | S | S |
| year of immigration | 1883 | |||
| naturalized/alien | Al | |||
| year of naturalization | ||||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | no |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | no |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Ohio | New York | Ireland |
| native language | English | English | English | English |
| father's birthplace | Germany | Bavaria Ger | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| father's native language | German | Bavarian Ger | English | English |
| mother's birthplace | Germany | Bavaria Ger | Ohio | Ireland |
| mother's native language | German | Barvarian Ger | English | English |
| can speak English | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| occupation | Head [?] | None | None | General HW |
| industry, business | Real Estate | Private family | ||
| employment status | OA | W | ||
| number of farm schedule | ||||
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revised 12 Dec 06
contact Harry Ide at hide1@unl.edu with comments or questions
