He was a native of County Antrim, Ireland (13). He was 19 years old when he was enlisted (16).
His brother George Murphy also served in the 91st Pennsylvania (11). They may be related to Daniel Murphy (D/F) (11). They also had a sister, Mary Murphy (13).
He was a clerk when he was enlisted (16). He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16).
He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, hazel eyes, and light hair (16).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 4 December 1861 (1, 16). He was enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He was mustered in, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as first sergeant in company I (1, 16).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (20).
Beginning 2 July 1863, he was absent sick (12). He returned on 10 August 1863 (12).
He re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer (1, 16). He was enlisted on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (16).
He was wounded on 12 May 1864 at Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia (1, 22).
On 12 July 1864, he returned to duty from being absent wounded (17).
On 30 October 1864 he received a commission from the Governor of Pennsylvania, dated 30 September 1864 (4). On 9 November 1864 Sellers asked that Murphy be discharged to allow him to accept the commission (4). He was mustered in as first lieutenant on 10 November 1864, by Captain Laughlin, in accordance with special order 281, headquarters 5th Army Corps (14, 16, 18).
On 14 November 1864, he was assigned to command company D (5).
On 30 November 1864, he was assigned to command company K in addition to his current command (6).
On 1 January 1865, he was relieved from command of company K, and ordered to turn over all public property to George Coster (7).
On 16 January 1865, he was assigned to be acting adjutant, relieving John Allen (8, 19). On 25 January 1865, he was acting adjutant.
On 27 January 1865, he and other officers met near Petersburg Virginia and adopted a testimonial to Captain James Closson, who had died in November 1864, of wounds received in action (3).
On 28 February 1865, George Coster was assigned to command company D, and ordered to receipt to Murphy for all property (9). Murphy was discharged on 1 March 1865 on surgeon's certificate of disability (1; 2 has 1 Mar 1863; 14 [refers to so 53 5th AC], 15 [no date], 16, 21).
He lived in San Francisco, and was very wealthy (13). He owned several businesses, including the Continental Coffee Brokerage, which he sold to The Famous Hills Brothers Coffee Family (13). He survived the Great San Francisco Earthquake, in 1906 (13).
A nephew of Adam's visited him about 1900 (13). According to him, Adam was a strapping man more than 6 feet tall, who was cleaning a revolver that had belonged to his brother George (13). According to the family story, Adam had crawled out into the battlefield to retrieve the revolver and his pocket watch from his body (13).
He died on 17 February 1907, in San Francisco, California (11). He is buried in Mt. View Cemetery (11). He was survived by two daughters, to whom he left his estate (including a yacht, diamonds, and furs) (13).
Contact Denny Carroll at guscarroll@comcast.net.
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 Official Army Register (Adam Murphy)
3 testimonial to James Closson, adopted 27 Jan 1865
4 letter, Sellers to Bartlett, 9 November 1864
5 special order 109, HQ 91st PA, 14 November 1864
6 special order 115, HQ 91st PA, 30 November 1864
7 special order 1, HQ 91st PA, 1 January 1865
8 special order 6, HQ 91st PA, 16 January 1865 (Adam Murphy)
9 special order 11, HQ 91st PA, 28 February 1865
10 [undated and untitled chart with officers' names] (two references: Adam Murphy, and Lt Murphy)
11 e-mail, Denny Carroll (Adam Hill Murphy)
12 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 10 August 1863 (Sergt Murphy)
13 e-mail, Denny Carroll, 28 November 2003
14 company I, list of commissioned officers (Adam H Murphy)
15 company I, register of men discharged (Adam H Murphy)
16 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 28 March 2005 (Adam Murphy)
17 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 12 July 1864 (Lieut Murphy)
18 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 15 November 1864 (Sergt Murphy)
19 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 January 1865 (A H Murphy)
20 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Adam Murphy)
21 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 March 1865 (Lt Murphy)
22 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (Adam Murphy)
[I did not find him in the index to pension index cards on <www.ancestry.com> (searched 29 March 2006)]
[I did not find an entry for him in the 1890 veterans' census (searched index on <www.ancestry.com>, 29 March 2006)--note that the California 1890 veterans' census schedules are lost]
