Muster Roll of the Constitution Rangers

The “Constitution Rangers” of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania,
were assigned Company “I” of the 2nd Pennsylvania Reserves.

Researcher August Marchetti’s Notes:

The following muster roll is reconstructed using documents housed at the Pennsylvania State Archives. As referenced in Simon Losinger’s notes below, this roll is largely absent from Bates’ “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers”; it is also not included in the Regimental History authored by Evan M. Woodward, “Our Campaigns.” Likewise, in Josiah R. Sypher’s work, “History of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps” the muster roll is also absent. The only men listed however, are simply the names of three officers, and that is all. This is largely due to the fact that in August of 1861, Company I was entirely disbanded and never replaced. As of September 2023, that has been rectified and the muster roll presented below.

This muster roll contains the names of the men who Captain Knox enrolled in his company. This information was furnished to Lt. Col. Henry J. Biddle, who on May 27, 1861 in Philadelphia, mustered the company into service of the state of Pennsylvania.

Contributor Simon Losinger’s Notes:
1. Samuel P. Bates states in his History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865, that Company I, together with Companies B, F, and G, were ordered by General Banks to be disbanded on or about August 16, 1861 “on the ground of their numbers being below the standard of acceptance – all the companies having been greatly reduced by the withdrawal of disaffected men – the officers to be mustered out and the men to be transferred to other companies“(Bates, Vol. 1, page 576).

2. Company I, unlike Companies B, F, and G, was not subsequently reformed.

3. The roll that Bates provides in his History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865 consists of a listing of only Company I’s original three commissioned officers.

NAME.	RANK.	AGE.	HEIGHT	COMP’N.	EYES.	HAIR.	OCCU’N.	RES.	REMARKS
Knox, William	Captain	42	6′ 0″	Sandy	Blue	Brown	Shipwright	Philadelphia	Discharged, Aug. 27, 1861, by order of General Banks. Editor Note: Bates indicates in his History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865 (Vol. 1, page 576) that after his discharge, William Knox was appointed to the position of regimental Sutler, in which capacity he served until May, 1862.
Weir, Thomas	1st Lieutenant	35	6′ 1 1/2″	Dark	Gray	Brown	Actor	Philadelphia	Discharged, Aug. 27, 1861, by order of General Banks.
Jack, John H.	2nd Lieutenant	25	5′ 8 1/2″	Dark	Gray	Black	Actor	Philadelphia	Discharged, Aug. 27, 1861, by order of General Banks, appointed 1st Lt., Co. B, 2nd Reserves, Oct., 29, 1861.
Chidester, David	1st Sergeant	30	5′ 9″	Light	Hazel	Light	Cordwainer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Fisher, Joseph	2nd Sergeant	34	5′ 9″	Dark	Hazel	Black	Stevedore	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
McNally, George	3rd Sergeant	37	5′ 8 1/2″	Light	Blue	Black	Morocco Finisher	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Lugar, William	4th Sergeant	25	5′ 11 1/2″	Light	Brown	Brown	Gentleman	Philadelphia
Van Valkingberg, William M.	1st Corporal	27	5′ 9 1/2″	Light	Brown	Dark	Bar Keeper	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Chidester, George	2nd Corporal	26	5′ 8 1/2″	Light	Hazel	Brown	Seaman	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
White, Isaac C.	3rd Corporal	24	5′ 4 1/2″	Light	Blue	Dark	Carpenter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Hoffmman, Washington	4th Corporal	25	5′ 4 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Dark	Fisherman	Philadelphia
MacLain, William	1st Musician	24	5′ 3 1/2″	Light	Hazel	Light	Saw Grinder	Philadelphia
Keller, John F.	2nd Musician	25	5′ 5 1/2″	Light	Blue	Light	Currier	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Blair, John	Private	40	5′ 11 1/2″	Light	Blue	Dark	Bookkeeper	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Bishop, David	Private	33	5′ 7 1/2	Florid	Grey	Dark	Cordwainer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Brown, George	Private	21	5′ 6 1/2″	Florid	Blue	Brown	Brickmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Black, William H.	Private	27	5′ 11″	Dark	Grey	Black	Plasterer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Bowen, Zadoc W.	Private	23	5′ 8″	Dark	Brown	Black	Moulder	Berlin, Md.	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Brown, James	Private	25	5′ 8 1/2″	Sandy	Blue	Brown	Brickmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Benners, George	Private	27	5′ 8 1/2″	Light	Hazel	Brown	Butcher	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Bower, John	Private	26	5′ 7″	Light	Grey	Light	Stove Moulder	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Bookhammer, C. Z.	Private	32	5′ 9 1/2″	Light	Grey	Light	Carpenter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Baird, James	Private	28	5′ 8 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Black	Lithographer	Philadelphia	Last name spelled on the list of men who refused the oath as “Barret.” Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Clark, Thomas	Private	22	5′ 7 1/2″	Sandy	Blue	Light	Machinist	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Desher, Edward	Private	24	5′ 7 1/2″	Sandy	Grey	Light	Carpenter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Deininger, Jacob	Private	20	5′ 8 1/2″	Light	Hazel	Light	Laborer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Dreher, Lewis	Private	23	5′ 10″	Dark	Hazel	Black	Cigarmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Devenney, James	Private	26	5′ 6″	Dark	Blue	Dark	Brickmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Donahoe, Thomas	Private	22	5′ 5 1/2″	Light	Hazel	Brown	Butcher	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Ewing, James	Private	21	5′ 0″	Dark	Grey	Dark	Brickmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Ferguson, Robert	Private	24	5′ 11″	Sandy	Grey	Light	Moulder	Philadelphia
Fernon, George W.	Private	31	5′ 6″	Florid	Blue	Light	Clerk	Philadelphia
Fry, Chalres	Private	22	5′ 9″	Light	Blue	Dark	Butcher	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Ferguson, John	Private	35	5′ 10″	Sandy	Blue	Sandy	Brickmaker	Philadelphia
Frederick, Reuben	Private	41	5′ 4 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Dark	Inn Keeper	Philadelphia
Goodwin, Theodore	Private	35	5′ 5 1/2″	Light	Grey	Light	Shoemaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Goodwin, Augustus L.	Private	20	5′ 7 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Black	Gas Fitter	Philadelphia
Goss, John	Private	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Clerk	Philadelphia	Not on muster roll at the State Archives. But name present on the roll of men who Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Geiger, John W.	Private	30	5′ 5″	Dark	Blue	Light	Machinist	Philadelphia
Galloway, Joseph D.	Private	26	5′ 6 1/2″	Light	Blue	Light	Gas Fitter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Graham, George	Private	19	5′ 4 1/2″	Light	Blue	Light	Wheelwright	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Hinchman, Isaac	Private	20	5′ 7 1/2″	Light	Grey	Brown	Carpenter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Hoffner, George	Private	31	5′ 9 1/2″	Light	Blue	Brown	Carpenter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Harker, Edward	Private	30	5′ 10″	Light	Blue	Brown	Painter	Philadelphia
Hogan, Daniel	Private	32	5′ 5 1/2″	Dark	Blue	Dark	Operative	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Lincoln, Francis H.	Private	23	5′ 9″	Light	Blue	Brown	Plumber	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Leisenring, Daniel	Private	27	5′ 6″	Light	Blue	Brown	Brickmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Larason, William E.	Private	23	5′ 6 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Dark	Teamster	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Lewis, George C.	Private	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Conductor	Philadelphia	Not on muster roll at the State Archives. But name present on the roll of men who Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Leonard, William N.	Private	22	5′ 6 1/2″	Dark	Blue	Black	Cigarmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Madden, George	Private	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gardner	Philadelphia	Not on muster roll at the State Archives. But name present on the roll of men who Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Martin, George	Private	24	5′ 9″	Light	Blue	Black	Hatter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Miller, John E.	Private	28	5′ 11 1/2″	Light	Blue	Light	Upholsterer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Maginnis, Dennis	Private	22	5′ 6 1/2″	Dark	Blue	Light	Lithographer	Philadelphia
Mink, Andrew J.	Private	32	5′ 4 1/2″	Sandy	Blue	Light	Dealer	Philadelphia
MacDowell, Edward	Private	20	5′ 6″	Light	Grey	Light	Moulder	Philadelphia
McCullough, J. S.	Private	24	5′ 8 3/4″	Light	Blue	Brown	Morocco Finisher	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Nicholls, Aaron	Private	29	5′ 5″	Florid	Hazel	Brown	Machinist	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Roney, William J.	Private	20	5′ 6 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Brown	Painter	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Rass, Robert	Private	40	5′ 6 3/4″	Dark	Hazel	Black	Brickmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Ryan, William A.	Private	24	5′ 9″	Sandy	Hazel	Auburn	Brass Founder	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Royal, John C.	Private	22	5′ 8 1/2″	Light	Hazel	Light	Paper Hanger	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Royal, John C.	Private	30	5′ 4 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Black	Brickmaker	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Shay, William H.	Private	31	5′ 11 3/4″	Light	Grey	Light	Glass Blower	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Slaughter, Charles E.	Private	38	5′ 8″	Dark	Blue	Brown	Paper Stainer	Philadelphia
Sides, Edward W.	Private	24	5′ 8 1/2″	Dark	Black	Black	Toothmaker	Philadelphia
Sherrick, George W.	Private	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Conductor	Philadelphia	Not on muster roll at the State Archives. But name present on the roll of men who Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Squibb, Andrew J.	Private	27	5′ 6″	Light	Blue	Brown	Morocco Finisher	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Stump, Charles	Private	27	5′ 7 1/2″	Sandy	Blue	Light	Cabinet Maker	Philadelphia
Stretch, William W.	Private	28	5′ 10 1/2″	Dark	Hazel	Dark	Cordwainer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Sloan, Robert	Private	23	5′ 11″	Dark	Blue	Dark	Weaver	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Steaver, Joseph L.	Private	24	5′ 7 1/2″	Light	Grey	Light	Accountant	Philadelphia	Last name possibly “Steerer.” Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Thompson, Richard	Private	35	5′ 11 1/2″	Dark	Blue	Dark	Officer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Thompson, James A.	Private	41	5′ 6 1/2″	Light	Blue	Brown	Finisher	Philadelphia
Turney, James	Private	23	5′ 7 1/2″	Florid	Blue	Light	Wheelwright	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Van Hook, Edward M.	Private	32	5′ 5 1/2″	Light	Brown	Light	Gentleman	Philadelphia
Verdy, Mark R.	Private	31	5′ 5″	Dark	Hazel	Brown	Dealer	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.
White, John S.	Private	32	5′ 6 1/2″	Dark	Blue	Brown	Carpenter	Philadelphia	Middle initial could also be “L.” Refused to take the oath – sent home.
Woodrow, Benjamin F.	Private	25	5′ 7″	Light	Hazel	Brown	Saw Grinder	Philadelphia
Wensell, John	Private	21	5′ 8 1/2″	Light	Blue	Light	Moulder	Philadelphia	Last Name also spelled “Wenzell.” Refused to take the oath – sent home.
White, Robert J.	Private	25	5′ 6 1/2″	Dark	Blue	Brown	Morocco Dresser	Philadelphia	Refused to take the oath – sent home.

Evan M. Woodward, Co. G, 2nd Pennsylvania Reserves

Thomas F. Bringhurst, Co. F, 2nd Pennsylvania Reserves

New Flags for the Pennsylvania Reserves

David V. Feaster, Co. C, 3rd Pennsylvania Reserves

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