Military Record

James Kinsella

On July 1, 1861, James Kinsella joined company M of the 1st California regiment, possibly in response to a poster like the one below. It was one of the four regiments in a brigade raised by Sen. Edward Baker of Oregon, a close friend of President Lincoln.

After Baker’s death at the Battle of Balls Bluff, the brigade was reorganized and claimed by Pennsylvania, since most of the men were from the Philadelphia area. It was then renamed the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Second Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

Their corps badge was a trefoil, which seems appropriate for the many Irish in the corps, as that is also the shape of a shamrock.

July/August, 1862 – Transferred to Company C
September 17, 1862 – Wounded at Sharpsburg, Md.
November 1862 to January 1863 – In hospital at Baltimore, Md.
July 3, 1863 – Captured at Gettysburg, Pa.
July 21, 1863 – Confined at Richmond, Va.
November 13, 1863 – Admitted to hospital, Richmond, Va
November 16, 1863 – Transferred to hospital at Annapolis, Md.
November 18, 1863, Div.No.1 USA Genl Hospital
May 7, 1864 – In hospital, Camp Parole, Md.
May 12, 1864 – Transferred (Cold Harbor, Va.
June, 30, 1864 – Assigned to Co. E, 69th PA Regiment
August 10, 1864 – Assigned as Orderly Nurse, Division Hospital
August 20, 1864 – Returned to Co. C, 71st
October 26, 1864 – Honorably discharged, expiration of service
September 25, 1900 – Admitted to Southern Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Elizabeth City, Va.

March 19, 1921 – Discharged from Home
March 27, 1921 – Died in Baltimore
March 29, 1921 – Interred – Loudon Park National Cemetery, Grave #418, New Section