A Musician in the Regular US Army from 1853 to 1866
Joseph McElroy was obviously a proud Tullamore man. His 3 separate enlistments records from 1853 to 1863 state his home town as his place of birth. Its an unusual, but for us, a very helpful piece of information as most other records we come across on these enlistment books would mention only Kings County as place of birth. Thanks to these records we now know the story of this forgotten Tullamore soldier.
Joseph enlisted in 1853 at Benecia Barracks, also known as Benecia Arsenal, in California as a musician in the 3rd Artillery Regiment of the Regular Army. This was 8 years before the start of the war. As a musician in the Union Army during the civil war he would play an important role in keeping the morale of the troops high during the many periods of difficulties faced by the soldiers. The Army bands would often give concerts in the cities to help with recruitment drives as well as performing for the soldiers at the many forts and camps spread over the divided country.
Civil War Military Bands | American Battlefield Trust
Joseph would re-enlist twice more (1858 & 1863) and give continuous service in the Union Army as a musician for 13 years. His final enlistment record in 1863 also gives vital details of what happened to this Tullamore man. Joseph died at 40 years of age at Fort Adams in Rhode Island of pneumonitis.
Joseph McElroy Enlistment Record 1853
1866 – Joseph McElroy Died at Fort Adam in Rhode Island
