Matthew Byrnes

In 1860 he was a 30 year old boatman at Port Carbon in Schuylkill County, PA. He enrolled there and mustered in Harrisburg as Captain of Company K, 9th Pennsylvania Infantry for 3 months service on 23 April 1861. He mustered out with them on 27 July. He enrolled again, on 23 September 1861 and mustered as First Lieutenant of Company I, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was promoted to Captain on 15 July 1862.

Colonel Cake wrote of him at Crampton's Gap on 14 September 1862:

The conduct of Lieutenant Byrnes, commanding Company I, and Lieutenant Oberrender, commanding Company E, was most praiseworthy. At the head of their companies their courageous example was most conspicuous.

He resigned his commission on 1 August 1863.

His service basics from Bates1 and the Card File,2 with Crampton's Gap detail from Colonel Cake’s Official Report Personal details from the US Census of 1860.

c. 1830