During the American Civil War, he enlisted as a private in Company C of the 176th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment in late 1862, but only served a few months due to illness.
During the Civil War, it became customary for many citizens to pay for "substitutes" to serve in the army in their place.
Hoping to set a good example, President Lincoln selected Staples as his "representative recruit" and offered him a bounty of $500.
Staples saw little action during the year he served as the president's representative, primarily working as a clerk and prison guard.
[2] In 1910, a bill appropriating funds to erect a memorial to Summerfield was introduced in the United States House of Representatives.