Born in Indiana. A resident of Warren, Huntington County, Indiana when he enlisted in the 34th Indiana Infantry at Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. Mustered in as a Private in Company E on 10 Oct 1861. Transferred to Company F. Re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer at New Iberia, Iberia Parish, Louisiana on 14 Dec 1863. Re-mustered on 15 Dec 1863. Mustered out at Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. A member of Custer Post No. 6 of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. Elected as an Alternate to the 1901 Encampment of the Department of Washington and Alaska. Later transferred to Greenfield Post No. 75 of Greenfield, Dade County, Missouri. Died in his home at Greenfield, Missouri. His pension records lists his last name as "McPatterson" while his military records and death certificate lists his last name as "Patterson".