John H. Kelly

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This article is about the nineteenth century Confederate officer. For the twentieth century U.S. diplomat, see John Hubert Kelly. For other people with this name, see John Kelly.
John Herbert Kelly
Brigadier General (CSA)
Commands held8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Kelly's Brigade
Battles/wars

John Herbert Kelly (March 31, 1840 – September 4, 1864) was, at the time of his promotion, the youngest

Atlanta Campaign.[3]

Early life and career

John Herbert Kelly was born in 1840 to Isham Kelly and Elizabeth Herbert at

William W. Boyce.[4] A few months before his graduation in 1861 his home state of Alabama seceded from the Union. Hearing the news Kelly left West Point and headed to Montgomery.[6]

Civil War service

After arriving in Montgomery Kelly joined the Confederate Army with the rank of

captain and assistant adjutant general on Hardee's staff.[6] In 1862 Kelly was appointed major of the 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalion, which he led into battle at Shiloh. One month later Kelly became colonel of the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
.

In October of that year he fought at the

63rd Virginia, and the 65th Georgia Infantry Regiments.[6] He lost 300 men at Chickamauga within the one hour.[6] Also during the battle while leading his troops Kelly had a horse shot out from under him.[6]
Because of his bravery at the Battle of Chickamauga generals Cleburne, Liddell, and Preston asked for a promotion for Kelly.[4] General Cleburne told Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon of Kelly, "I know no better officer of his grade in the service."[4] On November 16, 1863, John Kelly was promoted to a brigadier general at age 23.[7] Kelly's brigade was one of the key factors at the Battle of Pickett's Mill that lead to the Confederate victory.[6]

Capture and death

In August and September 1864 Kelly's Brigade fought at Franklin, Tennessee, during Wheeler's raid on Sherman's railroad supply line. While leading a charge at a skirmish near Franklin on September 2, Kelly was shot in the chest by a Union sharpshooter.[8] Kelly was immediately taken to the Harrison House to be seen by doctors. At the Confederate retreat, he was too badly hurt to be moved and was forced to be left and captured by Union forces on September 3. Kelly died the following day in his bed at the Harrison House.[1][8]

John Herbert Kelly was one of the youngest generals to die during the Civil War at age 24.[2]

He was buried in the gardens of the Harrison House just south of Franklin on the day of his death. Local residents bought him a coffin and the new clothing he was buried in, except for the uniform coat which he was wearing when he died.[1] Later in 1866 his body was moved and reburied in the Magnolia Cemetery of Mobile, Alabama.[9] Sons Of Confederate Veterans Camp 1980 Gordo, Alabama Named In His Honor.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Derek Smith's The Gallant Dead: Union and Confederate Generals Killed in the Civil War (2005) pg. 274
  2. ^ a b Derek Smith's The Gallant Dead: Union and Confederate Generals Killed in the Civil War (2005) pg. Introduction VII
  3. Franklin–Nashville Campaign
    .
  4. ^ a b c d Willis Brewer's Alabama, Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men: From 1540 to 1872 ( 1872) pg. 502
  5. ^ a b c d Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owens' History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography (1921) pg. 960
  6. ^
    Clement Anselm Evans
    's Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History (1899) pg. 421
  7. ^ Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owens' History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography (1921) pg. 326
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9
    . p. 169.
  9. ^ Jack D. Welsh's Medical Histories of Confederate Generals (1999) pg. 125

References

External links
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