Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-23
WAR "reminiscences
Called Forth by a Bill Pensionlng
Brig. Gen. Kelly Of W. Va,
FIRST LOYAL REGIMENT SOUTH
Of Mason and 0MOn's Line Raised BY
Gen. Kelly Who Won the First
Victory in the South.
FIRST LOYAL REGIMENT SOUTH
Special 10 the r gisisr.

SpeciGl 10 me E'gtNsr.
WAsmxGrox, Aoril ~. The Senate has
taken up the bill introduced b. Senator
Camden on the 9Th of last January, direct,
ing the Secretary Of the Interior to place
on the pension roll, sur isCt to the proVl5'
ions and limitations Of the pension laws,
the name OF Benjamin F. Kelly, late q
brigadier general in the Army Of the United
States, at the rate of one hundred dollars
per month. The said pension is to be IN
lieu OF tsas which he now receives.
The report upon wniGE the Senate based
ia action is one which was prepared By
Senator Camden and adopted by the Com
mi,tee on Penaions. AS it contains very
interesting war remin,s ,ensos of interest
10 West yirginiaus, send Il to the REGIS
TER to bs printed in full. 1t reads IS tOI'
lows:
1t appears from the record that d.
Kelley was commissioned colonel OF the
First Virginia Regiment, United States
Army May %, 1861, aud was mustered
into the service. That on August 8, 1861
he vas commissioned as brigadier genera
of volunteers, to rank as such from May
m 1861; and that he resigned Juse /
1865. At the battle Of Phihppi, the FIRST
fought during the war, he was severely
wounded and permanently irjared by q
guushot wound frscturiug the bones OF thS
breast and shoulder, and iDjaring ms
lungs. The following extracts from hls
military history furnishes Information In
regard 10 his services
General B. F. Kelley OF West Virginia
raised the very FIRST regiment OF loyal
rroops south Of Msssu aud Dixons line
during the late war, and Was com hiisS>onec
colonel of the regiment May %, 1861, snc
mustered into the service of the United
s.ates. by order of General Mcclellan
fnsn con; handing the Department OF the
Ohio Colonel Kelley was directed to "a
spws command of all the loyal troops theI
in Virginia aud sll other troops that mao
besn ordered to report to HIM. Vn tnt
27tb of May, 1861, Colonel Eslley, l=t'
Wheeling with his regiment tor Grated
ON the Baltimore & Ohio road, followed
the next day By the Sixteenth oalo ana
tho Ninth Indiana. Grafton a. that tune
vas held by Confederate force under
command of Colonel Porter6sld. On june
l 1861, Kelley's forces reached Grsiioi
and occupied the place. Colonel PorlernsIc
having re,reated 10 Phihppi on me sp
prosch of the Union forces On the st'er
noon Of the I'd of June Kelley moved on tt
Pbi6ppi, marching oil night through
drenchiug rain, and attacked The enemy a
1 O'clock on the morning Of the 81 Int
enemy was completely taken oy s9rpF's'
and routed. some were killed sn'
many captured A large amount OF stores
arms, aud ammunition, hoEseS, ESGohs
&c fsll into the hands Of the Unlol
,orres. Colonel Kelly, commanding, Wa
severely. and at first thought to be mo- mo-
slly wounded, having been shot, HhiI
making the charge, through the rgt
BREAST and rhe upper part OF the iapg. a
an evidence Of the high appreciation OF d
conduct attention is called to the io!io'
inc kilograms from Generals AcCiels
and Morris:
CINCINNATI June 3, 1861.
| To General r. !. Norris:
Saw to Colonel Kelley that cannot =
ha6ave il possible that one who has opent
b;s career 90 brilliantly can be mortal
Eouuded. In the name Of the country
thank him for the conduct, which has oe'
the most brilliant episode of the w1r to-
far lit can cheer him in his last N
mants tell him l cannot repair his 10.
and that l only regret that cannot De
. his side in person.
al God bless him.
> GEORGE 3 MCCLELLAN.
GRAFTON, June 5, 1861.
To Colonel KELLEY:
Sra. am extremely pleased and gre
|. Iv vra,ified at your gallant and soldier
conduet in the expedition which owes
success to your gallant conduct. 4
that your country owes you deer. deos
g gratitude for your services on the oc'
!. Ron, sud grateful people cannot but n
= a. to you that honor you 50 richly deser
rs u'' T. A. MORRIs,
d BrigsdierGenersl,
rExtrust from aea Asnis's FsPsrt
4 lam extremely sorry to report tEsA
= ,.Ilsnt Colonel Kelley, Of the First !
4 S;pis regiment, while leading the at 'scs
: ia column. tell severely wounded .
2, -, in the breast. The wound, at .
; suO, 70 be mortal, sn glad to kn'
:. viii only deprive us OF his valuable CO co
! ssIs and assistance for few WeeSs. Nj
IS of the success of our attack is due to o
u, ~ -. n -.,,,h kpowledge of the country