Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-17

GEN. b. r. KELLEY.
DEATH OF GEN. B. F. KELLEY.
War Veteran Passes Away at the Ripe Age
EiGhty-Four
Maj. Gen. B. F. Kelley the hero of Philippi."
died at his home near Oakland Md. at 8 o. clock
last night. He was eighty-four years old and
had been i'll for some time. Membets of his
family were at his side when the end came
Arrangements for the funeral are now being
made by Mr.. W. J. Marsh, a personal friend of
the family. 1t is thought that the remains will be
brought from the generals home to Oakland on
Saturday afternoon to lie in state until Sunday
morning, when they will be taken to Washing
ton. The interment will be at Arlington, near
the tombs of Gems. Crook and Sheridan.
Gen. Kelley raised the first troops on south
ern soil, was in command at the battle Of
Philippi. the first regular battle of the. war and
he was the first federal officer wounded at the
outbreak of the wGr
He born 18th Of April. 1907 in New
Hampton. NH. In 1896 he left his native
place Tor Virginia. where he had a brother at
Wheeling. When quite young he evInced
taste for military life and was for some time al
military school. During his residence in
Wheeling he took active interest in the
volunteer militia and commanded volunteer
regiment for many years. The officers and
men of this regiment formed the nucleus Of
the first Virginia regiment of three months
volunteers.
After the close of the war he resigned from
the army ana In 1866 was appointed by Presi-
dent johnson to be internal revenue commits
sioner for West Virginia, which office he held
until 1873, when he retired to his country home
to private life;
When the Hot Springs reservation in Ar
ka nsas was created by Congress in 1877 Gen.
Kelley was selected by President Hayes to be
the hrst military superintendent, and on him
deyolyed all the organization OF this place. He
held the Office for four years. when he
signed. He was appointed by President Grant
land registrar at Sante Fe, New Mexico, and
was confirmed by the Senate; but he declined
that office and also the consulate at Honolulu
which had been offered him.
For number of years prior TO his death he
was connected with the pension Office ana
made his home in Washington. After resign
ing from that position he continued to spend
his winters here until he grew too feeble TO
travel from his home near Oakland.
THE BATTLE OF PHILIPPI.
Gen. Kelley was commissioned colonel of the
first Virginia regiment May %, 1861, and mus
tered into the service of the United States by
order of Gen. George b. Mcclellan He was
directed to assume command of all the troops
then in Virginia and all other troops that had
been ordered to report to him. Tuesday after
noon he left Wheeling with his regiment for
Grafton on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
which at that time was held by confederate
force in command Of Col. Porterfield. On June
l helleys forces reached Grafton and occupied
the place. Col. POrterfleid having retreated to
PhilIppi on the approach of the Union forces.
On the afternoon Of June Kelley moved on
Philippi, marching all night through a drench-
Ing rain, and attacked the enemy at o'clock
on the morning of the Sd. The enemy were
completely taken by surprise and routed, some
being Killed and many captured. A large
amount of stores. arms and AMMUNITION. horses,
wagons, &c. fell into the hands of tine Union
forces. Col. Kelley severely and at first
thought to be mortaily wounded, having been
shot while making the charge through the
fright breast and the upper part of the lung.
Having the advantage OF excellent surgical
and medical skill and careful nursing Col. kel-
ley gradually recovered from his wound, 80
that at the end of sixty days he was able to as
sumo command of the railroad division. with
headquarters at Grafton, to which Gen McClel-
Ian assigned him when he left Virginia to as
sumo command of the Army OF the Potomac.
In the meantime Col. Kelley had been ap-
pointed by the President brigadier general,
the baltimore and Ohio railroad being the
only avenue in all that section bv which SOL
oilers and supplies could be quickly trans
ported. and Its protection became a matter of
military necessity to the Union forces This
position involved the protection of The road
from Cumberland, Md, to Wheeling and Par
kersbr.rg, Va, and the protection of the loyal
people on the border, duty both onerous and
difficult and much of the time attended with
personal hazard and privation.
THE CAPTURE OF RoMNEY.
On October %, 1861, he received an order
from Gen. Scott to concentrate his force and
attack and capture Romney. ". Va, and after
a sharp engagement he defeated the enemy,
capturing many prisoners and large amount
of stores, arms, ammunition. horses, wagons.
&c. also one l2-pound and one 6-pound gun,
with calssons. horses. ammunition. &c.
Gen Kelley was now ssigned to the COM
mand of the department of Harpers Ferry and
Cumberland. He remained at Romney until
the LIST of January. 1862. when from hard and
| impaired, his wound being so painful that he was
compelled to ask to be relieved Gen. L. ".
Lander was ordered TO relieve him, which lie
did on the 10th of January. 1862.
In December, 1862. Gen. Kelley assumed COM
mand Of the first division OF the middle depart
ment, with headquGrtersatH Harper Ferry. This
command embraced all the troops in the shen-
andoah valley. Virginia, and in Maryland west
of the Monocacy river, and involved the pro-
lection of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal and
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad east of Cum
berland. Here be remained until the LIST of
July. 1868, when he relieved Brig Gen. b. l..
Roberts, commanding division with head
quarters at Clarksburg, VIVA.
shortly after this the department of West
Virginia was organized and Gen. Kelley was as
signed to the command This command in
| volved long border line, reaching from the
Monocacy river in Maryland to the Big Sandy
river, the Kentucky line as well rs the protec-
ton of the entire line of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad.
During the whole time he commanded the
department of West Virginia his troops were
almost constantly in offensive or defensive
operations, and il is claimed for him that he
never lost a battle.
GEORGETOWN.
THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY GROUNDS.
Sixteen thousand dollars of the new naval