The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-17
and somewhat of the Generals career.
This paper is quoted. here entire;

am the only one who can give the
history and character OF the wound
from the first, 1 will make short re-
port.
General Kelley was born and received
his military education in New Hamp-
shire, which State has been honored by
being the birthplace and home OF the
Websters, the Woodburies, the Mus
seys, the Greeleys, and many OF the
great men OF the nation. He came
west when young and finally settled in
Wheeling. His second wife, and mother
OF all his children, was sister OF our
distinguished capitalist, MIR. William 5.
Goshorn.
When I came to Wheeling in 1885,
General Kelley was colonel and had
charge OF the militia and military affairs
in this section OF Virginia.
For.many years the General was most
ly engaged in mercantile business in
Wheeling, but when the war broke out
he was one OF the first to come forward
and offer his services. He raised the
first regiment OF loyal troops south OF
Mason and Dixon's line, and was COM
missioned colonel May 25, 1861.
By the order of General Mcclellan
he took command Of all the loyal forces
gathered in Virginia, and on May 27,
amid n multitude OF cheers and good
wishes, he left Wheeling with his regi-
ment on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad
to attack the enemy at Grafton under
Colonel Porterheld. At my suggestion
he took DR.. Thoburn MS his chief sur
geon.
On June Colonel Kelley, with his
regiment, reached Grafton, but Colonel
Porterlleld had retreated to Philippi.
After gathering his forces, which were
fast coming in, Col. Kelley started in
the afternoon OF June 2 for Philippi,
and on the morning Of JuneS the tirst
great battle was fought, and the first
great victory won, but Col. Kelley re;
ceived what was at the time supposed
to be amortal wound. By the order. OF
Gen. Mcclellan, through Mai. Oaks,
then stationed in Wheeling, l was di-
rected to 90 at once to Philippi and take
charge OF Gen. Kelley.
In company with Gen. James S.
Wheat, started on the first train, went
to Grafton that night, to Clarksburg the
next morning, where We procured q
horse and buggy, drove across the coun-
try and arrived in Phiippi about the
middle OF the day.
We found the General in comfortable
quarters in private house, guarded by
soldiers, and in apparently dying con-
dition. He had lost much blood, was
very faint pale and weak, and was still
bleeding slowly. ! examined him care
fully and decided that the largevesselsin in
theaxilla we're not wounded, and thatthe
bleeding from the smaller vessels would
not necessarily destroy life. The ball
passed through the left shoulder, enter
ing below the claviclc and passing be-
tween the ribs and the aXillary vessels
and nerves, and struck near the middle
OF the fiat part OF the scapula, breaking
and bulgfng it out so as to make
rounded eminence on the back part OF
the bone.
l regarded it imprudent to attempt
any surgical operation to remove the
ball, but dressed the wound as best l
could under the circumstances, and had
him removed the next day to Grafton,
with great care and difficulty, on nc
count OF the severe pain and suffer-
ing from the effects of the jar
ring motion of the conveyances, He
remained in Grafton several weeks
to recover from the effects of the terri
BILE shock and loss OF blood, but when
it was known in Grafton that General
Kelly had returned from Philippi, and
that he was not dead, but living and
likely to revive, he became the great
man of the nation, and all loyal people
were flocking in TO pay him homage and
speak his praises, and his daughters,
like the daughters of generals, OF cab
met secretaries, senators, congressman
and men in high places, at
once became distinguished for their
beauty and great accomplishments, and
the young men and the old men were
seeking ways to procure introductions
and form acquaintances. Thecorporals,
the lieutenants, the captains and rising
military were all on hand.
After the General had sufficiently re-
covered, he was removed to Wheeling,
where he remained under my care till
he seemed sufficiently recruit
ed to return to Grafton,
and enter upon light duty. At visit
i made him late in the fall, at Grafton,
/ found that a large abscess had formed
on his back and extended several inches
below the lower point OF the right
shoulder blade.
On opening the abscess largo guam
tity OF matter was discharged, together
with musket ball and a quantity OF
fragments Of clothes and Innings, which
had been carried from the clothes on
his body through the shoulder by the
ball, and lodged In the broken frag-
ments OF the shoulder blade.
After the abscess was opened and the
wound properly dressed, he was much
more comfortable. In less than year
the external wounds were closed, but
the large mass OF lateral nerves,
vessels and muscles in the breast,
in the aXillR and in the
shoulder were left tender, sensitive TO
cold and dampness, exposure and ex-
cesses OF every kind. Only partial re-
covery is expected from such wounds.
Sensation and power of motion will al
ways remain impaired.
The pleasantest part OF my surgical
attentions on General Kelley was q trip
OF a few weeks to Washington City in
the spring OF 1852, and before he had
sufficiently recovered from the
injuries to be able to take
care of himself, where he had
been called on business with the War
Department. 1t gave me fine chance
to see Washington in the tumnlts OF
the war and call on old friends.