The National tribune., 1900-04-19

S125, and with it was attending college at
Beloit. Wis. when the war came on. With
| a large number of the other students he
tried 10 enlist when. in April, 1861. Presi-
| dent Lincoln called for $4,000 militia, but
! on account of their youth they were re-
jected At the close of the school year. in
| June. he returned to his home in Kane
County. and went TO work on the farm TO
earn the money with which TO pursue
his studies.
| Young Kelley was busy in the harvest
! field late one afternoon when Il neighbor
rode by and told him of the Presidents
second proclamation for the enlistment Of
men, and gave him the information that a
company was then being formed i'll Elgln.
| With that news the student laid aside his
ambition for an education. AS soon as
| his DAYS work was done he hurried into
town. Capt. NJ. B. Baldwin was mastering
in the company, and he speaks as follows
of the impression Young Kelley made upon
| him at that time: 1T was in the Summer of
| 81, and i was recruiting company for
service at Elgin, ILL., Late one night was
called upon by a young man not yet Of age,
who said that he had ridden eight miles to
enlist. after hard days work in the har-
vest field. He thought that it would take
him two weeks 10 finish his harvest, when
| he would be ready To give his service to his
country. l told him that | was sorry tn at
| he had not applied earlier, as the company
was full. and it would be impossible for me
to take him. He begged me to make
| place for him, and | was so impressed by
| his earnest, resOlute appearance that |
| determined to do so, and asked him to re-
port again in few days. OF course, a
place was found for a boy Of such caliber,
and he was enrolled as a private in the
company"
This was Co. a. 36th ILL.,, known at the
time as the Fox River Regiment, and he
enlisted with it in July, 1861. and served
with it until it was mustered out Oct. 8,
| 1865. II was regiment which was engag-
ed in % of the battles of the rebellion,
many Of which were among the most san
| culinary Of the conflict, and of which Gen.
Schofield said. after their valorols con-
duct at the frightful battle of Franklin:
Every man OF Opdcyke's Brigade, of which
the Both Ill. was part. deserved Medal
| of Honor" Kelley entered as private,
soon after was made a Corporal, and finally,
by promotion, was made Captain of the
company.
Al the battle Of Mission Ridge the 36th
III. occupied the hill south Of Orch ard Knob,
and at 10 o'clock on the morning of the
oath Of November. 1863, it was sent forward
| to be deployed as SkirmiSherS under the
command of Maj George ID. Sherman.
J At O'Clock three regiments, Of which one
was the 36th ILL.,, were ordered to what
| had been the front line Of the enemy's
works, about three-fourths Of a mile from
Mission Ridge. At about 3 o'clock they
were given the order TO reach the rifle pits
at the foot of the ridge; if possible, the
SkirmiSh line.
To cross that field meant literally run
ming into the Jaws Of death. Gen. Bragg
and his forces were securely fortreSsed on
| the summit of the ridge, and their belching
cannon were scattering death and de-
Struction on the siefenscleSs soldiers below
them; thousands of gray-coated soldiers
stood behind the trenches and sent a sweep
| ing rain of bullets down on their blue-coated
aSSaianfS. The Both knew what il meant
| to face that tornado of fire, but there was
not moments hesitation. With the
artillery above them sending down hail
of shot and shell over the field they charged.
! the rifle-pitS Were reached, and the skirlnSh
! line made.
Here their orders ended, but looking up
that mountain side and realizing what il
would mean 10 the cause for which they
were fighting if that Confederate fortress
| could be taken, many Of the most daring
determined that, orders or no orders, the
attempt should be made, and over rock
and crag and fallen trees. in rain
Of shot and Shell, they began 10
struggle upward. 1t seemed as though
! Bragg nor his men could believe their ewes
that their enemy VIZ actually coming up
| the mountain side, but as the truth forced
| itself upon them, in a fury of frenzy and
fear they thrust cartridges into their guns
by the handful they lighted fuses of Shell
and rolled them ut the oncoming blue
coats, and as they came nearer, and they
had no time 10 load they seized huge stones
and flung them down at them.
Ii was at this time that Capt Kelley was
most conspicuous for his bravery. Follow
me, lads" he shouted, throwing his cap in
the air and starting on the perlous climb
upward. He was followed by handful
Of men, and as they reached the parapet
he sprang upon it. Behind it stood a
Confederate Captain and a group Of men.
You are my prisoners, said the then
Serg't Kelley, and seiZing the Captains
shoulder he added, "and your sword is
mine"
The Confederate officer gave him a look