The National tribune., 1900-04-19

of hatred and despair. but without a wore
unbuckIed his sword and handed it to him
| and a few moments later Serg't Kelley
| sent him and his men TO the rear as prison
ers of war. This sword is now Capt
kelley'S most priced trophy OF that event
At Resaca, after several days OF hare
| fighting. late on the Saturday afternoon
of May IA, 1864. the 36th Ill. and the 18th
Mo- charged up from a creek, under whose
banks they had been sheltered against &
! Confederate battery, which was enSconcec
| behind breaStworkS on nearby hill anG
supported by heavy infantry. They
moved across the open plain under a terrible
fire of shot and shell. and commenced the
ascent of the hill. The relentless fire Of the
enemy swept them down in appalling
numbers and the line was broken by great
gaps of fallen men. The men broke ranks
some rushing forward, while many wayer-
ed. with strong inclination To fall back.
Serg't Kelley was leading the charge
and when he saw the danger of a panic
he ran in front of his men and by cheering
and encouraging them, and by placing
himself i'll the forefront of danger, he III
spired them TO follow him TO the breast
works of the enemy, which he vallantly
held until the main forces came up. j
would respectfully call your attention,
Mr.. Secretary. 10 the circumstance that
in both of these cases Capt Kelley was
not acting under orders, but was simply
actuated by the eXigencies Of the case and
the promptir of his innate bravery.
At the battle of keneSaw the 36th i'll.
was ordered TO join on the right of Baird S
Division in front Of Kenesaw. and skir-
mishers We're sent forward During the
night of the 18th Of June, 1864, the enemy
had fallen back to its third and strongest
position on keneSaw and in front of Mari
eta. There had been drenching rains,
the ground over which the skirm ish was
n. l,f. 10 lnr-
brush that it was difficult to keep the line
or 10 distinguish the Confederates even at
a short distance. Serg't Kelley (whO by
that time had been promoted to First Ser
geanD was III command Of Co. A. He was
making his way through some thick brush
when he saw three men in an open space a
little ways in front Of him. They were
wrapped in long army blankets, but he
suspected at once that they were Con-
federates. Walking toward them he
demanded to what regiment they belonged.
The goth" replied one of them, evasively.
The Both what:' still demanded Kelley,
coming closer to them. ''The Both
Georgia" answered the man, throwing
aside his blanket and revealing his gray
uniform. Then You are my prisoners,
said Kelley, seizing him by his collar and
facing him toward the Union lines. Two
of them yielded at once and started to go
with him. but the third one caught up his
gun and levelled it to shoot him.
Kelley saw the action, and just as the
weapon went off he knocked it out of the
mans hand, but the shot went through
his clothing, grazing his stomach, and
he fell to the ground. AS he fell the other
two Confederates made a mad rush to their
own lines, but in a moment Serg't Kelley
was on his feet again. The man who
had fired the shot was reloading. you
- Yankee, l am going TO finish You
now" said he, rammng in the shot. Serg't
Kelley was without his own gun, and
quickly realizing that discretion was the
better part of valor, he made dash for the
Union lines, which he reached just as the
bullet from the rebel rifle came singing
past his ear.
These, Mr.. Secretary, are but few of
the many acts Of bravery which ! might
relate Of Capt. KelIey's war record. He
was in % battles; once his haversack was
shot from his back; another time in climb
ing the enemy's breastworks, he had the
heel of his boot shot off; and repeatedly he
lost his cap in the same way. II seems
to nc but fitting, and due to his posterity,
that he should be awarded one of the Medals
Of Honor, and to this end entreat your
careful consideration.
Most respectfully yours,
w, W. HALL, 36th Ill