Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-06-02
MEDAL FOR BRAVE DEED.
Recognizes valorous Ex-
plot of Federal Soldier in Civi!
War-Made Sortie in Dark.

medal from the war department with
which he would not part as soon as
he would release his claim upon his
homestead, located four miles east Of
Crookston, Mimi, upon which he has
resided for over a quarter of a CEN
fury.
The treasured medal is inscribed:
"Sgt. Andrew J. Kelly, Knoxville,
Nov. 20, 1863" and those few words
bring to his mind one of the bloodiest
engagements of the civil war, during
which he performed feat for which
he was awarded the valor medal, to-
gether with the five others who par
ticipated in the gallant deed.
The deed for which the medal was
awarded was volunteering to make a
dash from the union lines on the night
of November 20, '63, at Knoxville
with five other men and burn a three
story brick building inside the rebel
lines, from which the rebel sharp
shooters were picking off the union
gunners as fast as they showed their
heads.
The federal batteries were so short
of ammunition that enough could not
be spared to batter the big house
down, and at a council of war it was
decided that it must be burned. The
question was how could such a feat
be accomplished, as Gen. Longstreet
had five or six batteries trained to
cover the ground where the brick
house stood, the batteries being located
across small ravine from the house
and hut 40 rods distant
Col. Swift. who attended the coun-
ell of war, volunteered to furnish the
men to take the desperate chance, and
it was decided that six volunteers
should be called for.
Col Swift returned to his regi-
ment, announced the offer that he had
made to the commanding general, and
then, in ringing tones, asked who
would be the first man to volunteer
to be one of the six men to do the
burning.
Comrade Kelly says there was a
deathly stiffness for a minute or two,
and then, having no family, he
thought he might as well be the first
man, and, stepping out of the ranks,
presented himself.
President Sheppard, of the Normal
school at Winona, shouted: iii be
the second" before Kelly had ceased
talking, and a score of others volun-
teered in the next minute. The first
six, however, were selected, and at IL
o'clock that night, with companies A
and B as f1anking companies, the dash
across the lines was made.
1t was pitch dark, but the men 10
Gated the house, and the rebels, think
ing that it was general sortie, fled
from the rear of the building, leaving
their accoutrements, and retreated be-
hind the batteries across the ravine.
n q
interior and a match did the rest.
To do a good job. the squad of six
determined to burn the barns also,
and did so, not thinking that the burn
ing house would light things up and
show the rebels the size of the party
and what the scheme was. That is
just what happened, and as the six
made a dash back for the union lines
there was a hail of bullets that killed
many members of the f1anking com
panies, which had not advanced very
close to the building.
The squad of six scattered en- route
back, and Kelly lost his bearings and
ran bum into a rebel sentry, who chaI
lenged him. Kelly answered.: "a
friend" and as he did so stopped low
and skooted to the left, having got
his bearings from a glance back at the
burning house.
Not one of the six men were killed
but it developed later that all that
saved them was an order received by
the rebel gunners not to fire until the
union troops started to cross the ra
vine.
Longstreet knew that the federal
troops had no rations left to speak
of, and was expecting a sortie al
might. The two companies which ad
vanced part of the way together with
the six men were taken for a large
| force, and the rebels did not suspect
what was up till the building was
burning and the men were shooting
for safety within the union lines
Had the batteries opened every mar
grass before sickle.
By an act of congress April 2, 1904
| gallantry medals in the form of small
buttons were issued by the war de
partment, and Sergt. Kelly was sem
one of these, but the medal received
lately is more elaborate and replaced
| the former emblem.
1t is a pendant charm. surmountet
by an eagle with a helmeted warrior
| in the center, and is suspended abou
| the neck with a buckled ribbon be
spangled with stars This medal wa:
provided by an act passed by con
| gress April %. 1904
| Before securing the second media
| the first one had to be returned t.
| the war deDartment accomDanied b,