Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-19

resided for over quarter OF a GEN.
tury.
The treasured medal is inscribed:
sgt Andrew ]. Kelly, Knoxville.
Nov. 20. 1862" and those few words
bring to his mind one OF the bloodiest
engagements OF the civil war. during
which he performed a 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. SO. at Knoxville
with tve other men and burn a three
story brick building inside the rebel
lines. from which the rebel sharp
shooters were picking of 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 Il was
decided that It must be burned The
question was how could such a feat
be accomplished. as Gen Longstreet
had i've or six batteries trained To-
cover the ground where the brick
house stood. the batteries being located
across small rsvine from the house
and hut 40 rods distant
Col. Swift. who attended the eoun-
ell OF war. volunteered 10 furnish the
men 10 take the desperate chance. and
It was decided that six volunteers
should be called for.
Col. Swift returned 20 his regf-
ment. announced the offer that he had
made 10 the commanding general, and
then. in ringing tones. asked who
would be the first man to volunteer
TO be one of the six men 70 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 we'll 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 hai 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 fianking companies, the dash
across the lines was made.
II was pitch dark, but the men To-
Gated the house. and the rebels. think
ing that Il was a general sortie. fed
from the rear OF the building. leaving
their accoutrements. and retreated be-
hind the batteries across the ravine.
Kerosene was applied literally 20 the
interior and a match did the rest.
a 81. -
determined 20 burn the barns also.
and did so. not thinking that the burn
ing house would light things up ara
show the rebels the size OF the party
and what the scheme was. That IS
Just what happened and as the six
made dash back for the union lines
there was a hail OF bullets that killed
many members OF the fanking COM
panies. which had not advanced very
close 10 the building
The squad OF six scattered en- route
back. and Kelly lost his bearings and
ran bum into a rebel sentry. who chal-
lenged him. Kelly answered: "A
friend" and as he did so stopped low
and skooted 10 the left having got
HIS bearings from a glance back at the
burning house.
Not one OF the six men were killed.
but Il developed later that all that
saved them was an order received by
the rebel gunners not to fire until the
union troops started 10 cross the ra-
vine
Longstreet knew that the federal
troops had no rations left 10 speak
OF. and was expecting a sortie at
night The two companies which ad-
vanced part OF the way together with
the six men we're taken for 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 man
would have been moved down Ike
grass before a 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 sent
one OF these. but the medal received
lately IS more elaborate and replaced
the former emblem.
| II is a pendant charm. surmounted
by an eagle with a helmeted warrior
in the center. and is suspended about
the neck with a buckled ribbon be-
spangled with stars. This medal was
provided by an act passed by con-
gress April %. 1904
Before securing the second medal
the first one had to be returned to
the war department. accompanied by
sworn afiidavits that Sergt. Kelly was
the real man he posed as, and these
had 10 be signed by two men who had
known the afiant at least FIVE years.
This statement had 10 be sworn 10 be-
fore the clerk Of the district court.
and there was more other red tape
than Is connected with the report OF
election judges under the Australian