James Kelly

He was commissioned Captain in the (3-month) 69th NY State Militia on 9 May 1861 and mustered out 3 Aug 1861. He received a commission as Captain in the 16th US Infantry on 26 October 1861, and was appointed Lt Colonel of the (2-year) 69th N Y Volunteers on 8 November 1861.

He was in command of the 69th as they came up to the Sunken Road on the 17th, but was wounded in the face and shoulder during the charge and had to leave the field. He was succeeded in command by Maj. James Cavanagh.

After the consolidation of the 69th Infantry in June 1863 he was ordered back to the 16th US Infantry, Regular Army, and in September ordered to commanded the recruiting station at Grand Rapids, MI. In February 1864 he was transferred back to the 69th New York as Lieutenant Colonel, but again rejoined the 16th US Infantry in March, and served under General W.T. Sherman. He was dismissed from the service on 24 June 1864

for drawing pay as Lieut. Col. of the 69th Reg. N. Y. Volunteers, after having been officially informed from this office [Adjutant-General's], of his muster out of the Volunteer service as Lieut. Col. of that regiment to date June 12th, 1863

His dismissal was revoked on 31 October 1866. He was in New York City and still awaiting orders in May 1867, and finally received orders on 8 October 1867 at his previous rank of Captain, and was assigned to Company A of the 34th United States Infantry then at Grenada, MS. After a delay due to a yellow fever epidemic there, he reported in November. In April 1869 he was transferred back to the 16th US Infantry. He died of yellow fever at Jackson, MS on 24 September 1871.

His service basics from the State of New York,1 as James Kelley, and from Heitman.2 Details, including the quote above, from Letters Received by the Adjutant General, online from fold3. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

Date not known; County Monaghan, IRELAND

9/24/1871; Jackson, MS; burial in U. S. Military Post Cemetery, Jackson, MS