FAMILY WEB

History of George V. KELLEY
(1843 - 1905)

Military Record:

104th Ohio Infantry

History

Organized August 30, 1862, under Colonel James W. Reilly, it proceeded to Kentucky in September, and operated against Kirby Smith and John Morgan until September, 1863, when it marched to Knoxville and Cumberland Gap. It participated in the defense of Knoxville under Burnside and in April, 1864, joined Sherman's Atlanta campaign, participating in all the battles. In October it moved north with Thomas and took part in the operations against Hood, losing sixty men at the battle of Franklin. After the battle of Nashville it followed in the pursuit of Hood, and in February, 1865, was transferred to North Carolina where it remained in active service until mustered out June 17th, 1865.

From Dyer's Compendium

104th Regiment Infantry.
Organized at Camp Massillon, Ohio, and mustered in August 30, 1862.
Moved to Covington, Ky., September 1, 1862.
Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Kentucky,
Dept. of the Ohio, to November, 1862.
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Kentucky, to January, 1863.
1st Brigade, District of Central Kentucky, Dept. of Ohio, to June, 1863.
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of Ohio, to July, 1863.
2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to August, 1863.
1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, Army Ohio, to February, 1865, and Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--
Defence of Cincinnati, Ohio, against Kirby Smith's threatened attack
September 2-12, 1862.
Skirmish at Fort Mitchell, Covington, Ky., September 10.
Pursuit to Lexington, Ky., September 12-15.
Duty at Lexington till December 6.
Moved to Richmond and Danville, Ky., in pursuit of Morgan December 6-26.
At Frankfort, Ky., till February, 1863.
Operations in Central Kentucky till August.
Expedition to Monticello and operations in S.E. Kentucky April 26-May 12.
Burnside's Campaign in East Tennessee, Campaign August 16-October 17.
Expedition to Cumberland Gap September 4-7.
Operations about Cumberland Gap September 7-10.
Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23.
Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5.
Duty in East Tennessee till April, 1864.
Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8.
Demonstration on Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton, Ga., May 8-13.
Battle of Resaca May 14-15.
Cartersville May 20.
Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5.
Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2.
Skirmishes about Lost Mountain June 11-14.
Combats about Lost Mountain June 15-17.
Muddy Creek June 17.
Noyes Creek June 19.
Cheyney's Farm June 22.
Ulley's Farm June 26-27.
Assault on Kenesaw June 27.
Nickajack Creek July 2-5.
Chattahoochie River July 5-17.
Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, July 18.
Peach Tree Creek July 19-20.
Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25.
Utoy Creek August 5-7.
Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30.
Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1.
Lovejoy Station September 2-6.
Operations against Hood in N. Georgia and N. Alabama Sept. 29-Nov. 3.
Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, Nov. 24-27.
Columbia Ford November 28-29.
Battle of Franklin November 30.
Battle of Franklin December 15-16.
Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28.
At Clifton, Tenn., till January 15, 1865.
Movement to Washington, D. C., thence to Federal Point, N. C., Jan. 15-Feb. 9.
Operations against Hoke near Fort Fisher February 11-14.
Orton's Pond February 18.
Fort Anderson February 18-19.
Town Creek February 19-20.
Capture of Wilmington February 22.
Campaign of the Carolinas March 1-April 26.
Advance on Goldsboro March 6-21.
Occupation of Goldsboro March 21.
Advance on Raleigh April 10-14.
Occupation of Raleigh April 14.
Bennett's House April 26.
Surrender of Johnston and his army.
Duty at Raleigh till May 2,
and at Greensboro till June.
Mustered out June 17, 1865.
Regiment lost during service
3 Officers and 46 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and
4 Officers and 130 Enlisted men by disease. Total 183.

Battle of Franklin

Location: Williamson County

Campaign: Franklin-Nashville Campaign (1864)

Date(s): November 30, 1864

Principal Commanders:
Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield [US];
Gen. John B. Hood [CS]

Forces Engaged: IV and XXIII Army Corps (Army of the Ohio and Cumberland) [US]; Army of Tennessee [CS]

Estimated Casualties: 8,587 total (US 2,326; CS 6,261)

Description: Having lost a good opportunity at Spring Hill to hurt significantly the Union Army, Gen. John B. Hood marched in rapid pursuit of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s retreating Union army. Schofield’s advance reached Franklin about sunrise on November 30 and quickly formed a defensive line in works thrown up by the Yankees in the spring of 1863, on the southern edge of town. Schofield wished to remain in Franklin to repair the bridges and get his supply trains over them. Skirmishing at Thompson’s Station and elsewhere delayed Hood’s march, but, around 4:00 pm, he marshaled a frontal attack against the Union perimeter. Two Federal brigades holding a forward position gave way and retreated to the inner works, but their comrades ultimately held in a battle that caused frightening casualties. When the battle ceased, after dark, six Confederate generals were dead or had mortal wounds. Despite this terrible loss, Hood’s army, late, depleted and worn, crawled on toward Nashville.

Result(s): Union victory

CWSAC Reference #: TN036
Preservation Priority: IV.1 (Class A)

 

LouAnn Kelley wrote the following:

Kelley, George H. (son of George V.)

Some of the proud pioneers of the plains were the Kelley Family. Their roots began in Belfast, Ireland. Some of these ancestors came to America in 1782 and settled in Ohio.

At the end of the Civil War, a youthful Captain George V. Kelley of the 104th Ohio Volunteer Regiment; the recipient of the Medal of Honor for bravery in the Battle at Franklin, Tenn., returned to Massillon, Ohio. He married the 'girl back home', Fannie Bliss. She died shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Mary. Disillusioned, George headed west, via horseback, to homestead his quarter section (160 acres) on the Colorado Plains near Bennett.

Later in George's life, at 47 years of age, he met and married Louise Holloway in Denver on May 15, 1890. They set up housekeeping in a dugout at his Sheep Ranch. One son, George H. born Feb. 22, 1891 and two daughters, Emma and Gertrude, were born to this union. Louise died in 1902. The two daughters were sent east to be raised by an aunt. Captain and his son remained on the ranch and also worked part time as ranch hands on the Frank Kemp Ranch, owned by Sam Palmer. Captain George V. died on November 4, 1905. The funeral services were conducted by the G.A.R. and interment was made in Riverside Cemetery, Denver.

Footnote: John H. Kelley, a great grandson of Captain G. V. Kelley, has the Medal of Honor and the weapon, a muzzle loader, used in the Civil War, in his possession.

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Last updated August 1997 by Web Genealogist Chris Stefanovich.