John M. Kelly Diary and Other Materials
This collection consists primarily of the 110-page diary that John M. Kelly kept while serving with the 141st New York Infantry Regiment. In it, he speaks of the weather conditions, his activities, and troop movements, including his unit's march south to join General Ulysses S. Grant's forces in Chattanooga and their later participation in Major General William T. Sherman's campaigns in the Carolinas. Also included are two pension certificates. The first dates from 1911 and awards John M. Kelly a pension of $20 per month. The second is from 1912 and increases the monthly amount to $30. Two slips are attached to the 1912 pension certificate, increasing the pension to $40 and $50 per month in 1918 and 1920 respectively. Finally, the collection houses a list of soldiers hospitalized in 1863 (including dates of admission and release) and a list of fellow soldiers and their hometowns.
Dates
- 1863 July-1864 January
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists primarily of the 110-page diary that John M. Kelly kept while serving with the 141st New York Infantry Regiment. In it, he speaks of the weather conditions, his activities, and troop movements, including his unit's march south to join General Ulysses S. Grant's forces in Chattanooga and their later participation in Major General William T. Sherman's campaigns in the Carolinas. Also included are two pension certificates. The first dates from 1911 and awards John M. Kelly a pension of $20 per month. The second is from 1912 and increases the monthly amount to $30. Two slips are attached to the 1912 pension certificate, increasing the pension to $40 and $50 per month in 1918 and 1920 respectively. Finally, the collection houses a list of soldiers hospitalized in 1863 (including dates of admission and release) and a list of fellow soldiers and their hometowns.
Biographical/Historical Note
John M. Kelly was born in New York in September of 1836. He married Maryett Babcock. On August 12, 1862, Kelly enlisted in the 141st New York Infantry Regiment under the leadership of Colonel Samuel G. Hathaway, Jr. This regiment, recruited in the counties of Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben - the 27th senatorial district - was organized at Elmira, and there mustered into the U. S. service for three years on September 11, 1862. It was on this date that John M. Kelly was promoted from Private to Corporal. The regiment left for Washington on April 15, 1863. During this time, John M. Kelly was in Fairfax Seminary hospital and did not return to his regiment until May 8, 1863. He was promoted to Sergeant on May 22, 1863. The regiment fought at Diascund Bridge and Crump's Crossroads in June and July and was then assigned to Tennessee. In October, the unit went to the support of the 12th Corps at Wauhatchie and was involved in the Battle of Missionary Ridge the following month. When the 11th and 12th Corps were consolidated into the 20th Corps in April of 1864, the 141st was assigned to the 1st (Knipe's) Brigade of the 1st (Williams') Division. The unit was assigned to the Atlanta Campaign in early May and took part in most of the following battles, including Resaca, Dallas, Acworth, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, and the Siege of Atlanta. The 141st remained in Atlanta until November 15, when it joined Sherman's March to the Sea. It took part in the Siege of Savannah and later fought in the Carolinas. John M. Kelly was promoted to 1st Sergeant on January 1, 1865 and mustered out with his regiment (after participating in the Grand Review in Washington) on June 8, 1865.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections purchased this collection on September 3, 2009.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository