Patrick Kelly (Colonel)
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Patrick Kelly (ca. 1822 – June 14, 1864) was an Irish-American military officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He led the famed Irish Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Kelly was born in Castlehacket, County Galway, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City. His wife Elizabeth was another Irish immigrant. He enlisted in the Union army with the outset of the Civil War, and saw action as captain of Company E of the 69th New York Infantry at the First Battle of Bull Run. He briefly was a captain in the 16th U.S. Infantry. On September 14, 1861, he was named Lieutenant Colonel of the 88th New York Infantry and fought in the Irish Brigade's major battles in 1862. While stationed at Harpers Ferry following the Maryland Campaign, he was promoted to colonel on October 20, 1862. He led the regiment in the ill-fated attacks in front of Marye's Heights in the Battle of Fredericksburg.
After the 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville, Kelly was promoted to command the Irish Brigade following the resignation of Brig. Gen. Thomas Meagher. Kelly led the heavily depleted Irish Brigade (down to less than 600 men) in an attack at the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Kelly resumed his role as colonel of his regiment as more senior officers returned to the ranks to command the brigade. However, with the death of Col. Richard Byrnes at the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864, Kelly resumed command of the brigade.
At the age of 42, Kelly died during the Siege of Petersburg when he was shot though the head while leading the Irish Brigade forward against Confederate earthworks. His body was recovered and sent back to New York for his funeral. He was buried in First Cavalry Cemetery in Woodside, New York.
[edit] References
- Bilby, Joseph G., The Irish Brigade in the Civil War: The 69th New York and Other Irish Regiments of the Army of the Potomac . Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Combined Books, 1998. ISBN 0-938289-97-7.
- Pritchard, Russ A., The Irish Brigade: A Pictorial History of the Famed Civil War Fighters. New York: Running Press Book Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0-7624-2009-X.
