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John Reese Kenly

Residence Baltimore MD; 43 years old.

Enlisted on 6/11/1861 at Baltimore, MD as a Colonel.

On 6/11/1861 he was commissioned into Field & Staff MD 1st Infantry 
He was discharged for promotion on 8/26/1862

On 8/22/1862 he was commissioned into 
US Volunteers General Staff 
He was Mustered Out on 8/24/1865


He was listed as:
* POW 5/23/1862 Front Royal, VA
* Wounded 5/23/1862 Front Royal, VA (Wounded severely)
* Exchanged 8/18/1862 (place not stated) (Exchaned for Col. Adolphus Heiman)


Promotions:
* Brig-General 8/22/1862 
* Major-Gen 3/13/1865 by Brevet 


Other Information:
born 1/11/1818 in Baltimore, MD
died 12/20/1891 in Baltimore, MD

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

 - Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-65
 - Adjutant General's Office General Order #148, October 14, 1865
 - Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
 - Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
 - Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders
 - Official Records of the War of Rebellion
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

JOHN REESE KENLY

     Kenly, John R. brigadier-general, was born in Baltimore, 
Md., in 1822, was educated in the public schools of Baltimore 
and admitted to the bar there in 1845.  He was a member of the 
Eagle artillery of Baltimore in which he rose to the rank of 
lieutenant, and at the beginning of the Mexican war raised a 
company of volunteers of which he was chosen captain.  He 
participated with his company in the three days, battle which 
resulted in the capture of Monterey, and so distinguished 
himself on this occasion that on returning to Maryland, he was 
given a vote of thanks by the state legislature.  He then 
resumed the practice of his profession, and, on June 11, 1861, 
was commissioned by President Lincoln colonel of volunteers 
and given command of the 1st Md. regiment.  He was actively 
engaged in the western part of Maryland and in the Virginia 
valley, 1861-62, and on May 23, 1862, distinguished himself in 
checking the Confederate advance at Front Royal, being then 
severely wounded and taken captive.  He was exchanged on Aug. 
15, and on Aug. 22 was commissioned brigadier-general of 
volunteers for his gallantry and assigned to command all the 
troops in Baltimore outside the forts.  He joined McClellan 
after the battle of Antietam and rendered conspicuous service 
at Hagerstown and Harper's Ferry, leading the Maryland brigade 
at the recapture of Maryland heights.  He subsequently held 
various brigade positions in the 1st and 8th army corps, and 
at the close of the war, March 13, 1865, he was awarded the 
brevet of major-general of volunteers while the state 
legislature of Maryland extended him a vote of thanks, and the 
corporation of Baltimore presented him with a sword.  After 
the war Gen. Kenly devoted a considerable part of his time to 
literature.  He died in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 20, 1891.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8



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