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Civil War Soldiers - Kenly
| Kenly, John R., brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, 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: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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