Johny Kelly

Lives Behind the Letters 47th New York State Militia, 1862

Not identified

Willie wrote from Fort McHenry in July 1862: “Johny Kelly is getting to be the laziest boy in the Reg’t., can’t drum a bit” (Willie, July 27, 1862).

None of the drummers on the 47th New York State Militia’s muster-in roll is named Kelly. The only Kelly is a private in the brothers’ Company F, Frederick P. Kelly, 18 (47th muster-in roll, PDF p. 12). Who Johny Kelly was is not known.

Mentioned in 1: 1862 Jul 27