First Sergeant Alexander Kelly, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 6th U.S. Colored Infantry. Kelly was 24 years old.
37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1865.
Kelly was born on April 7, 1840 in Saltsburg, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Allegheny, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Kelly died on June 19, 1907, at the age of 67. He is buried at St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Kelly is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantly seized the colors, which had fallen near the enemy's lines of abatis, raised them, and rallied the men at a time of confusion and in a place of the greatest danger.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- April 7, 1840Born in Saltsburg, Indiana County, Pennsylvania
- September 29, 1864Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, VirginiaAge 24. Company F, 6th U.S. Colored Infantry
- April 6, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- June 19, 1907DiedAge 67.
- Resting placeSt. Peter's Lutheran CemeteryPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Biography
Alexander Kelly (April 7, 1840 – June 19, 1907) was an African-American coal miner and native of Pennsylvania who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 6th United States Colored Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. He was awarded his nation's highest military decoration—the U.S. Medal of Honor—for his gallantry in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Virginia on September 29, 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “Alexander Kelly”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
