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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Leverett Mansfield Kelley

Sergeant Leverett Mansfield Kelley, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 25, 1863

Sergeant Leverett Mansfield Kelley, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 36th Illinois Infantry. Kelley was 22 years old.

15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 4, 1900, 36 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Kelley was born on September 28, 1841 in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Rutland, La Salle County, Illinois. Kelley died on April 9, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 82. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Kelley is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Sprang over the works just captured from the enemy and calling upon his comrades to follow, rushed forward in the face of a deadly fire and was among the first over the works on the summit, where he compelled the surrender of a Confederate officer and received his sword.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Schenectady — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. September 28, 1841
    Born in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York
  2. November 25, 1863
    Act of valor — Missionary Ridge, Tennessee
    Age 22. Company A, 36th Illinois Infantry
  3. April 4, 1900
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. April 9, 1924
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 82.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Leverett M. Kelley (1841–1924) was an American soldier and member of the 36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment who fought in the American Civil War and was awarded the Medal of Honor for forcing the surrender of a Confederate Captain at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. He was a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. After the war, he was a resident of Kane County, Illinois. He died in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

From the Wikipedia article “Leverett M. Kelley”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on November 25, 1863

George Lovell Banks Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JB James Bennett Bell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Henry Van ness Boynton Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 CB Charles W. Brouse Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Robert Bruce Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 FD Freeman Davis Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas N. Graham Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 George Green Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Hiram Reese Howard Private · Army Civil War · 1863 RJ Ruel M. Johnson Major · Army Civil War · 1863 SJ Simeon T. Josselyn First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 John S. Kountz Musician · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 16 recipients for November 25, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

William W. Fraser Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WP Winthrop D. Putnam Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Loyd Wheaton Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 Andrew J. Widick Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WT William Toomer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 RS Reuben S. Smalley Private · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.