Historical and Biographical Sketch
Processed
by
Chris Harter
17 February 1997
Updated 3 November 2004
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 2 items
COLLECTION DATES: 1862, 1923
PROVENANCE: Richard L. Henderson, Indianapolis, IN
RESTRICTIONS: None
COPYRIGHT: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: M 0132, Benjamin Harrison Collection; SC 1752, George W. Grubbs Papers; SC 0900, OMB 0278, James H. Kelly Papers; F 0081, Letters of Civil War Soldiers; Merrill, Samuel. Documents: Letters From a Civil War Soldier (pam.q E506.5 70th .M47 D6 1928); Merrill, Samuel. The Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion (E506.5 70th .M47 1900)
ACCESSION NUMBER: 1996.0736
NOTES: Cataloged as: United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 70th (1862-1865) Records, 1862, 1923
No information found in available resources for J.A. Golly (fl. 1862).
Colonel Sanders Dewees Bruce (1825-1902) was a member of the 20th Kentucky Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. Bruce was stationed around the Frankfort-Lexington, KY, area for much of the war. However, he was the commanding officer at Bowling Green (1862-1863), when the 70th Indiana Regiment reported there. In 1863, Bruce was given a temporary duty as provost-marshal-general when the area around Lexington was put under martial law. He resigned from the army in 1864 due to ill health, and moved to New York. Sanders authored three books on thoroughbred horses and breeding.
James H. Kelly (b. 1838), son of Madison and Eliza Paterson Kelly, was born in Franklin Township, Johnson County, Indiana. He was mustered into the 70th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Company I, on August 1, 1862, and served with that regiment for the duration of the Civil War. He was mustered out on June 8, 1865 as First Sergeant. He returned to Johnson County, where he married Mary A. Henderson. After a career in farming, he spent his last years on East Pearl Street, Greenwood, Indiana.
The 70th Indiana Infantry Regiment was organized in Indianapolis, and mustered into service in August, 1862, with Benjamin Harrison as colonel. Three days later, the regiment reported to Col. Sanders D. Bruce, the commanding officer at Bowling Green, KY. The soldiers of the 70th Indiana participated in engagements throughout Kentucky and Tennessee. In May of 1864, they entered upon the Atlanta campaign, and participated in Sherman's march throughout Georgia. They then continued with Sherman through the Carolinas. The 70th Indiana Regiment was mustered out on June 8, 1865.
No information found in available resources for Katie A. Wallace, Addie M. Wallace, or Dr. U.H. Farr.
Sources: Collection Guide - SC 0900, James H. Kelly Papers
Terrell, W.H.H. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana.
vol. 6. p. 134; vol. 2. p. 645-647.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union
Confederate Armies. (See Index for Bruce, S.D.).
This collection consists of two items. The first is a military pass (October 28, 1862) issued by S.D. Bruce, Col. Commanding Post, at Bowling Green, KY, for J.A. Golly. On the verso of the pass is a printed Oath of Allegiance to the government of the United States, signed by Golly.
Also included in the collection is a printed postcard addressed to J.H. Kelly in Greenwood, Indiana. The postcard is from Dr. U.H. Farr, Secretary of the 70th Indiana Regimental Association, and is dated July 1, 1923. It announces that the 49th annual reunion of the association will be held at the home of Mrs. Kate A. Wallace and Miss Addie M. Wallace in Indianapolis on August 8, 1923.
The items are arranged in chronological order.
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://opac.indianahistory.org/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, SC 2576).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.