Col. R. A. Kennedy, son of Ronald
and Isabell (Lang) Kennedy, both deceased, was born at Ryegate, Caledonia,
Vt., September 25, 1837, and came to Floyd county, Ind., in November, 1895. He
married, March 3, 1863, in Waterford, Vt., Adalaide E. Rowell, who was
born there Mary 29, 1845. His wife’s parents, no longer living, were Dr.
Richard F. and Melinda (Millen) Rowell. Five children were born to them: Fred
A., Richard A., Hugh C., Lou E. and Caroline B. Comrade Kennedy was a farmer when he enlisted July 16, 1861,
in the Federal army, at St. Johnsburg, Vt., when he was 23 years of age. He was
enrolled as a private in Co. I, 3d Vt. V.I., Army of the Potomac and was
subsequently promoted through all the grades, to Sergt., 2nd Lieut.,
1st Lieut., Capt., Lieut.-Col. Of 5th Vt. V.I. He was
wounded, near Banks Ford, at the battle of Chancellorsville, by concussion of
shell, May, 1863, in right breast, fracturing two ribs. He was held in field
hospital, then in Seminary hospital, Georgetown, D.C., five weeks; he was also
in hospital July, 1864, on account of inflammation of bowels. He received two
furloughs of thirty days each, reporting for duty at end of time; he was
honorably discharged from first enlistment, December, 1863, at Brandy Station,
to re-enlist as a veteran. March, 1865, he was transferred to 5th
Vt. V.I., as a Col. He was detailed July, 1862, as recruiting officer in Vt.,
drilling recruits and escorting them to the front. He was then appointed in
charge of recruiting station at Island Pond, Vt., but never reported on account
of having been commissioned Lieut. He fought at Falls Church, Leesburg,
Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Warwick Creek, Savage Station, Malvern Hill,
Fredericksburg, Burnside’s Mud River Campaign, Maryland Heights, Gettysburg,
New York Riots, Brandy Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold
Harbor, Front of Petersburg, final assault on Petersburg, Sailors Creek,
Appomattox C.H., did provost duty with his Regt., at Farmville and was finally
honorably discharged July 10, 1865, at Burlington, Vt. His wife had four
brothers in service, Daniel, Dennison, Byron and Richard. Comrade
Kennedy represented Pawnee county, Vt., in the Legislature two years, county
commissioner three years, J. of P., four years, census enumerator in 1880 in
Neb., enumerator in Ark., in 1890, and was com. Capt. of National Guards in
Neb., and registerer of votes four years, he was master of Grange, county
Deputy delegate in State Grange four terms, he is P.C. of Chas. Watkins Post,
Lebanon, Ky., he is Supt., of National Cemetery, New Albany, Indiana, and may be
addressed at that place.
From the book, Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol. II
H.H. Hardesty, Publisher
N.Y., Toledo, Chicago
1893
pg 1198
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