★ Fry, Speed Smith

Speed Smith Fry​

Born: September 9, 1817

Birthplace: Mercer County, Kentucky

Father: Thomas Walker Fry 1784 – 1837

(Buried: Old Town Cemetery, Crawfordsville, Indiana)​

Mother: Elizabeth Julia Speed Smith 1788 – 1848

(Buried: Old Town Cemetery, Crawfordsville, Indiana)​

Wife: Cynthia A. Hope 1826 – 1884

(Buried: Bellevue Cemetery, Danville, Kentucky)​

Children:

Frank Walker Fry 1852 – 1890​

(Buried: Bellevue Cemetery, Danville, Kentucky)​

Education:

1840: Graduated from Wabash College​

Occupation before War:

Attorney in Danville, Kentucky​

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Captain in Mexican – American War​

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1847: Commander of Company who fired last shots at Buena Vista​

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Judge of Mercer Count, Kentucky​

Civil War Career:

1861: Colonel in Kentucky State Militia​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 4th​ Kentucky Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky​

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1862: Wounded at the Battle of Logan's Crossroads, Kentucky​

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1862: May have been the man who killed General Zollicoffer​

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1862 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​

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1862: Arrived to late to participate in the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​

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1862: Brigade Commander during the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi​

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1862: Brigade Commander during the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky​

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Division Commander during Stones River campaign but not in battle​

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1863: Suffered from influenza causing deafness in both ears​

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1863 – 1865: Commander of North Central Kentucky, Sub District​

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1865: Commander of Camp Nelson, south of Lexington, Kentucky​

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1865: Mustered out of service on August 24th​​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1892: Suffered from deafness in both of his ears​

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1866: Unsuccessful Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress​

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Supervisor for Internal Revenue in Kentucky​

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Superintendent of Soldier's Home​

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Elder of the Presbyterian Church​

Died: August 1, 1892

Place of Death: near Louisville, Kentucky

Age at time of Death: 74 years old

Burial Place: Bellevue Cemetery, Danville, Kentucky

 

[Pollaco]

Several times during his career he was criticised for his "inactions" At Shiloh and Stone's River he failed to bring his men into action then In 1864 he was ordered to bring part of his force from Camp Nelson to join the army but his advance was slow.Then was again criticised for frequent absences.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday (September 9th) week to Brig. General Speed Smith Fry! Salutes remembering General Fry on his birthday week.

 

[Pollaco]

As commander of Camp Nelson, Fry was directly responsible for the deaths of many Black refugees housed at Camp Nelson. Fry ordered the expulsion of primarily women and children who were family members of Black recruits. On November 23, 1864 Fry ordered the forced expulsion from the camp.Harsh winter conditions caused the freezing and starving of at least 100. The order was overturned by his superior Major General Stephen G. Burbridge.

 

[Pollaco]

For those wondering Camp Nelson was named in honor of General William "Bull"Nelson who was mortally wounded by Gen. Jefferson C. Davis on September 29, 1862.