★  Reilly, James William

James William Reilly

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Reilly.jpeg


Born: May 20, 1828

Birthplace: Akron, Ohio

Father: Thomas Reilly 1790 – 1852

Mother: Elizabeth McAvoy 1794 – 1862
(Buried: Saint Elizabeth Cemetery, Wellsville, Ohio)​

Education:

Graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College​

Occupation before War:

Attorney in Wellsville, Ohio​
Ohio State Representative​
1860: Supporter of Abraham Lincoln for President Campaign​

Civil War Career:

1862 – 1864: Colonel of 104th Ohio Infantry Regiment​
1862 – 1863: Served in Garrison and Post Duty in Kentucky​
1863: Served in the fighting around Cumberland Gap​
1863: Served in the Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee​
1864: Commanded a Division during the Atlanta Campaign​
1864 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​
1864: Rallied his men at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, and repulsed an attack​
1864: Captured more then 1,000 prisoners and 22 battle flags​
1865: Participated in the Carolina’s Campaign under Schofield​
1865: Resigned from the Union Army on April 20th

Occupation after War:

Attorney in Wellsville, Ohio​
1873: Member of Ohio State Constitutional Convention​
Trustee of Soldiers Home at Xenia, Ohio​
Counselor to young Attorneys in the courts of Eastern Ohio​
President of First National Bank of Wellsville, Ohio​

Died: November 6, 1905

Place of Death: Wellsville, Ohio

Age at time of Death: 77 years old

Burial Place: Saint Elizabeth Cemetery, Wellsville, Ohio
 
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He did participate very well in the Battle of Franklin but relinquished command the day before the Battle of Nashville. One source just states "for some reason." Anyone have any details as to why?
Probably Illness or exhaustion. Could also be due to PTSD from the battle, considering how brutal it was; his troops were the most heavily engaged in the Army that day.
 
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