Lt. John Scully, 35th Indiana, 1st Irish Inf., & 151st Indiana Inf., Civil War & Post-War Archive

Lot 112

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American History Live Salesroom Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 12, 2015 - Jun 13, 2015

Set Reminder 2015-06-12 10:00:00 2015-06-13 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History Live Salesroom Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-live-salesroom-auction-663 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Lot of 23 items pertaining to John Scully, 1863-1947.

An Irish Catholic immigrant, John Scully was an officer in the 35th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War, who distinguished himself at the Battle of Stones River, where his regiment bore the brunt of a Confederate wave without breaking. This archive includes a selection of documents and letters relating to Scully's Civil War service, including Col. Bernard F. Mullen's Battle Report, perhaps the original from Stones River, which was printed in slightly edited form in the Official Records of the Rebellion.

In his report, Mullen describes ordering his men to lie quietly as a massive Confederate force advanced, regiment by regiment...I considered it best to let them advance to within 30 or 40 paces of my line, as I believed, they had no knowledge of my position, before I opened my fire...

When their right flank was immediately opposite my line, I gave the order to rise and fire. With a deafening cheer the order was gallantly obeyed. A plunging volley staggered the advancing columns and before the enemy could recover his surprise my regiment had reloaded and commenced a well aimed and telling fire. The flash and rattle of my musketry gave information to the battery in my front, which opened furiously upon me. The close proximity of the belligerent lines obliged the gunners to throw their shells to my rear and solid shot to my extreme left...This accounts for the left wing suffering so much more than the right. Mullen called upon the 99th Ohio to come forward to assist, but they refused and left the field, leaving Mullen reluctantly to withdraw. Mullen singled out Scully for particular distinction, His escape was a miracle, freely exposing himself, and cheering the men throughout the action to deeds of valor. The second half of this document provides a detailed list of officers and casualties at Stones River.

The archive also includes a petition from the officers of the 35th Indiana Infantry Regiment on behalf of Lt. Scully, whose resignation had recently been accepted by Col. Mullen...As an officer none than he amongst us was more warmly loved and esteemed, capable, faithful and uncompromising in the discharge of his duties. Those of us who witnessed his gallant bearing on the field of carnage at the terribly contested battle of Stones River (his companions in arms) can never forget him...the officers recommend that Col. Mullen use his influence to have Scully recommissioned.

The lot also includes a commission issued to John Scully by the State of Indiana, appointing him second lieutenant in the 151st Indiana Regiment on March 3, 1865, signed by Governor Oliver P. Morton, 14 x 17 in.

Not long after Scully was commissioned into Co. K of the 151st Indiana, he was promoted to first lieutenant on March 25, but within less than 4 months, he died on July 23, 1865. A letter of sympathy, dated July 28, from "G.A. Moss," surgeon of the the 151st Indiana, to Scully's wife, written from the regiment's medical department in Nashville, TN, accompanies the archive.

Additional items include several post-war letters and documents pertaining to Scully's pension, land indentures, Scully's 1856 marriage license, acquired in Ohio, and 2 sixth plate ambrotypes housed in the same case of a woman and 3 children, accompanied by a typed paper label that identifies the subjects as Scully's wife and children.

Condition

Light to moderate wear to letters and documents, but not unusual considering age. Indiana commission has some folds, with some separation along folds, few tears along perimeter of document as well as small areas of loss. Mullen's report, ink has lightened, but is still legible, some creasing in manuscript report.
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