CPT
Esom D. Kelley
(May
27, 1836 - May 22, 1900)
Hubbard's Company of Alabama
Rangers, 1861
Company K, 1st Confederate
Cavalry Regiment, 1861-1862
Company K, 4th Alabama Cavalry
(Roddey's) Regiment, 1862-1865
Esom D. Kelley was the second oldest son of John and Martha Ann Kelley.
He was born May 27, 1836, at Traveller's Rest, Coosa County, Alabama. He
spent his childhood years there before moving with this family to Eldridge,
Walker County, Alabama. Here he helped his father run the tannery, legal
distillery, mercantile and farm.
When the War Between the States erupted in 1861, Esom and his brothers
James, Philemon, John, and Benjamin, were invited to join an independent
cavalry company that was being formed of men
who could furnish their own mounts and tack. Of their own free will, the brothers enlisted
in "Hubbard's Company of Alabama Rangers" in September of 1861 with Esom
being elected Third Lieutenant. After brief, but intense training,
the company was sent into middle and western Tennessee where it helped
Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman in the defense of Fort Henry. The company
avoided capture as Fort Henry fell in early 1862, which enabled it to participate
in many more skirmishes and battles throughout western Tennessee. During this time two of
the officers were captured and Captain David C. Hubbard resigned which
left Esom the next in line for command and was he appointed Captain. Along
about this time the company left its independent roots and was made a part
of the 1st Confederate Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., and were given the designation of Company "K". Company K was detached early on though and fought in
many fierce engagements during this period also taking part in the Battle
of Shiloh in April of 1862. The company suffered many casualties including
Esom, who was wounded, leading up to and including Shiloh, which caused
it to be detailed to go to North Alabama to be consolidated with other
independent cavalry companies into a new regiment known as the 4th Alabama
Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment, C.S.A. under the command of Colonel Philip
Dale Roddey. The company retained the letter "K" as part of its official
designation, and Esom retained command. Company K would serve the remainder
of the war in North Alabama defending it against union cavalry raids that
had started to become more numerous as northern armies began to drive southward.
Esom served until the end of the war and was paroled.
When Esom and his two surviving brothers, John and Ben, came home from
the war, they found their home in deplorable condition. As if this and losing the war were not bad enough, Esom and his brothers
found that their younger brother Tolbert had been killed by pro-union "Tories"
under the command of a man by the name of John Stough. Tolbert had gone
to a local mill to have some corn ground into meal when a group of men
tied him behind a horse, made it run and drug him to death. Esom,
John, and Ben, sought out Stough and after satisfying themselves that he
was responsible, avenged their brothers death by killing the man and his dogs under the age-old law of
"an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a death for a death". They made
no effort to conceal their trail after the affair was over. Friends of
Stough tried to put together a posse to pursue the Kelley's, but cooler
heads prevailed as they decided that any confrontation with the Kelley's
would not be wise and no effort was ever made to prosecute them.
With the tragic years of the war now behind him, Esom married Martha E.
Walker on July 2, 1865, at the home of Thaddeus Walker in Eldridge. Esom
had the reputation as a successful businessman and operated a general merchandise
business and a camp ground, located where Eldridge Baptist Church now stands,
for the convenience of travelers and freight haulers along the Byler Road.
For ten years after the war, Esom engaged in merchandising near Eldridge
after which he devoted his time to the management of his extensive plantation
interests. He owned several farms, one on Lost Creek and the other in the
vicinity of Eldridge.
Esom was a staunch democrat and was elected to represent Walker County
in the state legislature from 1872-1873. His service there was described
as "a modest, unpretending member and brought to bear a native good sense
on all occasions, which, together with his general courtesy, made him highly
respected by all".
In 1870, the first church in Eldridge was organized. The baptist church
had eight charter members and a pastor. Esom, along with his brother Ben,
were two of these members. He also donated the land that the church was
built on and also had a hand in building it. His disposition was a combination
of gentleness and humor along with forcefulness and strength. He was able
to check and balance these two features, while at the same time have a love
for God, home, family, and community. Esom died on May 22, 1900, in Eldridge
and is buried in the Old Kelley/Tucker Cemetery. His wife Martha died in
1910. There are descendents of Esom and Martha living in Eldridge at the
present time.
Old
Kelley/Tucker Cemetery
Eldridge,
Alabama
"The Virtual CSA Purple Heart Award"
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Issued to:
Captain Esom D. Kelley
Company K
4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment, C.S.A.
who was wounded in the service
of the
Confederate States of America during the War Between the States.
How To receive this
award, Get your own medal, or Confederate POW medal
visit the "Virtual
CSA Purple Heart Award" Website.
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