SKETCH #117

Comrade John H. Rielly who was born the twelfth day of July A.D. 1839 in New York, county of -----, State of New York.

Entered the service Aug. 12, 1862, at New York, N. Y., in company A. 170^th Reg. Infantry N.Y. Vol., as Private. Was promoted to Corporal, 2^nd Sergt., and 1^st Sergt., but don’t [sic] remember the dates. First discharged July 7, ’65, at or near Washington, D. C., by reason of G. O. 2^nd Provisional Corps, and finally discharged July 15 ’65 rank of 1^st Sergeant. –First Battle engaged in- Siege of Suffolk, Va., and subsequently _______ River, Black Water, Jonko Canal, Dismal Swamp, Cold Harbor, North Anna, Bermuda hundred, Spotsylvania, Wilderness, Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Belle Plains, Bull run Bridge, Centerville Heights, Washington, Alexandria Railroad, Dey Bottom, Farmsville, Reams Station, Fairfax, C. H., Appermatox [sic] C. House. – Was wounded in the battles at Spotsylvania, Cold Harbour [sic] and in Richmond while prisoner of war.

Was confined in hospital while a prisoner in Confederal [sic] hospital in Richmond, Va. – Was taken prisoner Aug. 25, ’64, at Reams Sation [sic] , Va., by Gen. Robt. Lee, forces taken prisoners [sic] while destroying the Weldon Railroad, running into the city of Richmond, Va. – I was confined in Libby Prison, Castle Thunder, and Belle Island, and was in a critical condition from starvation and persecution, derived from their treatment that I don’t remember the days nor dates. – Was paroled from a Rebel hospital in a sad predicment [sic], being unconious [sic] and the first I knew myself to be alive, I found myself at Annapolis, Md., getting the best of care. I think this was about the last of Nov. ’64. My intimate comrades were: -Col. J. P. McIvor, Capt. D. I. Mykins, Maj. Donnelly, 2^nd Serg’t. James Young, Serg’t Chas. Epner, Sam’l McDowell, Frank Murphy and Jas. D. Cadmus. Was always in the front with my Reg., right in the hotest [sic] of it, and the greatest event is, that I came out alive after all I endured, during three years. –When I was taken a prisoner at Reams Station, VA., Aug. 25, ’64, I was a hale-harty [sic] man, weighing 168 lbs., and after being paroled from Richmond, Va., and taken to Annapolis, Md., where I rec’d good treatment from humane doctors, and I think after being there some three weeks I weighed 68 lbs. I had my right hand broken by a confedrate Calveryman [sic] when he recaptured me while trying to escape from Libby Prison. Having escaped when we were about being transferred to another prison.

CERTIFIED: Not Signed.