Neriah B. Kendall.

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Captain Neriah B. Kendall. Commissioned April 29th, 1865. Mustered out December 6th, 1865, with the regiment.


Captain Kendall enlisted from Joliet, Ill., and served continuously up to the muster-out of the regiment, with the exception of three months spent in Libby prison. He enlisted as a private soldier and was mustered out as Captain commanding company, which of itself is a sufficient commentary on his ability and devotion to duty without further altiloquence from the writer. He was wounded in the head and taken prisoner May 16th, 1864, at the battle of Drury s Bluff, Va.; was reported " killed and left on the field" at the time, and in consequence of such report his funeral sermon was preached at Joliet by Elder Crews, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was perhaps the only person in the regiment who had such a distinction forced upon him, or was placed in such a paradoxical position dead, yet alive. It may be mentioned in this connection that he has been a very live man ever since " there are no flies on him." He acted as Adjutant of the regiment from January 28th, to September 10th, 1865, when Adjutant Doud was assigned to the First Brigade.

After the war, in July, 1866, Kendall went to Omaha, Neb., and was appointed civil engineer on the Union Pacific railroad, remaining in that capacity until the completion of the road in 1870, when he received the appointment of chief engineer of the Nebraska railroad, serving until 1874, with the exception of one year spent in Arizona and California
exploring a route for the Atlantic and Pacific railroad. He then resigned his position and gave up railroading, and soon engaged in the milling, stock, and land business, which he has since followed.

It is presumed that in his travels and explorations in the far west he discovered the long-lost " Aladdin s Lamp," and has been rubbing it, much to his advantage, ever since. He has considerable landed interests in Omaha, Lincoln, and rough out the State of Nebraska, and has some little personal property besides enough, in fact, to warrant him in saying that he feels quite prosperous. He makes his home and headquarters at Lin coln, Neb.

39th., Illinois Infantry.

Kendall, Neriah B. Enlisted from Joliet August 9th, 1861. Vet eran. Promoted Corporal January 1st, 1862. Wounded and taken prisoner May 16th, 1864. Promoted Sergeant August 15th, 1864; First Sergeant November 1st, 1864; First Lieutenant July llth, 1865.  (See Captain Kendall, Company G.)

Battle of Drury's Bluff.

Captain N. B. Kendall of Company G (then Corporal) was wounded by a rifle bullet which struck him on the head, causing a severe scalp wound and a great confusion of ideas. McKee of that company says that he passed him just after he was hit, and Kendall was crying out " O! I m dead! I m dead! " and the presumption is, that anybody under the same circumstances would have been somewhat "mixed up" as regarded their condition.