Speed S. Fry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Speed S. Fry
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Col. Speed S. Fry
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| Born |
Speed Smith Fry
September 9, 1817 |
| Died | August 1, 1892 (aged 74) near Louisville, Kentucky
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
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Branch
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United States Army Union Army |
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Rank
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 Brigadier General |
| Commands | 4th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
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Conflicts
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Mexican–American War American Civil War |
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Speed Smith Fry (born September 9, 1817 – died August 1, 1892) was an American lawyer and judge. He also served as an officer in the United States Army during two important conflicts: the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Fry was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, which is now part of Boyle County, Kentucky. This was close to the town of Danville. He went to college at Wabash College in Indiana and finished his studies in 1840. After college, he went back to Danville to work as a lawyer with his uncle.
During the Mexican–American War, Fry became a captain in the 2nd Kentucky Volunteer Regiment. He fought in the Battle of Buena Vista, where his company fired the very last shots of the battle. After the war, he returned home and became a judge for Mercer County. He held this job until the Civil War began.
Speed Fry in the Civil War
When the American Civil War started, Speed Fry quickly became a colonel in the Kentucky Militia. He helped create the 4th Kentucky Infantry regiment at a place called Camp Dick Robinson. On October 9, 1861, he was officially made the colonel of this regiment.
The Battle of Mill Springs
Fry led his regiment into battle at the Battle of Mill Springs on January 19, 1862. During this battle, the fighting became very confusing. A Confederate General named Felix Zollicoffer rode up to Fry's regiment. He thought they were Confederate soldiers and told Colonel Fry to stop firing.
Then, Zollicoffer's helper rode out of the woods. He tried to warn the general that he was with enemy soldiers and fired a shot. Fry quickly raised his pistol and fired at Zollicoffer, who then fell dead.
There is some debate about who exactly killed General Zollicoffer. Fry never directly said he was the one who killed him. However, many reports and paintings from that time gave him full credit. But, soldiers from three different Union regiments were standing near Fry and also fired their weapons. No matter if he was the only one to shoot General Zollicoffer, the Confederates were very angry and accused Fry of murder.
Becoming a General
On March 21, 1862, Fry was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers. He then commanded the 2nd Brigade, which was part of the 1st Division in the Army of the Ohio. This army was led by General Don Carlos Buell.
Fry's brigade arrived at the Battle of Shiloh at the very end of the second day, so they did not get to fight in that battle. General Buell later said that Fry's performance was "inefficient" at that time. However, his brigade did take part in the siege of Corinth.
Later, Fry returned to Kentucky and led his brigade in the Battle of Perryville. This battle happened only a few miles from where he was born. After the Confederate forces left Kentucky, Fry took command of the 3rd Division in the XIV Corps. He led this group during the Stones River Campaign, but he and most of his division did not fight in the Battle of Stones River.
For much of the rest of the war, he was in charge of the North Central Kentucky sub-district. At the end of the war, he was in command of Camp Nelson. This was a very large Union camp south of Lexington, used for recruiting and sending out soldiers. He left the army on August 24, 1865.
After the Civil War
In 1866, Fry tried to become a member of the Congress as a Republican, but he did not win. He later worked as a supervisor for collecting taxes in his area. He was also the superintendent of the Soldier's Home and an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
Speed Smith Fry died near Louisville, Kentucky. He is buried in the Bellevue Cemetery in Danville, Kentucky.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
