William Kelly was born in Tullamore in 1845. His family emigrated to the US and settled in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

William joined Company E of the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Unit along with several men from Litchfield County.

Many of these men, including William Kelly from Tullamore, would die in the first few days of The Battle of Cold Harbor in June of 1864 in what was one of the most bloody battles of the entire Civil War. Their names are etched on the memorial to his unit at Cold Harbor.

William Kelly was only 19 years old. He is currently our youngest man from our list of Offaly soldiers to die in the US Civil War.