Jan. 27, 2007 - Memorial Service

Today Zach got to go with me to the John McIntosh-Kell memorial service for our SCV Camp.  Zach was going to be a flag bearer but instead got to tote an 1853 British .58 cal enfield rifle and march with the troops.  He also got to fire the 21 gun salute which I know he got a kick out of. This is a photo of us before with left with me without my gear on.

John McIntosh-Kell was born in McIntosh County, GA in 1823.  He entered the U.S. Navy in September 1841 as a midshipman.  Over the next two decades he served on several ships, was active in California during the war with Mexico, and participated in Commodore Matthew C. Perry's expedition to Japan.  When Georgia seceded from the Union in early 1861, Lt. Kell resigned from the U. S. Navy.

In  April 1861, he briefly commanded the Ga. State gunboat Savannah, but received a Confederate States Navy commission as 1st Lt. the following month and was sent to New Orleans.  There he helped Commander Rapael Semmes fit out the cruiser CSS Sumter.  He served as Executive Officer during her commerce raiding cruise in 1861-62.

1st Lt. Kell was Semmes' Executive Officer on CSS Alabama throughout his career, and was present when she was sunk by USS Kearsarge in June 1864.  He was rescued by the British yacht Deerhound and taken to England.  Promoed to the rank of Commander in that month, he commanded the ironclad CSS Richmond in the James River Squadron in 1865.

After the end of the War Between the States, John McIntosh-Kell returned to Sunnyside, Georgia and became a farmer.  In later years, he served as Adjutant General of Georgia.

John McIntosh-Kell died in 1900, and is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin, GA.

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