Ebenezer Skellie (August 16, 1842 – July 2, 1898) was a native of Chautauqua County, New York, who received his nation’s highest honor – the U.S. Medal of Honor – for the gallantry he displayed while fighting as a corporal with the 112th New York Volunteer Infantry's D Company in the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm during the American Civil War.“Skellie, Ebenezer”, in “112th Infantry CW Roster”, in “New York State Unit History Project.” Saratoga Springs, New York: New York State Military Museum, retrieved online August 7, 2018.”Skellie, Ebenezer”, in “U.S. Census of Veterans and Widows of the Civil War” (Chautauqua County, New York, 1890). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.Houck, Douglas. Historic Chautauqua County: A Bicentennial History, p. 27. San Antonio, Texas: Historical Publishing Network, 2010.
In the final decade of his life, he also became an active member of the Lakeside Assembly, a lifelong learning initiative similar to the Chautauqua movement of the 1890s and early 1900s. A member of the board of directors of this assembly from the time of its inception, and that board's second president, he helped to launch and expand Lakeside's educational offerings at Findley Lake, New York, during the late 19th century.Boerst, Randy. Around Findley Lake, pp. 9, 14, 47. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2005.Downs, John P. and Fenwick Y. Hedley. History of Chautauqua County New York and Its People, Vol. I, pp. 41, 77, p. 207. Boston, Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Chicago, Illinois: American Historical Society, Inc., 1921.
Formative years Born on August 16, 1842, in Mina, New York, near Findley Lake,The Centennial History of Chautauqua County, New York: A Detailed and Entertaining Story of One Hundred Years of Development, Vol. II, p. 843. Jamestown, New York: The Chautauqua History Company, 1904. Ebenezer Skellie was a son of New York native James Skellie ( to 1853), a farmer and early settler of Chautauqua County, New York,Downs and Hedley, History of Chautauqua County New York and Its People, p. 41. and Jannett (Doig) Skellie (1806–1877), a native of East Greenwich, New York. In 1850, he resided in Mina with his parents and siblings: Sarah, Jane, Robert, Mary, James A., and Hannah (born respectively , 1829, 1831,1836, 1837, and 1841).”Skelly, James, Janett, Sarah, Jane, Robert, Mary, James A., Hannah, and Ebenezer”, in U.S. Census (Mina, Chautauqua County, New York, 1850). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
Three years later, Skellie's home life changed considerably when his father died. By 1860, as one of the only two Skellie children still residing at home with his mother, he had become a primary breadwinner, according to that year's federal census, farming the family's land with his older brother James”Skellie, Jenett, James and Ebenezer”, in U.S. Census (Mina, Chautauqua County, New York, 1860). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
Civil War He was 19-year-old when the Fort Sumter fell to the Confederate Army troops at the dawn of the American Civil War in mid-April 1861, Ebenezer Skellie continued to work on his family's farm and support his mother during the war's first year. Just over a year later, in response to calls from President Abraham Lincoln and the Governor of New York for additional volunteers to help preserve America's Union,Hyde, Wm. L. History of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, pp. 9-13. Fredonia, New York: W. McKinstry & Co., Publishers, 1866. Skellie enlisted for a three-year term of military service. Enrolling at Mina on August 9, 1862, he then officially mustered in for duty on August 15, at Camp Brown outside of Jamestown as a private with Company D of the 112th New York Volunteer Infantry.“Skellie, Ebenezer”, in “112th Infantry CW Roster”, New York State Military Museum.”Skellie, Ebenezer”, in “U.S. Census of Veterans and Widows of the Civil War”.
Transported by the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad to Washington, D.C., with a stopover at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Skellie was stationed briefly with his regiment at Fort Monroe before being shipped by steamer to Suffolk, Virginia, where his regiment was attached to the Union Army division commanded by Major-General John J. Peck. Finally issued guns and ammunition, they were then directed to pitch basic shelter tents on South Quay Road. Assigned to fatigue duty, they drilled regularly, and also dug rifle pits while battling their common camp ailment of dysentery. Ordered to march toward Franklin on November 17, the 112th New York Volunteers soon experienced their first true moment of combat. Marching quickly from 2 to 5 p.m. that day with Foster's Division in the advance, they took a 20-minute dinner break; continuing on, they marched until midnight when they took an additional 30-minute break. Making their way "through woods, swamps and mud holes" to reach "Zuni, a small town on the Blackwater river" at dawn, they joined with the 6th Massachusetts to force Confederate army skirmishers to cease operations.Hyde, Wm. L. History of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, pp. 15-22."History", in "112th Infantry Regiment: Civil War: Chautauqua Regiment". Saratoga Springs, New York: New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, retrieved online August 25, 2018.
Skellie's next major engagement with his regiment occurred during the Siege of Suffolk from April 11, to May 4, 1863. Stationed at "Fort Union", the Union's massive earthenworks strategically positioned between the Edenton and Summerton roads (and which the 112th had helped to construct while on fatigue duty), they exchanged fire with the enemy off and on as part of a larger, protracted duel between the opposing forces. As the struggle continued, casualties mounted — caused frequently by the minie balls fired by enemy sharpshooters.Hobbs, Kermit. "Dodging Bullets". Suffolk, Virginia: The Suffolk News, April 15, 2013. On April 25, five companies of the 112th New York skirmished at close quarters as part of a Union reconnoissance mission involving the 103rd and 169th New York regiments. Additional, intense skirmishing then ensued May 3, when the 112th New York was ordered to pursue the enemy as it retreated, and placed in the lead of Foster's brigade as it moved out on May 5. Capturing Confederate troops along their march to Quaker Church, Skellie and his comrades marched more to a wooded area, where they skirmished again. Capturing still more prisoners, they moved on to Howard's Corners, where they took a hour's break before returning to Leesville and then Suffolk.Hyde, Wm. L. History of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, pp. 28-34.
Marched to the railroad station on June 27, he and his regiment were next transported to Norfolk, where they boarded the steamer John Brooks, sailed the York and Pamunky rivers, and disembarked at White House Landing. Encamping there briefly, they moved on to Hanover Court House where, after a brief rest on July 4, they continued on again, marching until midnight. Allowed to rest, they then retraced their steps after leaders determined that their position was untenable. Re-encamped at Taylor's plantation, they witnessed, firsthand, the abuse of slaves by the landowner there. Marched back to White House, they then moved down the peninsula, passing through Williamsburg en route to Yorktown. During the march, four members of the regiment died from sunstroke. Moving on to Big Bethel, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Bower's Hill, they remained there for several weeks before heading back to Fort Monroe. Divided in two, the 112th New York Volunteers then departed for Charleston, South Carolina, aboard steamers on August 3, and 4. Disembarking at Hilton Head roughly a week later, they were then transported aboard boats to Folly Island, where they disembarked at Pawnee Landing. Pitching their tents in a forested area on the island's eastern side, they were attached to the division commanded by Brigadier-General Israel Vodges in the U.S. Army's 10th Corps headed by Brigadier-General Quincy Adams Gillmore. Assigned to fatigue, guard and duties on Folly and Morris islands, the soldiers stationed here suffered frequently from dysentery, fevers and other ailments as they supported other Union troops in the Second Battle of Charleston Harbor through September 7, during which Fort Sumter was virtually reduced to rubble, Morris Island was captured, and Fort Wagner fell. Ordered to picket duty on Black Island on September 20, they periodically came under enemy fire while stationed here through the end of the month, and then spent October as a divided regiment with members spread around the various islands.Hyde, Wm. L. History of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, pp. 39-61. On October 23, 1863, Skellie was promoted to the rank of corporal.“Skellie, Ebenezer”, in “112th Infantry CW Roster”, New York State Military Museum.”Skellie, Ebenezer”, in “U.S. Census of Veterans and Widows of the Civil War”.Hyde, Wm. L. History of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, pp. 39-62.
Ordered to John's Island with other Union troops on February 7, 1864, they briefly encountered enemy fire there before taking possession of the island. Four days later, they returned to Folly Island. On February 22, they received orders to head for Florida, "leaving tents and extra baggage". Transported via the Helen Getty and Ben Deford, they stopped at Stono inlet for the night, and then crossed the bar there in daylight to reach the mouth of the St. John's River. Steaming for Jacksonville, Florida,"History: 112th Infantry Regiment: Civil War: Chautauqua Regiment", New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. they disembarked there around noon, marched to a vacant field inside the city's boundaries, and began to erect earthenworks. A week later, they moved their camp to a site which was just outside of the city's business district and closer to the river.Hyde, Wm. L. History of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, pp. 63-71. During this phase of duty, Skellie was honored by his superiors for service to the 112th New York by transfer, in March, within the regiment to the Color Guard, and assigned to protect the national and regimental colors.Hyde, History of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, p. 176.