Sons of Leitrim
Morley
Dominic
Soldier Profile: Dominic Morley
Co. B, 28th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry
Dominic served in a regiment of "Loyal Kentuckians," men who stood firm for the Union in a state torn apart by divided allegiances. His war was one of "very hard duty"—guarding supply lines, hunting guerillas, and enduring the damp, sickly camps of Tennessee that broke the health of even the strongest men.
Early Life and the Move to Kentucky
Born: November 17, 1830, in Mayo, County Leitrim.
The Emigrant Laborer: Like many Leitrim men, Dominic arrived in America with little more than a willingness to work. By 1861, he had made his way to Louisville, Kentucky, where the call for troops to protect the Ohio River border was reaching a fever pitch.
Enlistment: He committed himself to the Union for three years on November 14, 1861, mustering into Company B as the winter chill settled over the Kentucky camps.
Military Service: The Struggle for Tennessee
The 28th Kentucky was a "workhorse" regiment. From early 1862 through 1863, they were constantly in motion across the rugged terrain of Middle Tennessee.
Hard Duty: Dominic’s unit was engaged in endless skirmishes against Confederate cavalry and irregulars. While major battles grab the headlines, this type of service—constant vigilance and exposure—was often more physically draining.
The Toll of the Camps: In December 1863, the "hard duty" finally claimed Dominic’s health. He was admitted to a convalescent camp in Nashville, Tennessee. Dominic would spend the remainder of his service fighting to recover in the massive military hospital network of Nashville.
The Return to the Bluegrass
While the 28th Kentucky moved on toward Atlanta, Dominic remained in the convalescent system. He was finally mustered out of the service on January 31, 1865, while the regiment was stationed in Huntsville, Alabama.
Life in Hodgenville: A Legacy Restored
After the war, Dominic returned to the heart of Kentucky. In 1866, he married Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" Riney (1839–1919), beginning a new chapter in Hodgenville, famously known as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.
Dominic and Lizzie raised six children, whose lives spanned the growth of post-war Kentucky:
John R. "Jack" Morley: (1867–1896)
Sarah Catherine "Sallie" Morley: (1869–1933)
Matilda Frances "Myrtle" Morley Hayden: (1871–1949)
William Alexander Morley: (1874–1954)
Anna Mary "Annie" Morley Keith: (1877–1963)
Lillian Virginia "Lillie" Morley Stabile: (1882–1918)
Final Resting Place
Dominic lived to see the end of the century, passing away on May 23, 1898, at the age of sixty-seven.
Burial: He is buried in Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church Cemetery in Hodgenville, Larue County, Kentucky.
The Pension: Having applied for an Invalid Pension in 1879 due to his wartime illness, his service was further recognized when Lizzie applied for her widow's pension in June 1898, just one month after his death.
Service Timeline
DateEventLocation / Detail
Nov 17, 1830 Birth Mayo, Co. Leitrim
Nov 14, 1861 Enlisted Louisville, KY
1862–1863 Field Servie Tennessee Skirmishes
Dec 1863 Hospitalized Nashville, TN.
Jan 31, 1865Honorably Discharged Huntsville, AL
May 23, 1898 Deceased Hodgenville, KY
