Myles Keogh facts for kids
Myles Walter Keogh (born March 25, 1840 – died June 25, 1876) was an Irish soldier. He fought in the armies of the Papal States during the war for Italian unification in 1860. Later, he joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. He served as a cavalry officer, especially under General John Buford during the Gettysburg Campaign and the three-day Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, Keogh stayed in the United States Army. He commanded Company I of the 7th U.S. Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer during the Indian Wars. He was killed along with Custer and many others at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.
Quick facts for kids
Myles Walter Keogh
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Keogh c. 1875, by David Francis Barry
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| Born | 25 March 1840 Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, Ireland |
| Died | 25 June 1876 (aged 36) Little Bighorn River, Montana, US |
| Buried |
Fort Hill Cemetery,
Auburn, New York |
| Allegiance |  Papal States United States of America |
| Service/ |
 Papal Army United States Army |
| Years of service | 1860–1862 (Papal States) 1862–1876 (USA) |
| Rank |  Captain Brevet Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| Commands held | Company I, 7th U.S. Cavalry |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Pro Petri Sede Medal Knight's Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great |
Contents
Myles Keogh's Early Life and Military Start
Myles Keogh was born on March 25, 1840, in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, Ireland. His family farmed barley, which helped them avoid the worst of the Great Famine (1845-1850). However, Myles and some of his siblings did suffer from typhoid as children.
He went to the National School in Leighlinbridge. Later, he might have attended St. Mary's Knockbeg College.
Joining the Papal Army
In 1860, when he was 20, Myles Keogh volunteered to defend Pope Pius IX. Over a thousand other Irishmen also joined. By August 1860, Keogh became a second lieutenant in the Papal Army. He was stationed in Ancona, a port city in Italy.
The Papal forces were defeated in September at the Battle of Castelfidardo. Keogh was captured and held prisoner in Genoa. After being quickly released, he went to Rome. He was invited to join the Vatican Guard. For his bravery, he received the Pro Petri Sede Medal and the Cross of a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.
Moving to the American Civil War
After the fighting ended in Italy, Keogh decided to leave the Papal Army. The American Civil War was happening, and the U.S. government was looking for experienced European officers. Archbishop John Hughes of New York traveled to Italy to recruit soldiers.
In March 1862, Keogh resigned from the Company of Saint Patrick. He sailed to New York and arrived on April 2. With the help of the U.S. Secretary of State, Keogh and two comrades became captains.
Serving in the American Civil War
On April 15, 1862, Captain Keogh joined the staff of General James Shields. They faced the Confederate army led by Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. Keogh showed great courage during his first battle, the Battle of Port Republic.
General George B. McClellan, the commander of the Potomac Army, was impressed with Keogh. He described Keogh as a "gentlemanlike man" and a "soldierly appearance." Keogh briefly served on McClellan's personal staff and fought in the Battle of Antietam. After McClellan was removed from command, Keogh joined General John Buford's staff in November 1862.
Key Battles and Promotions
Myles Keogh and his comrade Joseph O'Keeffe served bravely under General Buford. They fought in the Stoneman Raid in April 1863 and the Battle of Brandy Station in June. Buford's cavalry division also fought well in Loudoun County, Virginia, especially at Upperville.
On June 30, 1863, Buford and Keogh rode into Gettysburg. Buford quickly realized a large Confederate force was approaching. He set up a strong defense to hold the important high ground around Gettysburg. This started one of the most famous battles in American history. Buford's smart defense and his men's bravery gave the Union army time to get reinforcements. This helped the Union win a very important victory.
Myles Keogh was recognized for his "gallant and meritorious services" during the battle. He was promoted to the rank of major.
After Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the war. However, it also affected General Buford's health. Five more months of constant fighting made Buford very ill. Keogh stayed by his side and cared for him in Washington. Buford sadly died from typhoid that winter. Keogh attended his funeral.
Major Keogh then became an aide to General George Stoneman. In July 1864, Stoneman led raids behind Confederate lines. Their goal was to destroy railroads and free Union prisoners.
During the Battle of Sunshine Church in Georgia, Keogh and Stoneman's command were surrounded. Both their horses were shot, and they were captured. Keogh was a prisoner of war for two and a half months. He was released thanks to General William Tecumseh Sherman. Keogh later received another promotion to lieutenant colonel for his bravery with Stoneman at the Battle of Dallas.
When the war ended, Lieutenant Colonel Keogh decided to stay in the army. He became a second lieutenant in the 4th Cavalry in May 1866. In July 1866, he was promoted to captain. He was then assigned to the 7th Cavalry at Fort Riley in Kansas. There, he took command of Company I. George Armstrong Custer was the regiment's deputy commander.
Life on the Western Frontier
Myles Keogh was generally well-liked by his fellow officers. However, the lonely life of military duty on the western frontier often made him feel sad.
Keogh was not present at the Battle of Washita River (1868) or the Yellowstone Expedition (1873). These were Custer's main fights with Native American tribes. However, Keogh was in charge of defending the Smoky Hill route from Native American raids from late 1866 to mid-1867.
Comanche, the Famous Horse
In 1868, Keogh was fighting Native Americans almost every day. It was during one of these fights that his new horse, Comanche, was wounded for the first time. This is how the horse got its famous name.
In the summer of 1874, Keogh took a seven-month leave to visit his home in Ireland. During this trip, he gave his family estate to his sister Margaret. He enjoyed his time in Ireland, feeling it was important to support his sisters after their parents had passed away.
In October, Keogh returned to Fort Abraham Lincoln to rejoin Custer. He gave copies of his will to his friends. He also left instructions to burn his personal papers if he was killed.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn
Myles Keogh died during Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. He was the most senior captain among the five companies that were wiped out with Custer that day. Keogh died in his own "last stand," surrounded by the men of Company I.
When the dead were buried three days later, Keogh's body was found in the middle of a group of his soldiers. This group included his two sergeants, the company trumpeter, and the flag bearer.
Keogh's horse, Comanche, was found badly injured on the battlefield. It was nursed back to health and became the 7th Cavalry's regimental mascot. Comanche remained the mascot until its death in 1890. Comanche is considered the only U.S. military survivor of the battle. Keogh's bloody glove and the flag (guidon) of his Company I were found by the army three months later.
Burial and Legacy
Myles Keogh was first buried on the battlefield. However, his remains were later moved to Auburn, New York, as he had asked in his will. He was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery on October 26, 1877. This was a day of official mourning in the city.
The Throop-Martin family, who were friends with Keogh, arranged his burial. They also designed his monument. At the base of his white monument, there is a quote from the poem "The Song of the Camp": "Sleep soldier still in honored rest, Your truth and valor wearing; The bravest are the tenderest, The loving are the daring." A marble cross was added to his grave later, at the request of his sister in Ireland.
A military camp in southeastern Montana, Tongue River Cantonment, was renamed Fort Keogh in his honor. Today, the 55,000-acre fort is an agricultural experiment station. Miles City, Montana, is located near the old fort.
Myles Keogh's Military Ranks
- Appointed Captain, US Volunteers, April 9, 1862
- Promoted Major, US Volunteers, April 7, 1864
- Given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel, US Volunteers, March 13, 1865
- Left US Volunteers, September 1, 1866
- Appointed Second Lieutenant, Regular Army, May 4, 1866
- Promoted Captain, Regular Army, July 28, 1866
- Killed in action, June 25, 1876
