As Buford's brigade trudges its way towards Gettysburg, it would be good to be able to picture Keogh as he was then: just twenty-three years old, and on the eve of the battle of his life.Perhaps not surprisingly, there are no campaign photographs or on-the-spot sketches to assist us. Buford loathed and despised all newspapermen, and would have tolerated an "embedded" reporter no more readily than he did a spy. In later months and years, his reputation would suffer for this, and it would take a concerted effort by his signal officer Lt. A. B. Jerome, General Winfield Scott Hancock, and others to ensure him the reputation he enjoys today. His only focus at the time was to get the job done. So while Buford was steadfastly avoiding the limelight, his key aide Keogh escaped it too.
Fortunately, however, we have been left with a word-picture as vivid as any photo. More so, in fact, as it conveys so much of the spirit and the manner of the man -- far better than any still photograph could do. Here is our snapshot of Keogh in action:
"Thousands of the gallant soldiers of Buford's Division will recollect the dashing young soldier carrying the orders of his General amid the smoke of battle, always gayest when in the hottest fire, always cheeriest when enduring the greatest hardships and privation. His magnificent figure and handsome face, with the color mounting at the noise of battle, always incited to gallant deeds."
This comes from the obituary written for Keogh in the Army & Navy Journal by Andrew J. Alexander. True, he was a friend, and thus possibly biased; but this description speaks of personal observation.
Thanks to Alexander, as the battle gets under way we can now visualise something of Keogh's part in it.
