Myles Keogh - Three Wars; Two Continents; One Irish Soldier: 150 Years Ago On This Day...

As the 150th anniversary commemorations of the American Civil War continue, this site will post moments in history relating to the duties and actions of Myles Keogh on that day 150 years ago, from his arrival in America to the end of the war in 1865.

The series will begin on April 2, 2012, corresponding with Keogh's arrival in America on that date in 1862.

The first known photograph of Myles Walter Keogh in a Union Army captain's uniform, circa April 1862

Praise for Keogh's American Civil War service

"He is one of the most gallant and efficient young cavalry officers I have ever known"
Lieutenant General John M. Schofield, Commander of the Army of the Ohio & Commanding General of the United States Army.

"Whether on staff duty or commanding detachments on dangerous and delicate service, he was alike successful, and his soldierly bearing and spirit were a model. He is par excellence a cavalry officer"

"I know of no officer of his grade who made [a] more enviable reputation, or who proved more conclusively that he was a born soldier"
Major General Jacob D. Cox, Commander 3rd Division of the XXIII Corps of the Army of the Ohio

"His record had been remarkable for the short time he had been in the army. He appeared to be a most gentlemanlike man, of soldierly appearance, and I was exceedingly glad to have him as an aide."
General George B. McClellan, Commander, Army of the Potomac

"Major Keogh is one of the most superior young officers in the army and is a universal favourite with all who know him"
General George Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac

"He garnered high praise from his superior officers...he is unsurpassed in dash."
Brigadier General Alvan C. Gillem, Cavalry Division, Army of the Ohio

“Your reputation while serving with the Army of the Potomac under my command, was that of an accomplished and gallant officer”
Major General George G. Meade, Commander, Army of the Potomac

“Col. Keogh has been connected with the Army since April 1862 and is a young officer of intelligence and integrity. His gallantry in the field and his ability to command is beyond question and has been manifested on every occasion”
Major General George H. Thomas, Commander, Army of the Cumberland

Damned by 'Faint' Praise!

"We did not like the style of Captain Myles Keogh, there was altogether too much style. He was as handsome a young man as I ever saw. His uniform was spotless and fitted him like the skin on a sausage."
Captain Theodore Allen, 7th Ohio Cavalry, Union Army, 1864.

"I do think him rather absurd, but would rather have him near us than many others."
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, 7th U.S. Cavalry.

"I think to damn by faint praise is a very effective mode of doing one a more serious injury."
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, 7th U.S. Cavalry, Apr 1871.

Quotes from Keogh's correspondance

On family & home...
"Some ways I always think of the old family when we were together in Orchard. Do you remember old fellow how difficult Patrick found it to keep us from listening to the servants' stories in the kitchen and that terrible bell for prayers."

"Do not forget that even if I were a hound I could not forget the ties that bound me to you all."

"I will feel as if I had not lived altogether in vain when I have told to those dear ones at home the whole story of my life."

On religion...
"all religions are in the same boat, and be you Catholic or Protestant, you are judged only by your merits as a man."

"...I saw a priest about six months since and that's not such a bad thing for this country although he was passing rapidly on the Union Pacific Railroad."

On life...
"My great weakness is the love I have for the fair sex, and pretty much all my trouble comes from or can be traced to that charming source."

"Impudence and presumption carry with them great weight and a certain lack of sensitiveness is necessary to be successful. This lack of sensitiveness I unfortunately do not inherit."

"I never propose to form any ties. I might often have married for money but I never gave it a moment's serious thought & never propose to."

On America...
"This is a queer country and one needs to be educated in a peculiar spirit to hold one's own."

"This country knows no law except that of 'lynch' and one never leaves his tent without the ever present revolvers."

(To his brother) "You should not abuse my adopted country until I should have in person given you some better ideas of it."

On fighting Indians...
"I have never before appreciated the difficulty of finding Indians, and have concluded that without knowing exactly where to surprise their camp, or having a guide who can track them at a run, it is a waste of horseflesh and time to endeavor to come up with them."

"We have knocked the Indians into a cocked hat. Yet they are still on the warpath."

"I am sorry to say that the horses are looking very bad. They were twenty days without grain of any kind and the weather interfered with their grazing. Beside leaving us powerless to go in pursuit of any thing that might need horses for its purposes."

"We have to take an escort with us when we go farther than a mile from the post as the Indians are on the lookout for stray scalps."

"I sent an escort with the stage from Cheyenne Wells to Grinnell Station as the road is getting very unsecure. The Indians seem to be broken up into small parties and are becoming exceedingly annoying."

"The Indians have now expended in their attacks on the different stations & on the stages etc. fully five or six thousand rounds of ammunition..."

"I sent you a copy of a photograph I had taken of one of my sergeants that the Indians killed last year. The top of his head was cut off.....This man was less brutally used than others owing to our charging up to re-capture some prisoners the Indians were trying to get off"

On the month of June...
"This month has never passed since I left home without something very unpleasant occurring to me." (Keogh was killed on June 25th 1876)

Keogh's final letter...
"We leave Monday on an Indian expedition & if I ever return I will go on and see you all. I have requested to be packed up and shipped to Auburn in case I am killed, and I desire to be buried there. God bless you all, remember if I should die -- you may believe that I loved you and every member of your family -- it was a second home to me."