2. Early Life
Born March 25th ,Orchard house,
Leighlinbridge.
Attended National School in
Leighlinbridge.
Attended St. Mary’s Knockbeg
and St. Patricks collage Carlow.
3. Beginning of Military Career
1860 – answers a call to arms
by the Irish Catholic church to
defend pope Pius IX.
He was appointed second
lieutenant of his unit in the
Battalion of St. Patrick.
Then he was posted at Ancona,
a central port city of Italy.
4. When the Papal forces were
defeated in September in the
Battle of Castelfidardo, Ancona
was surrounded.
Myles was forced to surrender.
When he was released he was
invited to wear the uniform of
the company of St.Patrick as a
Vatican Guard.
5. Myles soon found being idle in
the Vatican boring and would go
in search of new adventure.
Awards
- The Pro Petri Sede Medal
- The Cross of the Order of St.
Gregory
- Brevet Ranks of Major and
Lieutenant Colonel for Gallant
and Meritorious Service
6. Forward to America
1862 – Myles leaves for the
American Civil war aboard the
“Kangaroo”
Upon arrival Myles was given
the rank of Captain.
7. Service record for Civil War
Battle of Port Republic
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Antietam
Stoneman's 1863 Raid
Gettysburg Campaign
Battle of Brandy Station
Battle of Upperville
8. Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Funkstown
Battle of Williamsport
Bristoe Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
Battle of Dallas
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Battle of Sunshine Church
9. Surrounded again
A now battle hardened Keogh
would find himself in a familiar
situation when on July 31, 1864,
Keogh and Stoneman’s
command were surrounded
during the Battle of Sunshine
Church, Georgia.
Myles was captured and held for
over 2 months.
10. “He is one of the most gallant
and efficient young cavalry
officers I have ever known”
— Major General John M. Schofield, U.S. Secretary of War
and commanding General of the United States Army.
11. Post War
Post war Myles would receive
his commission as a captain in
the regular army.
12. The last stand
In the Battle of the Little Big Horn
Myles would have a “Last stand” of
his own ,surrounded by the men of
Company I.
When the sun-blackened and
dismembered dead were buried
three days later, Keogh's body was
found at the centre of a group of
troopers that included his two
sergeants, company trumpeter and
guidon bearer.
13. Myles , for whatever reasons ,
was not mutilated by the native
Indians , and was found with
bullet wounds to the knee and
chest.
His horse “Comanche” was the
only military survivor.
14. More info.
www.myleskeogh.org
Find the page on facebook
(Myles Walter Keogh)
Visit Co. Carlow Military
Museum.
