On the Buford thread in the Civil War forum, there's a link pasted to Eric's biography of Keogh's friend Andrew J. Alexander:
civilwarcavalry.com/?p=820Alexander wrote a very fine obituary for him for the
Army & Navy Journal. For Keogh fans, here it is (from James S. Hutchins'
The Army and Navy Journal on the Battle of the Little Bighorn and Related Matters, 1876-1881, Custer Trails Series, Volume Eight, published by Upton's):
BREVET LIEUT. COL. MYLES W. KEOGH
Captain Seventh Cavalry
Few among those who fought the last fight with Custer in the battle of the Big Horn have been more deeply regretted, more tenderly mourned for, than Col. Myles W. Keogh.
Col. Keogh was from Carlow, Ireland, and a few years ago inherited a fine estate in that vicinity called "Clifdon Castle," a spot endeared to him by the associations of early youth, as it has been the home of his mother in her girlhood. He left Ireland first in 1858 with a party of young Irish gentlemen, who, with the enthusiasm of their race, offered their swords for the defence of the Pope against Victor Emanuel. Keogh, though a mere boy at the time, served with distinction in the Pope's army, and was decorated by him in acknowledgement of his services. Peace being declared in Italy, the young knight errant found the threatening aspect of our atmosphere more attractive than the sunny skies of Ireland; and in 1861, Keogh, with several of his companions in arms, came to this country, bringing letters to the Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, through whose influence they at once obtained service in the Army of the United States. Keogh and O'Keefe were appointed additional aides-de-camp, and were ordered to duty on the staff of Gen. Patterson, then commanding in the valley of the Shenandoah. On the retirement of this officer from the field, they were appointed on the staff of Gen. John Buford, in the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac; and were intimately identified with this officer until his death in 1864. At Beverly Ford O'Keefe was wounded and taken prisoner, but was afterwards exchanged, and finally ended his brilliant career at Five Forks, where he received the wounds from which he subsequently died in Washington.
Keogh followed the fortunes of his chief at Beverly Ford, Upperville, Gettysburg, Boonsboro, and the almost innumerable battles, fights and skirmishes of 1863, until the Army settled into winter quarters. In all these battles and operations he behaved with the most distinguished gallantry and coolness. The writer has heard Gen. Buford speak repeatedly of him in terms of the most unqualified approval. In 1864 Col. Keogh assisted in nursing Gen. Buford through his last illness, and was present at his deathbed. Immediately after, upon Gen. Stoneman's application, he was ordered to duty on the staff of that officer, who had just been assigned to the command of the cavalry attached to Gen. Sherman's army. He joined in all the operations before Atlanta until the unfortunate Macon raid, where he was captured. Part of the command cut their way out through the enemy and escaped, and Gen. Stoneman urged Keogh to attempt it with them, but he refused to leave his chief, and was taken with him to Charleston, where he shared his captivity. While there, they were with many other officers subjected to the inhuman treatment of being kept under the fire of our own guns. After his release he accompanied Gen. Stoneman to East Tennessee, and engaged in all the operations of that officer in West Virginia. He assisted in the destruction of the great saltworks, which had been an objective point for our forces serving in East Tennessee for a year or more, and also in the utter destruction of the East Tennessee and the West Virginia railroad, which had been unsuccessfully attempted heretofore by two powerful expeditions from Northwestern Virginia.
In the spring of 1865 Col. Keogh accompanied Gen. Stoneman when he penetrated into North Carolina, and especially distinguished himself at the taking of Salisbury. During all these fatiguing, dangerous and difficult operations he had the unqualified confidence of his superiors, and the admiration of all those with whom he was associated. At the close of the war Col. Keogh found himself so warmly attached to the country of his adoption that he resolved to make it his permanent home, and since then has been but twice to Ireland to visit his relatives and attend to his affairs there. In 1866 he was appointed second lieutenant in the 4th Cavalry, and a few weeks later captain in the 7th Cavalry, in acknowledgement of his distinguished services during the war, for which he was also brevetted major and lieutenant-colonel in the Regular Army. Amid the monotony of frontier life, Keogh showed that same devotion to duty which he evinced during the stirring scenes of civil war. He applied himself with ardor to the care and discipline of his company, and gained the enthusiastic affection of his men. To those who knew the relations between them, the melancholy scene of their last fight spoke volumes. Keogh's body was found surrounded by those of his men, any one of whom would have died for him. He was evidently the first officer killed, and his men had fallen around him -- they could not be conquered -- they could only be annihilated.
The foregoing is a rough sketch of the military life of Col. Keogh, from the memory of the writer, who when not with him followed his career with affectionate interest. 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.
I cannot close this article without alluding to the social qualities of the gallant dead. A hero in battle, he was as tender as a woman to those he loved. His respect for the aged and infirm was a beautiful trait in his character. His generosity almost amounted to a fault, and his loyalty to his friends was as firm as a rock. Those who had the honor of his friendship will mourn his loss so long as they live. Having been a soldier from boyhood, he carried an untarnished name throughout his career, and met a soldier's death in the forefront of battle.
Sleep soldier! still in honored rest
Your truth and valor wearing;
The bravest are the tenderest!
The loving are the daring!
"A."
Fort Brown Texas
August 21, 1876
As he says, he's writing from memory, so there are a few factual errors (it's "Clifden" not "Clifdon", Buford died in late 1863 rather than 1864, and so on ) -- but it's very nice indeed. Hard to think that Keogh himself could have wished for anything better.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they
