A History of Myles Keogh in Ireland, Italy and the USA

Myles Walter Keogh was born on March 25, 1840,saw little purpose in remaining at Rome. With Civil
at Orchard House, Leighlinbridge, County Carlow,War raging in America, Secretary of State William
Ireland. Myles and his twelve siblings were rearedH. Seward began seeking experienced European
in comfortable if not wealthy circumstances, andofficers to serve the Union, and called upon a
had he chosen to live the life of a gentlemannumber of prominent clerics to assist in this
farmer he could probably have done so. Hisendeavour. John Hughes, Archbishop of New
maternal aunt Mary Blanchfield ultimately willedYork, travelled to Italy to recruit veterans of the
Myles the family estate in Kilkenny known asPapal War, and met with Keogh and his comrades
Clifden Castle. But while Myles' favourite brother,Thus in March of 1862 Keogh resigned his
Tom, was content to follow a staid coursecommission in the Company of Saint Patrick, and
through life, there was something in the makeupwith his senior officer - 30-year-old Daniel J. Keily
of the tall, slender blue-eyed youth that cravedof Waterford -- returned briefly to Ireland, then
adventure. His career would in many respectsboarded the steamer Kangaroo bound from
epitomize the peripatetic wanderings of the "WildLiverpool to New York, where the vessel arrived
Geese" who sought glory on foreign shores,April 1. Another Papal comrade, Joseph O'Keeffe -
amidst the clash of arms.19-year-old-nephew of the Bishop of Cork met
In March 1860, Pope Pius IX called upon the youngwith Keogh and Keily in Manhattan. Through
men of Ireland to help preserve the sovereigntySecretary Seward's intervention the three were
of the Papal States, which were threatened withgiven Captains' rank and on April 15 assigned to
annexation by the armies of Piedmont-Sardinia.the staff of Irish-born Brigadier General James
While many Italians, sympathetic to theShields, whose forces were about to confront the
Piedmont-backed revolutionary forces of Garibaldi,Confederate army of Stonewall Jackson in the
viewed the continued existence of the PapalShenandoah Valley. He served as aide-de-camp
holdings as an impediment to a united Italy,for numerous General Officers and took part in
Catholic volunteers from throughout Europe ralliedover thirty engagements, rising to the rank of
to the Vatican's support.Brevet Lt. Colonel. With high recommendations he
Keogh was among the 1,400 Irishmen whoentered the regular Army as a 2nd Lieutenant
travelled to Italy, and in July was appointedand two months later he was a Captain in the 7th
lieutenant in a four-company battalion garrisoned inCalvary, in command of Company I.
the Adriatic port city of Ancona. On SeptemberPerhaps the strongest testimony to Keogh's
18, the main body of the 18,000-man Papal Armybravery and leadership ability came at Little
was defeated in the battle of Castelfidardo, andBighorn on June 25, 1876. The senior captain
Ancona was soon besieged by land and sea. Theamong the five companies wiped out with Custer
outnumbered Papal defenders put up a spiritedthat day, and commanding one of two squadrons
defence until their inevitable capitulation onwithin the Custer detachment, Keogh died in a
September 29, 1860. Following a brief"last stand" of his own, surrounded by the men of
incarceration in Genoa, Keogh and 45 IrishCompany I. When the sun-blackened and
comrades travelled to Rome, where at thedismembered dead were buried three days later,
invitation of Pius IX they joined the Papal GuardKeogh's body was found at the centre of a group
as the green-uniformed "Company of Saintof troopers that included his two sergeants,
Patrick."company trumpeter and guidon bearer. The slain
The dashing young lieutenant now sported twoofficer was stripped but not mutilated, perhaps
medals for valour, the Pro Petri Sede and Ordinebecause of the papal medal he received from
di San Gregorio; but with the fighting over KeoghPope Pius IX he wore on a chain about his neck.