| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
Civil War Soldiers - Keyes
| Keyes, Erasmus D., major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Brimfield, Mass., May 29, 1810. He was graduated at
West Point in 1832, served in Charleston harbor during the
nullification troubles, 1832-33; was aide- de-camp to Gen. Scott,
1837-41 ; served then on garrison duty until 1844, and after that
until 1848 as instructor at the military academy, being then on
frontier and garrison duty until 1860. During this time he commanded a
battery in expeditions against Indians in the northwest, took part in
a number of engagements, and was promoted major in 1858. He was
military secretary to Gen. Scott from Jan. 1, 1860, to April 19, 1861,
was made colonel of the 11th infantry, May 14, and three days later
was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers. He assisted in
organizing the expedition to relieve Fort Pickens, Fla., in April,
1861, served on the staff of Gov. Morgan of New York from April to
June of that year, and assisted in forwarding the state quota of
troops to the front. He commanded a brigade in McDowell's army at the
first battle of Bull Run, was then in command of the defenses of
Washington until March 10, 1862, when he was assigned to McClellan's
Army of the Potomac and placed in command of the 4th corps, with which
he engaged at Lee's mills and in the siege of Yorktown. In May, 1862,
he was promoted major-general of volunteers, and after that was in
several engagements, being brevetted brigadier-general in the regular
army, May 31, for his conduct in the battle of Fair Oaks. Subsequently
he organized a raid to White House, Va., Jan. 7, 1863, commanded the
expedition to West Point, Va., May 7, and engaged in another exploit
under Maj. -Gen. Dix toward Richmond in June and July, 1863. He was
charged by Gen. Dix with being responsible for the failure of this
expedition, and he made repeated unsuccessful applications for
court-martial proceedings to defend himself against the charges made.
He served on the board for retiring disabled officers from July 15,
1863, until May 6, 1864, when he resigned from the army and removed to
San Francisco, Cal. Here he became interested in gold mining and was
president of the California Vine Culture society, 1868-72. Gen. Keyes
died at Nice, France, Oct. 15, 1895, and was buried at West Point, N.
Y., in 1897. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
|
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us |