William A. Keogh

Company B 22nd Infantry

DOD 02/25/1874

Information for William A.Keogh is confusing and difficult to present.

Complicating his story is the fact that he went under an alias of William Kelly at times.

Descendants of his have posted in several "family trees" on Ancestry.com that he was born in
Rhode Island in 1844. Two Army enlistment records could be found for him under the name of William A. Keogh
and both list that he was born in Ireland. In the family trees it is noted that he had a sister born in Rhode Island
two years before him so it is most likely that William Keogh was also born in Rhode Island.

Both Army enlistment records state that William A. Keogh enlisted in the Army at the age of 19 on January 10, 1863 at
Dubuque, Iowa. On both records it is indicated that he stood 5 feet 7 inches, had dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fair
complexion. One record indicates he enlisted for a period of 5 years and the other record indicates
he enlisted for a period of 3 years. Both records indicate he was assigned to Company E 13th Infantry.
On both of his enlistment records he is noted as having deserted on July 21, 1865.

However, both of those records have the notations of "Information cancelled...
transferred to 22nd Infantry ...restored to duty without trial".

Keogh reportedly served in the 45th Illinois Volunteeer Infantry during the Civil War and service in such
is marked on one of his enlistment records and also on an application for a pension filed by his father
in 1889. Neither names of William Keogh or William Kelly are listed in the official roster of the 45th Ill. V.I.
as posted at the webpage:

Civil War Index

Keogh is recorded in the Returns of the 22nd Infantry for the month of March 1870 as having enlisted in the 22nd Infantry
under the name of William Kelly at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory as a Private on March 7, 1870, unassigned to a Company.

An enlistment record for him under the name of William Kelly was found indicating that he enlisted on March 7, 1870
at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory as a Private with no prior military service. On this record his place of birth was listed
as Providence, Rhode island and his previous occupation was listed as Laborer. This enlistment record indicated that he
was assigned to Company C and then Company B 22nd Infantry. In the remarks column on this record was the entry:

"Enlistment cancelled deserted from Co E 1 Battalion 13 Inf. July 21, 1865 where he had enlisted as Wm. A. Keogh"

Interestingly the Returns of the 13th Infantry for the month of July 1865 do not list Keogh as a deserter.
Apparently Keogh was allowed to remain in the 22nd Infantry as a "transfer" in 1870 and was not prosecuted
as a deserter.

Keogh was transferred from the list of unassigned to Company C 22nd Infantry on March 25, 1870 under the name of William Kelly
at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory. On May 7, 1871 he was transferred to Company B still under the name of William Kelly.

Private Keogh died on February 25, 1874 at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory. His cause of death
was recorded as inflammation of the lungs. Both of his enlistment records under the name of Keogh
indicate his name at the time of his death as William A. Keogh. The Register of Deaths in the Army also
has his name recorded as William A. Keogh and that his illness was originated in the Line of Duty.

William A. Keogh was buried in the Post Cemetery at Fort Randall in grave # 75.

Grave marker for William A. Keogh in the cemetery at Old Fort Randall,
Pickstown, Gregory County, South Dakota

Photo by anony1234 from the Find A Grave website

The remains of William A. Keogh were re-interred in the National Cemetery
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in June 1893.

Burial:
Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery
Fort Leavenworth
Leavenworth County
Kansas
Plot: Section G, site 2980

Grave marker for William A. Keogh in the National Cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Photo by KAB from the Find A Grave website

Application form for a pension on behalf of his son's service filed by the father of William A. Keogh, Michael Keogh on December 16, 1889.
Note the indication of both names used by William A. Keogh, that of:

Kelly, William (with the "A" scratched out) and indicated as an alias
Keogh, William A.

Also note service indicated in:

Company E 13th United States Infantry
Company C 45th Illinois Infantry
Companies B and C 22nd United States Infantry

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