Lecture tonight on Capt Myles Keogh

ONE of Co Carlow’s most famed and historical figures will be the subject of a fascinating lecture.

Deb Goodrich, historian in residence at the Fort Wallace Museum, Kansas, USA, will present a lecture on ‘Captain Myles Keogh, Leighlinbridge, Commander of Fort Wallace, Kansas, USA, 1866-1867’ on Thursday 22 August in Leighlin Paish Centre.

Myles from Leighlinbridge had a most interesting military career, which ended in tragedy in 1876 at one of the most infamous battles of the 19th century. He is believed to have spent some time with the French army corps in Algeria before joining the Battalion of St Patrick in Italy.

The battalion was formed to help protect the papal state form Giuseppe Garibaldi’s revolutionary plans to unify Italy. He was honoured for gallantry by Pope Pius IX. In 1862, he travelled to America and joined the US Army, where he fought in approximately 80 battles.

Later he was posted to the infamous 7th US Cavalry under the command of General George Custer. In June 1876, he fought with Custer in the famous Battle of Little Bighorn, also known as Custer’s Last Stand.

The battle in the state of Montana was between the 7th US Cavalry and the native American tribes, including the Sioux and Cheyenne. More than 200 of Custer’s troops were killed and apparently the only survivor on the American side was Keogh’s brave horse Commanche, who had been injured during the battle.

Prior to these tragic events, in 1866 Keogh took command of Fort Wallace, Kansas. It was the farthest west of the Kansas frontier forts and was established to protect traffic on the Smoky Hill Trail leading from the Missouri river to the gold and silver mines of Denver. Keogh as commander and Frederick Beecher as adjutant were responsible for turning the ramshackle structures into a real fort. Keogh established the first library and school in Wallace County on the post. The Fort Wallace Museum honours Captain Keogh each March with the Captain Keogh’s Emerald Banquet.

Deb Goodrich, historian in residence at the Fort Wallace Museum, will speak on Captain Keogh’s time at the post and other adventures in Kansas, including forts Harker, Dodge and Leavenworth, his relationships with other officers and interactions with the native tribes. She will also touch on his Civil War career, part of which included the area where she grew up in Virginia and North Carolina.

The lecture, presented for Heritage Week by Carlow County Museum, will take place on Thursday 22 August at 7pm in Leighlin Parish Centre and admission is free.