Group 10

 John V. Keepers[1]

Rank: During first enlistment: 1^st Lieutenant, Company A, 18^th Regiment, Ohio Infantry; second enlistment:  Captain, Battery B, West Virginia Light Artillery

Born/died: Abt. 1822 – February 6, 1905

Cause of death:  “…an illness due to the infirmities of age.”[2]

Residence at death:  Allegheny, Pennsylvania

Served:  first: April 19, 1861 – August 28, 1861 (enlisted at Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio); second:  October 10, 1861 – October 22, 1864 (enlisted at Ceredo, Virginia[3])

Age at enlistment:  38

Claim filed: July 11, 1892

Remarks:

John discovered immediately [upon discharge from service] that he was partially deaf, caused by the discharge of artillery at the battle of Droop Mountain, West Virginia, which occurred on November 6, 1863.  Another affidavit, April 11, 1893, said that he was “now so deaf that he cannot work”… for the last five years he had “no income whatever.”  His claim was also based on the “crippled condition of both his hands… he is unable to and does not and cannot perform any manual labor.”  John stated that his hands were lacerated while lifting an artillery piece out of a ravine.

In a general affidavit, John stated, “From my discharge up to 1876,  [I] resided in Newcastle, Pa., and that was my post office address.  From 1876 to 1879, Youngstown, Ohio.  From 1879 to present, Newcastle, Pa., and my occupation has been that of millwright. … Since my discharge I have not received nor applied for medical treatment on account I had hopes that the deafness might pass away, and for some years had such hope.  The disability has not abated but has been, and still is, increasing.  My hearing before the war, and when I entered the service, was good.”

John also attested to the facts about his second marriage to Lizzie Mills.  He had been divorced from Elizabeth Leasure at Newcastle, Pa., on September 12, 1876.  On April 22, 1911, Elizabeth filed a declaration for a widow’s pension.  The claim was rejected “since claimant and soldier were divorced prior to his death.”

The archives in Charleston contain many details of the tenure of Captain Keepers.  He earned $10/month, owned two horses and was either present or absent with leave throughout his service.  He commanded the company since December 1, 1861, (since Rossely (sp?) never reported for duty); John was commissioned and mustered in as Captain on September 20, 1862. He was mustered out on October 22, 1864 at Wheeling, West Virginia.  He was authorized to collect bounty money due to at least one of his company when they were mustered out.  A letter, dated May11, 1865, from the war department to General Hall, Camp Barry, D. C., …”the commanding General direct that the commanding officer of Battery E, First West Virginia Light Artillery, report to the office [at the war department] without delay when John V. Keepers, late Captain of Company B of that regiment, left the United States service and whether he was mustered out on resignation, expiration of terms of service, or otherwise.  You will also cause an investigation to be made and report the facts and circumstances of an alleged collection by said Keepers of two hundred dollars ($200) bounty belonging to Pvt. James T. Gibbs of Battery E (formerly Battery B) who states that his local bounty is retained by said Keepers to whom he gave Power of Attorney to collect same.  I am, General, Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, Chas. Hamlin, A. I. G.”  The case was referred to Captain Alex Moore.  The outcome of the investigation is not in the file, although there is notification of an honorable discharge dated January 31, 1868.[4]

The mountainous country of West Virginia must have made the troops irritable with any movements of their artillery they thought might be unnecessary.  The official record notes the following exchange between New Creek (now Keyser, West Virginia) and Cumberland, Maryland:[5]

“To:  Brigadier General B. F. Kelly, Cumberland, ‘Captain Keepers was last p.m. directed to send section of his battery to Beverly.  He replies: ‘Please inform me by whose orders I am to move on the road to Beverly; this is the fourth trip in two weeks.’  Signed May 9, 1864: W. Wilkinson, Colonel, Commanding”

“To:  Colonel Wilkinson, New Creek, ‘Inform Captain Keepers that it is by my order, and that he will move the section at once.’  Signed May 9, 1864, Cumberland: B. F. Kelley, Brigadier-General”

Captain Keepers was court-martialed on October 28, 1863:

Charge: Disobedience of Orders

Specification:  Ordered by Brigadier General Averell through his aide-de-camp, Captain Rumsey, to “take position for review on the left of Captain Ewing’s battery.”  Captain Keepers refused.

Plea:  Not guilty

Captain Keepers claimed that he could not take a subordinate position to a junior officer.  The court noted that Captain Ewing’s commission was dated June 10, 1861, and Captain Keepers’ commission was dated September 20, 1862.  Keepers claimed that Ewing was younger.

Captain Keepers was found guilty, and his penalty was forfeiture of one month’s pay.

Debbie Meinhart submitted to the Internet the following anecdote from a civil war veteran of Battery B.[6]

Narrow Escape Story #14
Interesting War Experiences

Thursday, February 17, 1887 Ironton Register

Sam Van Horn's Experience

"Say, Sam," said we to Samuel Vanhorn. "Haven't you a 'Narrow Escape' for the Register." "I have had several, and, by the way, I think the 'Narrow Escapes' in the Register are mighty interesting reading," replied Sam. "Give me your best one." "I might miss the best, but this one I will relate for you, strikes right now." "What part of the service were you in?" "I belonged to famous Battery B. 1st West Va. Light Artillery."

"My 'Narrow Escape' happened on the 20th of July. 1864, but to better describe it I must go back one day. On July 19th, while on the march up Loudon valley the lumber chest to my gun exploded, killing two or three men and the two wheel horses, and completely destroying the carriage of the gun. After this, the remaining four horses were attached to the caisson of the same gun, making ten horses to the caisson, of which I was placed in charge.

The next morning, we attempted to cross the Shenandoah River at a ford, coming out of Ashby's gap. The Calvary went in the advance. While they were in the river watering their horses, the artillery and infantry being on the bank behind, quite a number of Johnnies on the other side of the river who had been concealed now stepped out on the bank and began firing on them. This caused a general stampede among the cavalry, infantry and artillery. The whole command temporarily demoralized by the unexpected attack, broke now into confusion. Capt. Jno. V. Keepers, our captain, who at that time seemed to be the only coolheaded man present, undertook to get some of his guns into position on a narrow ridge dividing a ravine from the river. I undertook to follow him with my ten-horse caisson.

The captain succeeded in getting his guns on top of the ridge and I got part way up with my caisson, on to a small knoll where there was a little frame dwelling, house, but could get no further. Seeing that the caisson was of no benefit there, and it being seemingly almost impossible to get it down again, I halted the boys and, riding up to where Capt. Keepers was, asked him what I should do with that caisson. He replied: "Do not bring it up here for we haven't enough room to get the guns into position." I told him I did not believe I could turn around where I was and go back down. He answered in a quick, sharp tone: "If you can't get it back up into the gap roll the d--n thing into the river."

I went back down and examined the ground again. I found a narrow path, which looked like it might have been a path to a spring from the house before mentioned. Maybe in ante-bellum days it had been trodden by the bare-feet of some pretty Virginia lass. However I didn't think about that then. No time for romantic imaginings. I told the boys to pull around the house by that little path and they could get out of range of the enemy's fire behind the ridge. This left me on the side of the building next to the enemy with no chance to shun fire until the boys moved the caisson out of the way. I knew I stood in the way of where Johnnie wanted to shoot, where they not only wanted to shoot, but did shoot without even telling me to get out of the way. About 15 or 20 of the enemy stepped out on the bank on the opposite side of the river and, taking deliberate aim, fired at me. My position was not very inviting, to say the least. I think every shot they fired struck that building around my horse and myself. I shall never forget my feelings at this time. I could distinctly hear the balls strike the building within 4 or 5 feet of where I was sitting on my horse. I felt very lonesome. I took my feet out of the stirrups so I would have a clear fall, because I thought it was impossible for them to miss me as they were in close range---not over 200 yards away.

It has always been a mystery to me why they didn't hit me. So there you have my 'Narrow Escape.'

The boys managed to get the caisson down behind the ridge out of the way, and afterward up into the gaps where we took position. Captain Keepers, finding he could not get in position, where he was, soon followed, and took up a position in line with my caisson, where we continued an artillery duel with a rebel battery on the opposite side of the river the balance of the day."