Group 8

Joseph Keepers[1]

Rank:  Corporal, Company G, 17^th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Born/died: July 25, 1832 – June 11, 1878

Cause of death: Wounds received in action

Residence at death: Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Served: October 18, 1862 – August 7, 1865

Age at enlistment:  30

Claim filed: September 21, 1866: Certificate of Disability

Remarks:

 At enlistment at Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Joseph was 5’11” tall, with dark hair, hazel eyes, and a fair complexion.  In a report filed on April 15, 1864, Surgeon Levi Curtis, McClellan General Hospital, summarized Joseph’s condition:

“Joseph Keepers, private, Co. G, 17^th Penn. Cav’y, was wounded June 9, 1863, at Beverly Ford, Virginia, by a Minnie ball, while on his horse.  The enemy was about one hundred and fifty yards distant.

 He entered Lincoln Hospital, Washington, June 10^th, and was transferred to this Hospital June 23^rd, accompanied with the following Medical Description List:

          June 10^th.  The shock was very great.  The ball passed through the neck, entering on the right side just below the chin, at the anterior border of the sterno mastoid muscle, transversely backwards about three inches and made its exit.  The hemorrhage was very great.  Ice applied. Diet, low.

          June 11^th.  Very painful this morning. (Continued treatment.)

          June 15^th.  Steadily improving; very little discharge from wound.  Water dressing. Diet, Half.

          June 19^th.  Free discharge.  Diet, Full.

When he came under my care, June 23^rd, his general health and condition was good; the wound – which is a superficial flesh one – was healthy, discharging but very little, and healed quite as readily as wounds made with a Minnie ball usually do, without any changes or symptoms worthy of notice.  He cannot turn his head but very little from side to side, the Sterno Bleide Mastoid muscle having lost its powers of extension and contraction, the ball having passed through it.”

Joseph served out his service in the defenses around Washington, D.C.  He was often reported sick and in a hospital. By 1865 he was diagnosed with inflammation of the kidneys and suffering from “Brillions Intermittent Fever”, contracted while on duty.  Finally, he was declared unfit for duty or travel.  He was transferred to Company A, 2^nd Provisional Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was mustered out with that company at Louisville, Kentucky.  He was promoted to Corporal on April 30, 1865.

The certificate of disability reported that Joseph was in good health at enlistment and at his discharge his “right arm and shoulder [were] badly affected.”  His pension was increased from $4/ mo. to $31.25/mo. on May 24, 1877.  An affidavit, June 11, 1877 from a Dr. Snively stated that Joseph “cannot dress or undress himself without assistance, being deprived of the power of controlling his motion, his gait being like that of a drunken man … rapidly growing worse…”  Another witness, Daniel Johnston, said “[it was] painful to see him walk.”  His weight on October 21, 1874 was 196 lbs., with a florid complexion.  By May 24, 1877, he weighed 160 lbs., with a sallow complexion.

In her widow’s declaration, September 30, 1878, Eliza A. (Flory) Keepers listed her age as 47, and there were two children under sixteen living at home, Amanda and Susan.  In a family history, written by Sister Stella, a niece of Joseph, (Eliza) Ann is described as a “non-Catholic.”  At the time, this would have caused a schism with Joseph’s siblings, and he and his family would have been ostracized.[2]

Joseph’s brother, Alexius Vincent Keepers, was also wounded; however, Alexius fought for the confederacy.[3] Alexius was wounded, slightly, in the battle at Devil's Den at Gettysburg.[4]  Joseph died about a month short of his 46^th birthday.  Alexius died in 1924, almost 81 years old.