★ ★ Keyes, Erasmus D.

Erasmus Darwin Keyes​

Born: May 29, 1810

Birthplace: Brimfield, Massachusetts

Father: Dr. Justus Keyes 1780 – 1835

(Buried: Brimfield Cemetery, Brimfield, Massachusetts)​

Mother: Elizabeth "Betsy" Corey 1781 – 1826

(Buried: Brimfield Cemetery, Brimfield, Massachusetts)​

Wife: Caroline M. Clarke 1810 – 1853

(Buried: Green – Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York)​

Wife: Mary Loughborough 1831 – 1907

Children:

Dr. Edward Lawrence Keyes 1843 – 1924​

(Buried: Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, New York)​

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Eleanor Fisher Keyes Chetwood 1845 – 1924​

(Buried: First Presbyterian Churchyard, Elizabeth, New Jersey)​

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Alexander Darwin Keyes 1864 – 1928​

(Buried: Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, California)​

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Dr. Henry Elmo Keyes 1870 – 1899​

(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

1832: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (10th​ in class)​

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1832: Attended Artillery School of Practice at Fort Monroe, Virginia​

Occupation before War:

1832 – 1833: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 3rd​ Artillery​

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1832 – 1833: Garrison Duty at Charleston, South Carolina​

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1833 – 1836: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 3rd​ Artillery​

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1833 – 1837: Staff Duty at Headquarters of the Eastern Department​

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1836 – 1838: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 3rd​ Artillery

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1837 – 1838: Aide – de – camp to Brevet Major General Winfield Scott​

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1838: Captain and Assistant Adjutant General in United States Army​

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1836 – 1841: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 3rd​ Artillery​

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1838 – 1841: Aide to Brevet Major General Winfield Scott​

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1841 – 1858: Captain United States Army, 3rd​ Artillery​

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1842: Garrison Duty at New Orleans Barracks, Louisiana​

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1842 – 1844: Garrison Duty at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina​

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1844: Member of the Board of Visitors at West Point​

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1844 – 1848: Artillery and Cavalry Instructor at West Point​

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1849 – 1855: Garrison Duty at San Francisco, California​

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1855: Served in Washington Territory against Natives​

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1855 – 1856: Garrison Duty at Fort Steilacoom, Washington​

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1856: Served in the Skirmish at White River, Washington​

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1856: Served in the Skirmish at Fort Steilacoom, Washington​

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1856 – 1858: Garrison Duty at San Francisco, California​

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1858: Served in the Spokane, Washington Expedition​

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1858 – 1860: Major United States Army, 1st​ Artillery​

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1858: Served in the Battle of Four Lakes, Washington Territory​

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1858: Served in the Battle of Spokane Plains, Washington​

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1858 – 1859: Garrison Duty in San Francisco, California​

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1860 – 1861: Lt. Colonel and Military Secretary to General – in – Chief​

Civil War Career:

1860 – 1861: Lt. Colonel and Military Secretary to General – in – Chief​

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1860 – 1861: Military Secretary to Lt. General Winfield Scott​

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1861: Colonel of United States Army, 11th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Served in the expedition to relieve Fort Pickens, Florida​

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1861 – 1862: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers​

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1861: Staff Officer to Governor of New York Edwin D. Morgan​

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1861: Recruiter for his regiment at Boston, Massachusetts​

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1861: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

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1861: Served in the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1861 – 1862: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

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1862: Commander of 4th​ Army Corps Army of the Potomac​

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1862: Served in the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia​

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1862 – 1864: Major General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1862: Served in the Skirmish at Bottom Bridge​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Savage's Station, Virginia​

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1862: Brevetted Brigadier General, Gallantry at Battle of Fair Oaks​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Glendale, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Skirmish at Harrison's Landing, Virginia​

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1862 – 1863: Commander of 4th​ Army Corps on the Virginia Peninsula​

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1863: Commander in the Expedition to West Point, Virginia​

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1863: Served in the Expedition towards Richmond, Virginia​

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1863: Removed from Command by Dix for his retreating​

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1863 – 1864: Member of Board for retiring disabled Officers​

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1864: Resigned as Major General and United States Army on May 6th​​

Occupation after War:

1866: Converted to Catholicism when he moved to San Francisco​

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1867 – 1869: President of Maxwell Gold – Mining Company​

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1868 – 1872: Vice President of California Vine Culture Society​

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1868 – 1872: Vice President of Humboldt Savings and Loan Society​

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1884: Author of Fifty Years Observation of Men, Events, Civil, Military​

Died: October 14, 1895

Place of Death: Nice, France

Age at time of Death: 85 years old

Burial Place: U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, New York

 

[Pollaco]

Transferred to and took over command of Don Carlos Buell's division when Buell was promoted and reassigned.

 

[Belfoured]

He conducted a clinic in poor field command at Seven Pines.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Major General Erasmus D. Keyes.

 

[Pollaco]

He was commander of thd 4th Corps but also briefly commanded the 7th. Which Corps was it that was left on the Peninsula to put pressure on Richmond so reinforcements could not be sent to Lee in Pennsylvania? I'm thinking this was the 7th Corps and this is the one where he was critized and removed from command by John A. Dix.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy weekend Birthday Major General Erasmus D. Keyes! Salutes remembering General Keyes on his birthday weekend.

 

[Pollaco]

There was almost a month between his leaving Scott's staff and commanding the 11th Infantry. In this time period Keyes was active in forwarding New York troops to the front.

 

[Pollaco]

The last year of his service to the Army was spent in administrative work. This would be the summer of 1863 to May 6, 1864.