ColorizedPast
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2016
- Location
- Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Major General Erasmus Darwin Keyes (USA)
Erasmus Darwin Keyes was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts on 29 May 1810. He moved with his family to Kennebec County, Maine. He graduated 10th out of 45 cadets from the United States Military Academy in 1832 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery.
Keyes served in Charleston Harbor during the nullification crisis of 1832-33 and served as an aide to Winfield Scott from 1837 to 1841. He was promoted to captain on 30 November 1841. From 1844 to 1854, he functioned as an artillery and cavalry instructor at West Point.
In 1854, he was sent with the 3rd U.S. Artillery around Cape Horn to California and served on the Pacific frontier until 1860. Shortly after the Battle of Four Lakes, Keyes received his commission of major on 12 October 1858. On 1 January 1860, Winfield Scott appointed Keyes his military secretary.
On 14 May 1861, Keyes was promoted to colonel of the 11th U.S. Infantry. He then served briefly on the staff of New York Governor Edwin D. Morgan, overseeing the raising of militia.
At the First Battle of Bull Run, Keyes commanded the 1st Brigade, 1st Division (Daniel Tyler) of the Army of Northeastern Virginia (Irvin McDowell). He was promoted to brigadier general in August 1861, the third-ranking brigadier general in the Army. He assumed command of the division from 9 November 1861 to 13 March 1862. He led IV Corps from its inception on 3 March 1862 until is discontinuation on 1 August 1863.
He saw action at Lee's Mill, Yorktown, Bottom's Bridge, Savage's Station, Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), Charles City Crossroads, Malvern Hill, and Harrison's Landing. For gallantry at Fair Oaks, Keyes received a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the regular army. After the Army of the Potomac left the Virginia Peninsula, the IV Corps remained as a part of Maj. Gen. John A. Dix's Department of Virginia. On 12 March 1863, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Keyes for promotion to major general of volunteers to rank from 5 May 1862.
During the Gettysburg Campaign, Keyes fell afoul of Dix's strategic plan to demonstrate heavily against Richmond to divert Confederate reinforcements from General Robert E. Lee's army in Pennsylvania. Keyes retreated from a position near Talleysville, Virginia, in the face of what Dix deemed to be inferior forces, so Dix had Keyes removed from command.
Keyes asked for an investigation of the charges that led to his removal, but the request was never granted. He served on various boards and commissions, including the board for retiring disabled officers, until his resignation and retirement from the army on 6 May 1864.
Following his war service, Keyes moved to San Francisco, where he soon became financially successful and prominent. He was president of a Mexican gold mining company from 1867 to 1869 and vice president of the California vine-culture society from 1868 to 1872. While on a trip to Europe with his wife, Keyes died in Nice, France on 14 October 1895.
Erasmus Darwin Keyes was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts on 29 May 1810. He moved with his family to Kennebec County, Maine. He graduated 10th out of 45 cadets from the United States Military Academy in 1832 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery.
Keyes served in Charleston Harbor during the nullification crisis of 1832-33 and served as an aide to Winfield Scott from 1837 to 1841. He was promoted to captain on 30 November 1841. From 1844 to 1854, he functioned as an artillery and cavalry instructor at West Point.
In 1854, he was sent with the 3rd U.S. Artillery around Cape Horn to California and served on the Pacific frontier until 1860. Shortly after the Battle of Four Lakes, Keyes received his commission of major on 12 October 1858. On 1 January 1860, Winfield Scott appointed Keyes his military secretary.
On 14 May 1861, Keyes was promoted to colonel of the 11th U.S. Infantry. He then served briefly on the staff of New York Governor Edwin D. Morgan, overseeing the raising of militia.
At the First Battle of Bull Run, Keyes commanded the 1st Brigade, 1st Division (Daniel Tyler) of the Army of Northeastern Virginia (Irvin McDowell). He was promoted to brigadier general in August 1861, the third-ranking brigadier general in the Army. He assumed command of the division from 9 November 1861 to 13 March 1862. He led IV Corps from its inception on 3 March 1862 until is discontinuation on 1 August 1863.
He saw action at Lee's Mill, Yorktown, Bottom's Bridge, Savage's Station, Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), Charles City Crossroads, Malvern Hill, and Harrison's Landing. For gallantry at Fair Oaks, Keyes received a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the regular army. After the Army of the Potomac left the Virginia Peninsula, the IV Corps remained as a part of Maj. Gen. John A. Dix's Department of Virginia. On 12 March 1863, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Keyes for promotion to major general of volunteers to rank from 5 May 1862.
During the Gettysburg Campaign, Keyes fell afoul of Dix's strategic plan to demonstrate heavily against Richmond to divert Confederate reinforcements from General Robert E. Lee's army in Pennsylvania. Keyes retreated from a position near Talleysville, Virginia, in the face of what Dix deemed to be inferior forces, so Dix had Keyes removed from command.
Keyes asked for an investigation of the charges that led to his removal, but the request was never granted. He served on various boards and commissions, including the board for retiring disabled officers, until his resignation and retirement from the army on 6 May 1864.
Following his war service, Keyes moved to San Francisco, where he soon became financially successful and prominent. He was president of a Mexican gold mining company from 1867 to 1869 and vice president of the California vine-culture society from 1868 to 1872. While on a trip to Europe with his wife, Keyes died in Nice, France on 14 October 1895.
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