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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Joseph Keene

Private Joseph Keene, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 13, 1862 in Fredericksburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 13, 1862Born in England

Private Joseph Keene, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 13, 1862 in Fredericksburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 26th New York Infantry. Keene was 23 years old.

17 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 2, 1892, 29 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Keene was born on April 3, 1839 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Utica, Oneida County, New York. Keene died on December 1, 1921 in Willowvale, New York, at the age of 82. He is buried at Grand View Cemetery in Whitesboro, New York.

Keene is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily seized the colors after several color bearers had been shot down and led the regiment in the charge.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

1862 · Civil War

Battle of Fredericksburg

Result: Confederate victory

5 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: England — map
  • Died: New York — map
  • Buried: Whitesboro — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. April 3, 1839
    Born in England
  2. December 13, 1862
    Act of valor — Fredericksburg, Virginia
    Age 23. Company B, 26th New York Infantry
  3. December 2, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 1, 1921
    Died in Willowvale, New York
    Age 82.
  5. Resting place
    Grand View Cemetery
    Whitesboro, New York

Biography

Joseph Keene (April 3, 1839 – December 1, 1921) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Keene received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Keene's medal was won for his actions at the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia, where he voluntarily seized his regiments colors after several Color Bearers had been shot down and led his regiment in the charge on December 13, 1862. He was honored with the award on December 2, 1892. Keene was born in England. He joined the 26th New York Infantry from Utica, New York in May 1861, and mustered out with this regiment after two years.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph Keene”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on December 13, 1862

JA John Gregory bishop Adams Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 WB Wallace A. Beckwith Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Zenas Randall Bliss Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 JC Jacob Cart Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Charles Henry tucky Collis Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 CC Charles Dearborn Copp Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 TD Timothy Donoghue Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Francis Henry Goodall First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 William P. Hogarty Private · Army Civil War · 1862 John Johnson Private · Army Civil War · 1862 George Henry Maynard Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JP John Gideon Palmer Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862

See all 18 recipients for December 13, 1862 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

TB Terrence Begley Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ AL Adolph Libaire Captain · Army Civil War · 1862 Albert Marsh Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 DS David Sprowle Orderly Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1864 JC John Joice Carter Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 DS David Lafayette Smith Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.