The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-11-12
Death of Col. Birney b. Keel
er, late of the U. s. Army.

From the Malone, Franklin county
New York Palladium we Learn:
fCoL. BIRNEY B. .KEELER-eldestso
Amos B. Keller, of Malone died of con
sumption at the home of his sister, Mre
G. L. Barnum, at Alton, Iowa, on Friday
Oct. 18th, aged 46 years. He had gone t
Alton from Asheville, N C, just one weel
previously having spent several month";
in the South in the hope that the disease
contracted in Kansas, might be checked
and health restored; but instead of gain,
ing he suffered steady loss, and many
times it seemed doubtful whether he
could live to reach the home of friend:
before the end should come.
His remains were brought to Malone
on Tuesday, and the funeral was held
from his fathers residence on Wednes.
day morning.
Col. Keeler was educated at Franklin
Academy and at Montpelier, Vt, and was
soon to enter college. when, stirred by
his country's need, he enlisted in the
142d regiment in August, 1862, and was
musteredin as first Lieutenant. The re2i.
ement was one of the very bestin the ser,
vice, aid Lieut.. Keeier possessed one. OF
the brightest minds and most timpetuous,
courageous natures of any of its members.
He was naturally a soldier and soon
attracted attention. He was made adju-
tant when the regiment reached Wash
ington, and few months later was pro-
NOTED to captaincy. He was twice
wounded, and in an engagement at Johns
Island was injured by his horse being
shot and falling on him. After Fort
Fisher he was brevetted major for gall
I1r, NJ
quently was brevetted lieutenant colonel.
During the closing months of the war he
served on Gen. Turner's staff and also on
varions other staff assignments. After
peace was restored he entered the regular
army as q captain, and was soon after
wards detailed as judge advo cate on Gen.
Terry's staff-serVing at Richmond, Raj
eigh, New Orleans, Atlanta, Charleston,
Columbia and Louisville. From 1876 to
the date of Gen. McDowell's retirement,
in 1884, he was a member of his staff,
with headquarters at San Francisco ex-
cept for year while on furlough because
of disability.
Col. Keeler was one of the brightest,
most virile ard capable of the sons of Ma
lone. Gen. Mcdowell once said of him
to friend that except those who have
enjoyed the most liberal educations he
never met man who seemed his equal.
His range of information was very wide,
his memory marvellous, and the opera
tions of his mind quick, logical and
strong. In companionship he was one
of the most entertaining men, and in his
discharge of the duties of the many mil
itary positions he held he proved always
acceptable to his superiors and displayed
great capacity and adaptability. Many
relatives, and a large circle of earnest
friends in every community where he
ever lived, will mourn his death and
cherish his memory"
We first met Col. Keeler on the 28th
of June when he Joined US in celebrating
the revolutionary defense of Fort Mouf-
trie. Allusion having been made to
later defense of Charleston the Colonel
in responding to the toast to the army,
said ae had served in thai vicinity
agaInEt US He made no complaint of
any want of warmth in our reception
then and he certainly could not have
done SO On the 2Sth, for his soIdferIy
words fell on soldiers ears and when in
closing he made an earnest appeal for us
ever to sustain West Point, he was
warmly seconded and cheered to the
echo.
This was his last military words and
we should remember them as the words
of one not a West Point man.
They came from the lips of one sold
ier by nature perfected by service in
war and study in peace.
Strong in mind, patriotic In heart, he
spoke for the country; and not for that
alone. The men educated at West Point
are not those who make war. They lessen
its evils, and give security from within
and without. Napoleon said Sin war
men count for little: it is the man that
counts"
The Colonel's soldierly bearing and
forcible utterances on the 2Sth, gave no
intlmation of weakness. Missing him
on the street we soon found him in his
chamber at the Swannanoa Hotel, max
ing as best he might his last fight.
Doing all in his power to combat dis
ease, hardly hoping, he kept alive to tie
interests of the world and felt for those
in the North, whose crops were injured,
as we'll for those in the South where
all was washed away by the waters of
the Santee.
So soon as especial care become nee.
essary his sister from the far northwest
came to his aid and it was only then to
watch in unsurpassed devotion continu-
ing through months.
When time was all but gone and we
asked consideration for the doubtful /
journey, for he wished to die among
relatives, he said "a friend and former
soldier who served with me for years has
promised to come to me in nv need. II
hold in my hand telegram from him;
he is coming. I shall want for moth.
ing"
Atthe right moment Mr.. Charley Mar
cy, now of Columbia, S. c., appeared,
leaving US nothing to do, save to admire
the devotion to former commander, SO
creditable to both officer and soldier. AZ
Relatives and friends near the st. LaW-
renee and West ofthe Lakes will mourn
him; friends on the Pacific, the Gulf,
join in sympathy and deep regret with
them his comrades in the army. ys
L. NH.
Hundreds of letters from those using
uarJo kJoir Uin,o,- ofEaek &c :,