history

BRIEF HISTORY of

Sgt. ISAAC MCKEAG of the 63rd Pa. Infantry

By Robert J. Mancuso: Editor and Great Grandson

Additional editing by R.G. Bubs McKeag, Great Grandson

General Background

Isaac L. McKeag father's was James McKeag. Isaac was the father of John L. McKeag born in 1870-1(?), ( John died in 1917.) John, was the father of Marie B. McKeag, born on July 6, 1898. Robert J. Mancuso is her son, born August 12, 1936. John L. McKeag was also the father of William B. McKeag, born Septeber 25, 1902. Robert G. McKeag is his son, born January 17, 1948.

Isaac McKeag listed his place of birth on his discharge papers as Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , however, family information states he was born March 1843 in Ireland.(1) He enlisted in the 63rd Regiment, Co. A of the Pennsylvania Volunteers; Capt. Berringer's Company; Colonel Alexander Hays Regiment on August 26, 1861. Isaac was 18 and listed his occupation as a miner at the time of his enlistment. (2)

He stood 5 feet 7 ¾ inches, fair complexion and had gray eyes and brown hair. (3)

He was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia on May 3, 1863 near Hazel Grove, Southwest of Fairview, and the site of the Chancellor house. According to official Certificate of Disability for Discharge, Isaac received a "Gunshot wound of left thigh implicating the bone".(4) Further documents state: "He was wounded in Battle of Chancellorville, VA on the 3rd of May 1863 by a musket ball entrance as little below and back of the left hip entrance out in front, at the upper part of the thigh, causing stiffness of the leg, and soreness which hinders walking full, and causing sore, yet open and as pain when pieces of the bone comes out from the wound".(5) (stated here as was recorded)

He was captured on the battlefield on May 3, 1863, tended to near Fairview, and paroled at U. S. Ford, Virginia on May 15, 1863.(6) He was sent to Washington, DC for rehabilitation.(7) During his hospitalization, he was promoted to Sargent on July 5, 1863 (two days after the great battle of Gettysburg).(8) He was discharged on November 26, 1863, by order of General Martindale, 1st Division, General Hospital, Alexander, VA. (Data taken from discharge papers.) (9)

Regimental Information

Isaac was one of the early volunteers to enlist in Colonel Hays Regiment. On August 26, the volunteers were sent from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC to form the Regiment, he was assigned to Company A. The Regiment became a part of the Army of the Potomac. Isaac's first taste of battle came when the Regiment was engaged in the Pohick Church, Virginia. (10)

1.Email from Robert Dillon, dated March 12, 2001, to the editor.

2.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge, National Archives, Washington, DC

3.Ibid.

4.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge.

5.Military Pension Records, National Archives, Washington, DC furnished by Robert (Bubs) McKeag.

6.Based on editor's research of Civil War records and diaries at the National Archives.

7.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge.

8.Based on editor's notes taken from Official Civil War records at the National Archives

9.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge.

10.Hays, Gilbert A., Under the Red Patch, Story of The Sixty Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers,

1861 1864, Sixty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteers Regimental Association, 1908, printed for

Mechling Associates, Inc. Butler, PA

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	BRIEF HISTORY of Sgt. ISAAC MCKEAG of the 63rd Pa. Infantry By Robert J. Mancuso: Editor and Great Grandson Additional editing by R.G. Bubs McKeag, Great Grandson General Background Isaac L. McKeag father's was James McKeag. Isaac was the father of John L. McKeag born in 1870-1(?), ( John died in 1917.) John, was the father of Marie B. McKeag, born on July 6, 1898. Robert J. Mancuso is her son, born August 12, 1936. John L. McKeag was also the father of William B. McKeag, born Septeber 25, 1902. Robert G. McKeag is his son, born January 17, 1948. Isaac McKeag listed his place of birth on his discharge papers as Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , however, family information states he was born March 1843 in Ireland.(1) He enlisted in the 63rd Regiment, Co. A of the Pennsylvania Volunteers; Capt. Berringer's Company; Colonel Alexander Hays Regiment on August 26, 1861. Isaac was 18 and listed his occupation as a miner at the time of his enlistment. (2) He stood 5 feet 7 ¾ inches, fair complexion and had gray eyes and brown hair. (3) He was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia on May 3, 1863 near Hazel Grove, Southwest of Fairview, and the site of the Chancellor house. According to official Certificate of Disability for Discharge, Isaac received a "Gunshot wound of left thigh implicating the bone".(4) Further documents state: "He was wounded in Battle of Chancellorville, VA on the 3rd of May 1863 by a musket ball entrance as little below and back of the left hip entrance out in front, at the upper part of the thigh, causing stiffness of the leg, and soreness which hinders walking full, and causing sore, yet open and as pain when pieces of the bone comes out from the wound".(5) (stated here as was recorded) He was captured on the battlefield on May 3, 1863, tended to near Fairview, and paroled at U. S. Ford, Virginia on May 15, 1863.(6) He was sent to Washington, DC for rehabilitation.(7) During his hospitalization, he was promoted to Sargent on July 5, 1863 (two days after the great battle of Gettysburg).(8) He was discharged on November 26, 1863, by order of General Martindale, 1st Division, General Hospital, Alexander, VA. (Data taken from discharge papers.) (9) Regimental Information Isaac was one of the early volunteers to enlist in Colonel Hays Regiment. On August 26, the volunteers were sent from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC to form the Regiment, he was assigned to Company A. The Regiment became a part of the Army of the Potomac. Isaac's first taste of battle came when the Regiment was engaged in the Pohick Church, Virginia. (10)

1.Email from Robert Dillon, dated March 12, 2001, to the editor. 2.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge, National Archives, Washington, DC 3.Ibid. 4.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge. 5.Military Pension Records, National Archives, Washington, DC furnished by Robert (Bubs) McKeag. 6.Based on editor's research of Civil War records and diaries at the National Archives. 7.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge. 8.Based on editor's notes taken from Official Civil War records at the National Archives 9.Official Military Record, Certificate of Disability for Discharge. 10.Hays, Gilbert A., Under the Red Patch, Story of The Sixty Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861 1864, Sixty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteers Regimental Association, 1908, printed for Mechling Associates, Inc. Butler, PA

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