Keith, John S

John S Keith

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company A, 51st Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Boston, Massachusetts

Date of Birth:

1830

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

December 31st, 1867

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

John S Keith was born in 1830 in Boston, Massachusetts. In his adulthood, he lived in Chicago, Illinois and worked as a machinist. He entered service at the age of 31 on September 20th, 1861 in Chicago, and was mustered in three months later on December 24th, 1861. He joined Company A of the 51st Illinois infantry and was a 2nd Lieutenant. The Illinois descriptive rolls describe him as being 5'10" and having a light complexion with blue eyes and dark hair.

The 51st Illinois was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ilinois. Their first major engagement was the seige of Corinth in April of 1862 in Corinth, Mississippi. On December 10th, 1862, they were transferred to General Sheridan's division and stayed in Nashville until Decmber 26th. On the 26th, they began to march to Murfreesboro in pursuit of Bragg.

They arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and took up a position along the Wilkinson Pike. Early in the morning on December 31st, they could hear the sounds of battle raging to their right. Soon after, Confederate forces were upon them and they were caught in the front lines of the fight. The regiment lost 57 men during this courageous fight, and 2nd Lieutenant Keith was one of those to lose his life on December 31st, 1862.

John S Keith is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot N-5572.