Most
people have heard of General Custer but many are unaware that
35 of his dead troopers were Irish. The highest ranking Irishman
to die was Captain Myles Walter Keogh (pictured top left) from
Carlow, whose Horse, Comanche, was the only living thing
found on the battlefield.
Dundalk
has a connection with the Keogh family. Orla McKeown, daughter
of artist Michael McKeown and Rosemary McKeown from Blackrock,
is married to Reuben Keogh, great-great-grand-nephew of Myles
Keogh. Their second child, Myles Walter, is the first Myles Walter
Keogh in the family since the original Myles Walter perished at
the Little Bighorn.
Another
proud connection with Dundalk and the little Bighorn is Trooper
Thomas Joseph Callan (pictured bottom left) from Rathiddy
who was awarded a U.S. Congressional Medal of Honour for bravery
in the battle. This was quite an honour from the president and
Congress of the United States, yet very few people in Dundalk
are aware of the hero who grew up among them.
Callan
and a number of his colleagues ran to the Little Bighorn river
under heavy fire to obtain water for the wounded of Major Reno's
command which took heavy punishment in a separate phase of the
battle. It is believed that the Callan family once worked for
the Fortescues near Stephenstown Pond.
Custer's
Cookhouse & Bar is dedicated to Thomas J. Callan, and to all
the dead, Irish and non-Irish, red and white.
The following are some llinks to visit if you wish to find out
more about the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
www.friendslittlebighorn.com/index.html
www.georgearmstrongcuster.com
www.lbha.org/index.htm
http://pages.prodigy.com/custer/topics.htm
www.cbhma.org
www.indians.org/welker/leaders.htm
