Joseph O'Keeffe received his education at the Jesuit College in Clongowes, Ireland. A nephew of the Bishop of Cork, he spent his childhood in Canada until the death of his father prompted his return to Ireland for his education. Upon the outbreak of the 1860 Papal War, O'Keeffe was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Pope's Irish Brigade. Merely 18 at the time, he was taken prisoner at Ancona and exchanged that autumn. Due to his superior conduct, he was retained as a member of the elite Company of St. Patrick. Following the Papal War, he travelled to the U.S. in March 1862 to serve in the Union Army, having received a commission as Captain of cavalry. He served with great distinction on the staffs of generals Shields, Buford, and Sheridan. While serving under Buford, he was wounded in the foot and taken prisoner at First Brandy Station. He was released after spending five months in Libby Prison, only to find that his beloved commander had died. O'Keeffe accompanied Sheridan during his famous ride to Cedar Creek, and his numerous heroic exploits earned him the rank of Major in the 2nd New York Cavalry. He was badly wounded in the knee and shoulder while leading a charge of this regiment in the Battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865. While languishing in D.C.'s Providence Hospital he received his commission as lieutenant colonel. Tragically, the amputation of his leg failed to prevent a severe infection, and he slipped into an unconscious state 48 hours prior to his death. His good friend and fellow "Wild Goose" Myles Keogh was at his bedside during his final hours. O'Keeffe's funeral obsequies were held in St. Peter's Church, D.C. He is buried at his mother's side somewhere in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. *If anyone has any information on his exact burial location, please contact me.*