Both Served in Ohio Regiments During The US Civil War

Thomas and Keeran McKenny from Banagher, County Offaly, arrived in the US in the mid 1850’s with their Father John and Sister Bridget. Sadly for this family their Mother, Catherine Guinan, had died in Banagher, and the McKenny family decided to seek a better life in America. They initially settled in Ohio and at the outbreak of the Civil War both Thomas and Keeran, then in their early twenties, would enlist in Ohio Regiments. The Brothers would serve gallantly throughout the conflict and both would gain promotions within their regiments.

Keeran McKenny was wounded twice during the war, at Winchester in 1863 and at Cedar Creek in 1864. He was also singled out for praise in battle towards the end of the war as his company bravely captured a Confederate gun position near Petersburg. Keeran would survive the war and was mustered out of service in April 1865.

He would relocate to Missouri and to Gentry County where he would live for the rest of his life becoming a highly respected member of the community. In 1888 Keeran McKenny would be elected as a Judge for the County and serve in that capacity for four years. Keeran McKenny died in April 1927 at 84 years of age and is buried in Ford City, Missouri.

Thomas McKenny would also serve the Union cause as a Corporal in Co. D of the 44th Ohio Infantry before his unit was reconstituted into the 8th Ohio Cavalry where Thomas would command the rank of Sergeant. His units would be heavily involved in the Tennessee campaigns of 1863 and the Valley Campaigns of 1864 under General Philip Sheridan. Thomas was mustered out of service in July 1865 and would also relocate to Missouri and settle close to his brother in Ford City. Thomas McKenny died in February 1929 and is buried in Buchanan County, Missouri. His proud daughter Mary would later write a moving poem in honor of her Father and of the tales he told her of his youthful days near the Shannon River in Banagher, County Offaly. The words also portray the connection these Irish born soldiers of the US Civil War still had to their land of birth.

In Memory of My Father, Thomas A. McKenny

By Mary McKenny Morrisson (1937)

Strong as an oak of the forest

Of a race that knows not defeat

Like heroes of old was my Father

Courageous each day to meet

Born in the Land of the Fairies

Where the three leaf shamrock grows

Were spent the days of his childhood

Where the River Shannon flows

Often on its banks he loitered

How many a tale I’ve heard

Of the beautiful River Shannon

How softly it flowed and purred

How he gathered the shining pebbles

As he waded its placid stream

This ages “Balm of Gilead”

To dream again youth’s fair dream

How often he watched for the fairies

As he trudged in the marshy glen

And to them whispered a message

Oh! the dreams of that fair Isle’s men

His youthful Mother lies sleeping

Near the banks where the river glides

And ever a hallowed quiet

Over that little green mound abides

And now that the grave has claimed him

No more the tales I’ll hear

Of the beautiful River Shannon

And the old Erin he loved so dear

For more details consult the special pages allocated to these 2 soldiers of the US Civil War on americanoffalyheroes.com