James Keefe enlisted for the Civil War in Company G of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry/Cavalry on April 21, 1861, and became the 2nd lieutenant on April 27. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on August 24, 1862, when Isaac H. Wing resigned. On October 17, 1862, he became the captain of Company G when Daniel W. White resigned. Keefe was commissioned major of the 4th on July 22, 1864, and mustered out as the major on February 2, 1866.
The following obituary is from
Death of Major Keefe.
Major James Keefe died at his residence, 903 West Churchill street, last evening about nine o’clock. He was only confined to his bed since last Friday. The cause of his death was a rupture occasioned by a fall from a vicious horse during the war.
Mr. Keefe has resided in this city since 1871 and has been engaged in his vocation as a sign painter during the time. He was a real artist in his chosen calling, and the skill and artistic excellence of his handiwork is to be seen on nearly all the fine public buildings of this city. He was by nature unassuming and unpretentious never seeking favors or promotion, and knew nothing about cringing “the pregnant hinges of the knee that shrift [sic] might follow fawning.”¹ He was content to live his own life secure in his own unaided effort to acquire an honest livelihood for himself and family. He leaves a widow and five children—four sons and one grown up daughter. One of the sons Horace L., has been for some years in partnership with his father in the painting business.
James Keefe was born in Boston, Mass. Oct. 22, 1833, and came west in 1835, locating in Hudson, Wis., in October of that year. At the breaking out of the rebellion Mr. Keefe enlisted in company G, Fourth Wis. Infantry. He had previous been a member of the Hudson guards, with the rank of Second Lieutenant, and received a like commission in the service. He was promoted to a first lieutenancy on April, 1862, and to a captaincy Oct. 17, 1862. In September, 1863 the organization became a cavalry regiment, continuing until its disbandment in February, 1866. Mr. Keefe was promoted to be major in July 22, 1864. He was in many of the stirring engagements of the war—Port Hudson, the capture of Mobile, battle of Newport News, and many others. At the close of the war his regiment wars sent down to Texas, remaining in the vicinity of the Rio Grande until Feb. 2, 1866, when the regiment was disbanded.
The regiment left the state July 15 for Baltimore, and was there detailed to guard the railroad near the city, serving in that capacity until Nov. 4, when the regiment embarked on an expedition to the eastern shore of Virginia, encountering many hardships on the march. Feb. 19 the regiment was ordered to Fortress Monroe, and later to Newport News. In March the regiment was taken by transport to Ship Island, passing under the fire of the rebel batteries at Sewell’s Point. Here was gathered the fleets of Farragut and Porter and the army of Gen. Butler, preparing to operate against New Orleans. The Fourth Wisconsin was here placed in the brigade of the Second, Gen. Williams commanding, and was with Gen. Butler when the troops marched victoriously into New Orleans. Later the Fourth was with the army which took possession of Baton Rouge and Vicksburg. This regiment also took part in the second expedition to Vicksburg in June.
They were with the boys who made the first and second assault on Port Hudson.
Deceased was a member of Muller Post and was also a member of the Masonic lodge. The funeral will occur from the family residence tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock, and will be in charge of the lodge of A. F. and A. M. of this city. Comrades of Muller Post will attend in a body.—Gazette.
1. The quotation is from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, act III, scene 2. The full and accurate line is:
No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,
And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 