Mr. Keen was
born July 24, 1843 at Stanford-in-the-Vale, England. Joseph was
a farmer by occupation and an officer of the Detroit Oak Belting
Company.
Keen enlisted as a private, for three years, in Company D, 13th
Michigan Infantry at Detroit on February 1, 1862. He was mustered
in on February 27th. Joseph was twice promoted: to Corporal, August
31, 1862, and Sergeant on April 1, 1863.
Joseph was wounded and taken prisoner at Chickamauga, Georgia on
September 20, 1863. He was confined in the Confederate prisons at
Richmond, Danville and Andersonville. He escaped on September 10,
1864 at Macon, Georgia. Following the escape and during the period
of his attempt to return to Union lines Keen observed the movement
of General Hood’s forces (40,000 Confederate soldiers) crossing
the Chatahoochee River to flank Sherman’s army in the rear.
Keen boldly walked through the Confederate marching columns, camps
and pickets. He reached Union lines near Atlanta on October 1, and
reported to General Kirkpatrick.
Keen was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on July 31, 1899
for carrying and reporting information on enemy troop movements
near the Chatahoochie River.
Joseph S. Keen died of heart disease on December 6, 1926.
Born: July
24, 1843
Died: December 6, 1926
Buried: Section 10, Lot 12
