Peyton Clay Keesee

In 1860 he was a 25 year old overseer on his father's large and successful farm in Pittsylvania County, VA. He enlisted as a Private in the Danville Artillery on 14 May 1861, and was appointed 2nd Corporal on 30 April 1862.

He was wounded in action on Nicodemus Heights at Sharpsburg on 17 September.

He remained on the field to tend his mortally wounded brother George, and was captured there. He was paroled at Sharpsburg on 27 September. He was First Corporal by December 1862 and was absent recovering from his wound to at least the end of 1862. He transferred as a Private to Company C of the 5th Virginia Cavalry on 3 May 1864.

By 1870 and to at least 1900 he was farming his own place in the Dan River District of Pittsylvania County.

Thanks to Bill Guerrant for the pointer to the Keesee brothers at Sharpsburg, and for the picture here from a hand-colored portrait photograph. His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3. Further personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1900. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Sarah Green "Sallie" Terry (1845-1915) in March 1870; they had 11 children and adopted one more.

11/26/1834; Pittsylvania County, VA

05/13/1909; Pittsylvania County, VA; burial in Keesee Family Cemetery, Keeling, VA