Private Sylvester Keely Co. I
We were recently contacted by Kelly O’Shea, a relative of 62d NYV, Co. I veteran, Sylvester Keely. Below is Kelly’s correspondence with our editor Dee Sanders.
Hello,
I am a relative of Sylvester Keely and I am looking for information on him. My mother is Lorriane Keely and my Great-uncle is John Keely. We know he was in the Anderson Zouaves. If you could guide us to any information I would be grateful.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving,
Kelly O’Shea
Dear Kelly
This what I have been able to find; he is recorded as Silvester Keely at “Index to the Register of the Sixty-second Regiment of Infantry US Civil War. Source: Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York, For the Year 1900.”
See: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ckmacdonald/genealogy/Howard/62ndros.html
Sylvester was one of the original enlistees in the Anderson Zouaves. His name appears as Sylvester Keely in the document linked below:
You will find him in the section – p.20 for Company I and he is No.20 of the listed privates. The top of the muster roll has the officers , NCOs and HQ personnel. Go past them to No.20.
I have abstracted the information on the muster roll for you.
Sylvester Keely Company I. Enlisted as a Private, aged 31. He enlisted on May 28, 1861 at “Union Course.” He was enlisted by company commander Captain Lafata. He enlisted for 3 years.
Union Course was a nationally famous racetrack situated in the area now bounded by 78th Street, 85th Street, Jamaica Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue. The Union Course was the first skinned — or dirt — racing surface, a curious novelty at the time. The course was originally without grandstands. – Wikipedia
That’s all I can find for you quickly. ..
I hope this helps.
Dee Sanders
Editor – Anderson Zouaves Research
You can find Private Sylvester Keely’s biography on the Anderson Zouave Research website:
Anderson Zouaves Research 