Richard ya halarci Kwalejin Tsohon Masonic a Lexington har ya kai shekara 17. Bayan makaranta ya yi aiki shekara guda a matsayin mataimakin sakatare kuma mai rikodin kotu sannan kuma yakin basasar Amurka ya fara. Ya shiga Rundunar Sojojin Tarayya a matsayin mai zaman kansa a cikin Rukunin 8th, a karkashin jagorancin Brigadier Janar James S. Rains, a cikin Lt. Col John Bowman's 2nd Infantry regiment na Missouri State Guards. Private Keith ya yi yaƙi a cikin Yaƙin Lexington, Yaƙin Wilson's Creek, da Yaƙin Pea Ridge. Daga nan sai ya tafi Memphis, ya shiga Landis baturi (John C. Landis) na Missouri kuma ya yi yaƙi a cikin 1st da 2nd Battle of Corinth, yaƙe-yaƙe na Iuka, Hatchie River,
Babban Gulf, Fort Gibson,