This past weekend marked the third anniversary of the Irish in the American Civil War blog. Sincerest thanks to all of you who have read articles on the site over ...
Spotlight
A Soldier’s Thoughts turn to Ireland- Petersburg, Virginia, 1864
In 1864 James McDonnell was a 27-year old Irishman serving in the ...
Medal of Honor: Private Felix Brannigan, 74th New York Infantry
Felix Brannigan was one of a number of Irishmen who were awarded ...
150 Years Ago: The Human Cost of Chancellorsville for two Irish Women
On 2nd May 1863, 150 years ago, hordes of Confederate troops appeared ...
‘Information Wanted’: The Irish Missing and Disappeared of the Civil War
Newspapers that appealed to emigrant populations like the New York Irish-American often ran ‘Information Wanted’ sections, where people could place classified ads. Many are attempts to locate long-lost family, friends or beneficiaries of wills. These advertisements ran for three issues at the cost of $1. Some provide a window into the affect the war had on many […]
A Regimental Child and the Baby Name Civil War
As newly formed regiments left their home states for the seat of war, many wives chose to accompany their men to the front. When the 37th New York ‘Irish Rifles’ settled into their duties around Washington in the summer of 1861, Private John Dooley had his family with him. Waiting in camp was his wife and […]
‘Good-By, Good-By’: Richard Byrnes Writes a Final Letter to His Wife
On 17th May 1864, Colonel Richard Byrnes of the 28th Massachusetts Infantry paid an early morning visit to Father William Corby, Chaplain of the Irish Brigade. A regular army officer before the war, the strict disciplinarian had been appointed to command of the 28th in the autumn of 1862. Now, on the bloody battlefield of Spotsylvania Court […]
‘Watch the Man’s Movements’: Illegal Recruitment for the Union in Ireland, Part One
A previous post explored the case of the USS Kearsarge, which caused a major diplomatic incident when she illegally recruited in the port of Queenstown (now Cobh), Co. Cork during the war. It was not the only time when questionable recruitment tactics led to friction between Britain and the United States. In 1864 the actions of a […]
The Time Has Come for ‘A History of the Irish in 100 Objects’
Noted Irish journalist Fintan O’Toole recently produced an excellent series of articles- later turned into a highly attractive book- titled A History of Ireland in 100 Objects. It has rightly received much attention, and was made available for free electronically in the month of March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, The Gathering and Ireland’s Presidency […]
Revealed: The Tipperary Town Where the First Soldier to Die in the American Civil War was Born?
The first soldier to die in the American Civil War was Private Daniel Hough of the 1st United States Artillery, from Co. Tipperary. Although we have long-known Hough was a Tipperary native, it has not been clear from where in that county he hailed. Details as to his wider family have also been scant. Recent research […]
The Civil War Story of Patrick O’Dea and his ‘Beloved Mother’
In May 1861 Patrick O’Dea went to war. Leaving his home in Cattaraugus County, New York, the twenty-year old Co. Clare native left behind his widowed mother, Mary, who he was helping to support on her small holding near the town of Salamanca. Patrick enlisted for two years in the ‘Irish Rifles’, the 37th New […]
‘The Fight Was for the Union, Not for the Abolition of Slavery’
A previous post began to examine the fractious relationship between the Irish-American and African-American communities during the Civil War era. The majority of Irish were supporters of the Democratic Party, and many retained strong views in later years about why the war was fought. The pre-eminence of the preservation of the Union as a motivator for Northern […]
150 Years Ago Today: St. Patrick’s Day in the Army of the Potomac
I wrote a piece this week for thejournal.ie, Ireland’s main online news website. The theme was the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in the Army of the Potomac on 17th March 1863, which occurred 150 years ago today. In addition I hoped to raise awareness among Irish people of the scale of Irish involvement in the conflict, and […]
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