42nd New York Memorial at Gettysburg (Photo:Piotrus)

First Corps Hospital at Gettysburg, PA., July 4, 1863

My Dear O’Mahony,

I am sitting by Denis’ bedside. He has had his leg amputated above the ancle; otherwise, he is in excellent health and spirits, and no further danger is to be apprehended. For myself, I am alright, which, all things considered, I think rather strange. Of the 42d, O’Shea (2) and Fitzharris (3) are seriously hurt. Capt. Rorty (4) is dead. The only thing of him that remains is a letter upon the business of our Brotherhood from the Engineer Corps, which has been handed to me by our Colonel. I have to inform you that Rorty’s death is as severe a loss as Ireland has had for a long time. He surpassed everything in the Army of the Potomac on the 3d inst. He commanded his battery in the most extraordinary brilliant manner. While under a converging fire of one hundred guns from the enemy, and when every other gun was abandoned or disabled, one gun was served unflinchingly by his own hands. In fine, no words can express what he deserves. I do not speak from hearsay. My regiment happened to be the infantry support of his battery, and was placed twenty paces from it, in the rear.

Col. Huston (5), of the 82d (2d N.Y.S.M.), another Irishman of the true stamp, has like wise been killed. But, as I have said, it is impossible to enumerate all, having but a few moments to spare. I would also wish to tell you my views of the battle and how it went generally. Some other chance may soon offer.

Ever fraternally yours,

P.J. Downing.

John O’Mahony, Head Centre of the Fenian movement in the United States (Image via Wikipedia)

These were just the first Fenians known to have died during the battle- over the coming days it would become clear that many more had been lost. This was in part a symptom of the degree to which many Irish units such as the Irish Brigade and 69th Pennsylvania had been engaged, and the ferocity of the fighting in general. Downing was himself a Fenian recruiter; the fact that he chose to write to the head of the Brotherhood so soon after the fighting is an indication of how passionately he believed in that cause.

(1) Patrick J. Downing, 42nd New York. Rose to rank of Major before muster out with regiment on 13th July 1864. (See Kane 2002: 121)

(2) Captain William O’Shea of Bantry, Co. Cork, 42nd New York. Killed in Action at Spotsylvania, 12th May 1864. (See Kane 2002: 136)

(3) Second Lieutenant Morris Fitzharris, 42nd New York. Mustered out with regiment on 13th July 1864. (See Kane 2002: 121)

(4) Captain James McKay Rorty of Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, Commanding Battery B, First New York Light Artillery. Recording Secretary, Potomac Circle of the Fenian Brotherhood. (See Kane 2002:136-7)

(5) James Francis Xavier Huston, born in Ireland. Received a fatal gunshot wound to the head and leg on 2nd July. (See Hunt 2002: 153)

References

Hunt, Roger D. 2003. Colonels in Blue: Union Army Colonels of the Civil War, New York

Kane, Michael H. 2002. ‘American Soldiers in Ireland, 1865-67′ in The Irish Sword: The Journal of the Military History Society of Ireland, Vol. 23, No. 91, pp. 103-140

New York Irish-American 7th July 1863: Death of Capt. McK. Rorty- Letter from Capt. Downing 42d N.Y.V. (Tammany Regt)

New York A.G. 1902. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the Year 1901

The fire service was a profession that attracted a lot of Irishmen in ante-bellum New York, and it is no surprise that many went on to join regiments connected with the fire service in 1861. Burns recruited Company A of the 73rd New York from his headquarters at the Exempt Hose House in West Broadway, near Beach Street. Indeed the majority of the regiment was formed around different pre-existing fire companies, such as ‘Hose Company No. 50′, ‘Engine Company No. 20′ and ‘Hook and Ladder Company No. 15′. Burns and the men of the 73rd left New York on 8th October 1861 for Washington D.C. and they served in that city’s defences until the commencement of the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. (2)

The final months of 1862 proved an extremely eventful period in Michael Burns’ life. The 73rd were heavily engaged during the fighting on the Peninsula, particularly from the Battle of Williamsburg onwards. The Irishman was captured at Gaines’ Mill on 27th June, in what was Robert E. Lee’s first victory as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Burns was sent to the soon to be infamous Libby Prison in Richmond, where he was confined until his exchange on 12th August. Misfortune followed him; he had been free for just over two weeks when he was shot in the left breast at Bristoe Station, Virginia on the 27th August. (3)

Michael Burns recovered from his wounds and returned to the 73rd,  and a series of promotions followed. He became the regiment’s Major on 1st November 1862 and its Lieutenant-Colonel dated to 16th January 1863. Burns commanded the firemen at the Battle of Gettysburg, where 50%  of their number became casualties. Burns increasingly found himself taking charge of the New Yorkers, as Colonel William Brewster had by this point risen to brigade command. The Irishman became effective Colonel dating from 27th October 1864. (4)

Monument of the 73rd New York Infantry at Gettysburg, erected in 1897 and depicting a Union infantryman and a fireman side by side (Final Report on the Battlefield of Gettysburg)

Enough of the regiment re-enlisted after their initial three years service for the 73rd to become a veteran volunteer outfit. Lieutenant-Colonel Burns led the veterans back to New York on furlough, where 1,000 firemen turned out to greet them as they marched past the City Hall and the Mayor. Following this interlude it was back to the trenches of Petersburg and more heavy fighting. Burns and his men would continue to take part in the activities of the Army of the Potomac all the way through to Appomattox, and after a long war the Irishman was honourably mustered out on 29th June 1865. (5)

On 20th April 1865 Burns was included in a list compiled by Brigadier-General Regis de Trobriand of individuals worthy of brevet promotion. It recommended Burns be promoted to Colonel by brevet as he was ‘a fighter and good officer; for gallant services, especially on the night of April 1 and April 6′ (at Petersburg and Little Sailor’s Creek). The brevet was granted and dated to 6th April 1865. (6)

Following the conflict Michael Burns became a weigher in the New York Custom House, and was also heavily involved in politics in the city’s 1st District, serving for a year on the Board of Aldermen. He was later appointed harbour master, but had been in the position for just three years when he contracted meningitis and died at his home of No.58 Beach Street on 7th December 1883. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City, New York (Section 6, Range 20, Plot T). (7)

(1) Hunt 2003: 60, New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment; (2) New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment: Newspaper Clippings; (3) Hunt 2003: 60, New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment;(4) Hunt 2003: 60, New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment; (5) New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment; (6) Official Records: 860; (7) New York Times 4th December 1883, Hunt 2003: 60;

References

Hunt, Roger D. 2003. Colonels in Blue: Union Army Colonels of the Civil War- New York

New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center

New York Times 4th December 1883 ‘Col. M.W. Burns Dying’  

Official Records Series 1, Volume 46 (Part 3) Chapter 58. List of officers recommended for promotion by brevet in the Third Division, Second Army Corps

The Clump of Trees at Gettysburg with the 69th Pennsylvania Monument at the Stone Wall in front (Brief History of the 69th)

24 years previously such a scene would have been unimaginable to the men of both sides. The 69th Pennsylvania and their comrades had arrived on the field at Gettysburg on the evening of the first days fighting, 1st July. Shortly after sunrise on the morning of the 2nd the 258 men of the regiment took position in the centre of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. They were placed ‘a little below the crest on the decline facing the enemy and behind a low stone wall, the right resting within about thirty paces of what is now designated as the “Bloody Angle,” the left extending about the same distance below, or south of a clump of trees of umbrella shape’. This clump of trees was soon to become perhaps the most famous natural landmark in the Civil War, as it became the objective point for ‘Pickett’s Charge’. That advance was a still a day away, however. The Irishmen’s position was attacked on the evening of 2nd July, when a Rebel brigade was driven back with great loss by the combined weight of infantry and artillery fire, though not without casualties among the Irishmen. (2)

Survivors of the 69th Pennsylvania at their old position in Gettysburg in 1887 (Brief History of the 69th)

Aside from picket firing, all was relatively quiet on the 69th’s front on the morning of 3rd July. Then, around 1pm, a single Confederate artillery piece discharged across the battlefield. Suddenly all hell broke loose as volley after volley of Rebel artillery arced between the lines, with over 150 guns concentrated on Cemetery Ridge. The Irishmen lay flat on the ground behind their stone wall to escape the blasts. The air filled with the ‘whirring, shrieking, hissing sounds of  the solid shot and the bursting shell… striking the ground in front and ricochetting over us, to be imbedded in some object to the rear; others strike the wall, scattering the stones around.’ After over an hour the barrage finally lifted, but now the men faced a new threat. Out in front, somewhere between 12-15,000 Confederates in divisions under the command of James Pettigrew, George Pickett and Isaac Trimble began their purposeful advance towards Union lines and the 69th Pennsylvania’s position. (3)

Confederate Veterans of Pickett’s Charge shake hands across the Stone Wall with Veterans of the 69th in 1887 (Brief History of the 69th)

The Rebels took heavy artillery fire as they advanced in two lines towards their objective. Colonel Dennis O’Kane was in command of the 69th that day, and he ordered his men to hold their fire until they could see the whites of their enemies eyes. He reminded them that they were fighting on Pennsylvania soil, telling the men ‘let your work this day be for victory or to the death’. By now the Confederates had crossed the Emmitsburg Pike in front, where they obliqued to the left, continuing to advance through a storm of fire. The 69th waited until the Rebels were only 30 paces from their position before firing a devastating volley into their ranks. Still the enemy came on. The Irishmen’s position was overlapped on their right, and men of Confederate Brigadier-General Lewis Armistead’s brigade sought to exploit this gap. Companies I, A and F of the 69th were ordered to change front to face this threat. The latter two companies executed the move, but the commander of Company F, Captain George Thompson, had fallen before the instruction could be given- his men stayed at the wall. This created a gap through which the Confederate’s poured, and which threatened the entire regiment. Company F was consumed by Rebel attackers, and almost all of their number were forced to surrender. (4)

Colonel Dennis O’Kane, 69th Pennsylvania, Mortally Wounded at Gettysburg, July 3rd 1863

Fighting became hand to hand as the desperate struggle intensified, with men used their weapons as clubs. Hugh Bradley of Company D went down, his skull crushed by a Rebel musket. Corporal McKeever of the 69th admitted that ‘we thought we were all gone’. Robert Whittick of Company C described how ‘a fellow was taken in with me and I knocked him over and took him prisoner, and took him in over the stone wall. We were fighting both sides on the front and rear of us at that time.’  For a moment it seemed the men would be forced to give up their position, but eventually the Confederates began to pull back. Armistead had fallen mortally wounded to the 69th’s right, and the entire Confederate advance had been enfiladed on both the left and right flanks, dooming it to failure. The Irishmen had held on. In time the charge would become legendary, and would retrospectively be termed the ‘High-water mark of the Confederacy’ in the war. (5)

Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Tschudy, 69th Pennsylvania, killed at Gettysburg July 3rd 1863

The cost the 69th paid for participating in this historic struggle was severe. Colonel O’Kane fell mortally wounded, and Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Tschudy went down while rallying the right. Four line officers were killed, six wounded and two captured. 39 of the other ranks were killed, with 80 wounded and 16 made prisoners. (6)

69th veteran Anthony McDermott in A Brief History of the 69th Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers documents those of his comrades who fell at Gettysburg. They are:

Field and Staff: Colonel Dennis O’Kane (July 3), Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Tschudy (July 3)

Company A: Corporal William Donovan (July 3), Corporal F.J. McGovern (July 3), Private Frederick Beavenstead (of wounds received July 2), Private John Harvey Jr. (July 3), Private Robert Morrison (July 3), Private Patrick O’Brien (July 3), Private William O’Brien (of wounded received July 3)

Company B: Sergeant Jas. F. Shea (July 3), Private Timothy Gallagher (July 2), Private Andrew McGuckin (July 3), Private Jas. O’Neill (July 3)

Company C: Sergeant William Coogan (of wounds received July 3), Private Jas. McNulty (of wounds received July 2)

Company D: Sergeant James McCabe (July 3), Sergeant Jerry Gallagher (July 3), Sergeant James Hand (July 3), Corporal Patrick Kearney (July 3), Corporal James McCann (July 3), Private Hugh Bradley (July 3), Private Chas. Jenkins (July 3), Private John McWilliams (July 3)

Company F: Captain George C. Thompson (July 3), Corporal Thomas Henry (of wounds received July 3), Private Neal McCaffery (July 3), Corporal Henry Thomas (of wounds received July 3)

Company G: Second Lieutenant Michael Mullin (July 3), Sergeant Hugh Kelly (July 3), Sergeant John O’Connor (July 3), Corporal John Wogan (July 3), Private James Clay (July 3), Private James Coyle (July 3), Private Samuel Fike (July 3), Private James McIntire (July 3), Private Richard McErlane (July 3), Private James Rice (July 3)

Company H: Second Lieutenant Charles F. Kelly (July 3), Sergeant Jerry Boyle (July 3), Private John Cassidy (July 3), Private John Hurley (July 2), Private Daniel Miles (of wounds received July 3)

Company I: Captain Michael Duffy (July 2), Private John F. Boyle (July 3), Private Thomas C. Diver (July 3), Private Edward Head (July 3), Private Francis Kelly (of wounds received July 3), Private Michael Logan (July 3), Private Chris Rohlfing (July 3), Private Henry Souders (July 3)

Company K: Private Frank P. Gleason (of wounds received July 3), Private John Harrington (July 3), Private Patrick O’Conner (July 3), Private James H. Todd (July 2)

The 69th Pennsylvania Monument at Gettysburg as it appears today (Photo by Jen Goellnitz http://www.goellnitz.org)

(1) McDermott 1889: 53;  (2) McDermott 1889: 28, 29, 33; (3) McDermott 1889: 29, 30, Bicheno 2001: 167; (4) McDermott 1889: 31; (5) McDermott 1889: 32, Boyle 1996: 289; (6) McDermott 1889: 33;

References & Further Reading

Bicheno, Hugh 2001. Gettysburg

Boyle, Frank 1996. A Party of Mad Fellows: The Story of the Irish Regiments in the Army of the Potomac

Ernsberger, Don 2006. At the Wall: The 69th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg

McDermott, Anthony W. 1889. A Brief History of the 69th Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers 

Civil War Trust Gettysburg Page

Gettysburg National Military Park

Father Corby Statue (Image via Wikipedia)

A recent post told the story of Father Corby’s absolution of the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg in 1863. A statue of the chaplain was erected at the battlefield on the 29th October 1910, and will soon celebrate its 100th birthday. To commemorate the occasion the Father William Corby Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, based in Fairfax Station, Virginia, are planning to visit the monument on the 29th October 2010. The event will take place at 1pm and will involve a color guard presenting the colors to the statue, as well as some music and a talk about Father Corby. Details of the event are available here.

Major St. Clair Mulholland, who commanded the 116th Pennsylvania and was present at Gettysburg, describes what happened: ‘Father Corby stood on a large rock in front of the brigade. Addressing the men, he explained what he was about to do, saying that each one could receive the benefit of the absolution by making a sincere Act of Contrition and firmly resolving to embrace the first opportunity of confessing his sins, urging them to do their duty, and reminding them of the high and sacred nature of their trust as soldiers and the noble object for which they fought. The brigade was standing at ‘Order arms!’ As he closed his address, every man, Catholic and non-Catholic, fell on his knees with his head bowed down. Then, stretching his right hand toward the brigade, Father Corby pronounced the words of absolution…the scene was more than impressive, it was awe inspiring. Near by stood a brilliant throng of officers who had gathered to witness this very unusual occurence, and while there was profound silence in the ranks of the Second Corps, yet over to the left, out by the peach orchard and Little Round Top, where Weed and Vincent and Hazlitt were dying, the roar of the battle rose and swelled and re-echoed through the woods, making music more sublime than ever sounded through cathedral aisle. The act seemed to be in harmony with the surroundings. I do not think there was a man in the brigade who did not offer-up a heart-felt prayer. For some, it was their last; they knelt there in their grave clothes. In less than half an hour many of them were numbered with the dead of July 2. Who can doubt their prayers were good? What was wanting in the eloquence of the priest to move them to repentence was supplied in the incidents of the fight. That heart would be incorrigible, indeed, that the scream of a Whitworth bolt, adding to Father Corby’s touching appeal, would not move to contrition.’

Father Corby has also left us an account of his feelings as he addressed the men: ‘In performing this ceremony I faced the army. My eye covered thousands of officers and men. I noticed that all, Catholic and non-Catholic, officers and private soldiers showed a profound respect, wishing at this fatal crisis to receive every benefit of divine grace that could be imparted through the instrumentality of the Church Ministry. Even Maj.-Gen. Hancock removed his hat, and, as far as compatibile with this situation, bowed in reverential devotion. That general absolution was intended for all- in quantum possum- not only for our brigade, but for all, North and South, who were susceptible of it and who were about to appear before their Judge. Let us hope that many thousands of souls, purified by hardships, fasting, prayer, and blood met a favorable sentence on the ever memorable battlefield of Gettysburg.

Following the absolution, the Irish Brigade advanced into the now infamous ‘Wheatfield’ at Gettysburg. By the end of the day, 198 of the Brigade’s 530 men had become casualties. In 1910 a statue of Father Corby was placed on the battlefield to commemorate this event.

Further Reading

Corby, William (edited by Lawrence Kohl) 1992. Memoirs of Chaplain Life: Three Years in the Irish Brigade with the Army of the Potomac (1st Edition 1893)

John Lonergan was born in 1837 at Sir John’s Road, Carrick-On-Suir, Co. Tipperary. His family emigrated to the United States in 1848 where he was active in the Fenian movement both prior to and following the Civil War. Lonergan became a Captain of Company A, 13th Vermont Regiment, a nine-month unit that was organised in October 1862. They spent much of their service on guard duty but joined the main body of the Army of the Potomac in time for its greatest battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in July 1863. The 13th Vermont arrived at the battlefield on the evening of the first day (July 1st) as part of Brigadier-General Stannard’s 3rd Brigade (2nd Vermont Brigade) of Major-General Abner Doubleday’s 3rd Division. They were part of Major-General Reynolds I Corps.

The 13th Vermont’s first major action of the battle took place on the second day (July 2nd), when the regiment were positioned in support of artillery at Cemetery Hill. While stationed here they received an urgent request to rescue a Federal Battery in General Hancock’s section of the line that had been abandoned and was about to be taken by the Confederates. The Vermont men counterattacked and drove the enemy back, in the process recapturing the guns. Having accomplished this the 13th Vermont and Captain John Lonergan’s Company A continued their advance and charged as far as the Emmittsburg Road, where two Confederate artillery pieces were captured. Not content with this, Lonergan and his men then surrounded the Roger’s House which contained a large number of Confederate troops, and forced them to surrender. Despite the heavy fighting that they experienced the 13th Vermont’s role in the battle was not over, as they were to play an important part in the repulse of the Confederate advance on the final day (July 3rd), which has gone down in history as ‘Pickett’s Charge’. The 13th Vermont had arrived at Gettysburg with a strength of some 636 men. They were to lose 10 men killed, 103 wounded and 10 missing (a percentage loss of 19%) during the course of the fighting (Bicheno 2001).

Following the battle John Lonergan’s pivotal role in the 13th Vermont’s success on Gettysburg’s second day was acknowledged, as he was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions. The citation indicated that the award was presented as a result of Lonergan’s gallantry in the recapture of four guns, as well as the capture of two additional enemy guns and a number of prisoners.

The memorial on the street where he was born in Carrick-On-Suir was officially unveiled on May 8th last. It is in a prominent position on one of the main routes into the town, and is a fitting tribute to the Tipperary native.

References & Further Reading

Bicheno, Hugh 2001. Gettysburg

Clarke, Albert 13th Vermont Infantry History

Congressional Medal of Honor Society