An unidentified soldier of the 5th New Hampshire Infantry (Library of Congress)

Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers

Camp Near Petersburg, Sept. 10th, 1864

To the Editors of the Irish-American:

Gentlemen- Herein you will find inclosed $1.25c. as my subscription for a half year to your paper. It may seem strange to some to see a soldier, whose every moment may be his last, thus contributing for a newspaper as independently as if he possessed a lease of his life; but, gentlemen, I view the matter in a different light; I like to “take time by the forelock,” and while I am alive secure for myself that which I may need shall it be God’s will I should be spared longer; and I know of nothing of which my mind stands more in need while I do live than that paper which furnishes me with news from poor old Ireland- from the land of my birth. Alas! checkered, indeed, has been, and still is, her fate, and it looks almost a mockery to hope for her; but still it may not, with God’s help, be too much for one of her exiles in his sorrow to pray in the fulness of his heart that the dawn of a new era is not far distant, and that he may yet have an opportunity of treading his native hills, free as the sunshine of Heaven which plays upon them, or die struggling to emancipate every blade of grass in his bleeding country to which the tyrant lays claim.

This remittance is not government money; and, I presume, the money which they now hesitate to pay the troops in the field will be turned to good account to pay the expenses of the Fall campaign or hire new recruits in Spring. They give us plenty of time to get slaughtered before they pay us; and if such be the motive, what swindlers they must be. Now, is it right to leave men here six months or more without pay? What right have they to control our money? They make us fulfil, and more than fulfil, our contract with them, and it is, to say the least, and use the mildest term, an injustice to treat us so. Correspondents may tell you the troops are satisfied. I say they are not, and no correspondent knows as well as a private soldier.

The nomination of McClellan is hailed by almost every soldier as the day-star of a glorious peace and prosperity for America; and his election would be in no danger if the votes of the troops could decide it. His name is never out of their mouths, and they trust to the people of the North to unite now and show that no sectional partizan or partizans can lead them on to slaughter and the country to destruction.

I have the honor to remain, gentlemen, your very humble servant,

James McDonnell, Co. B, Fith [sic.] N.H. Vols., 1st Brigade, 1 Division, 2d A.C.

James survived the remainder of the war, and was discharged from service on 2nd June 1865 in Washington D.C. (2)

(1) New York Irish-American, Child 1893: 123; (2) Ibid.

References

New York Irish-American 24th September 1864. Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers

Child, William 1893. A History of the Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the American Civil War.

The interior of Fort Sedgwick, one of the principal Union forts at Petersburg (Library of Congress)

This secondary line effectively turned the Union positions into a giant fortified camp, protected by earthworks to both front and rear. The new line ran from a work designated Fort Dushane, just west of the Weldon & Petersburg railroad, eastwards towards the Jerusalem Plank Road. It contained five new enclosed works, and eventually connected to the pre-existing secondary line which had heretofore ended at Fort Prescott. The secondary line in its entirety now contained no fewer than 41 batteries and 20 redoubts- a formidable obstacle for any Confederate flanking force. (2)

With the extension of the secondary line that September,two of the Army of the Potomac’s Corps Commanders, Winfield Scott Hancock and Gouverneur Warren, suggested that each of the enclosed works be named and that a sign bearing the new designation be placed in a prominent position within the forts. The army commander George Gordon Meade agreed, and decided that these names should be selected from amongst the fallen. Meade therefore asked each Corps Commander to put forward the names of officers who had died since the commencement of the 1864 campaign and who were deserving of being honoured in such a fashion. (3)

Sketch showing portions of the Union secondary line at Petersburg, including Fort McMahon and Fort Patrick Kelly (Official Records Atlas)

Winfield Hancock looked back over the 1864 Overland Campaign as he decided on the names to be chosen from the Second Corps. As a result two of the forts on the Union secondary line came to be named for prominent Irish officers- Fort McMahon and Fort Patrick Kelly. Colonel James Power McMahon from Waterford had led the 164th New York Infantry, part of Corcoran’s Irish Legion, during the Overland Campaign. He had succeeded his brother John to command of the regiment when the latter had died in March 1863. When the 164th charged the Rebel positions at Cold Harbor on 3rd June 1864, James fell at the head of his regiment, while in the act of planting the regimental colors on the enemy works. He was in his late twenties at the time of his death. (4)

Colonel Patrick Kelly had been born in c.1822 at Castlehacket, near Tuam in Co. Galway. He had served in the 69th New York State Militia at Bull Run before taking a commission in the 88th New York Infantry, Irish Brigade. He rose to regimental command and led the Irish Brigade into the Wheatfield at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. He was again at the head of the brigade during the assault of Petersburg of 16th June 1864, when he was struck in the head by a bullet and killed. (5)

Fort Patrick Kelly was designed to accommodate eight guns with a garrison of 200 men, while Fort McMahon could hold 12 guns and 150 men. They remained in use from September 1864 until the conclusion of the Petersburg Campaign in April 1865. Although since the war many of the miles of fortifications around Petersburg have disappeared, including Fort McMahon, the remains of Fort Patrick Kelly remain well-preserved, with the raised artillery places in the angles still visible. It is today located near the junction of US 301 and County 629, adjacent to the Belsches House- a long-lived tribute to one of the many Irishmen who fell in the Eastern Theater’s bloody fighting of 1864. (6)

Colonel James P. McMahon (seated, facing camera) plays chess at the headquarters of the 164th New York (Library of Congress)

(1) Hess 2009: 142-145, (2) Ibid: 144-146, (3) Ibid.; (4) Daily National Intelligencer 18th June 1864, Irish-American Weekly 22nd April 1911; (5) Murphy, 1998; (6) Official Records: 956, Hess 2009: 303-304, American Studies University of Virginia Tour 14;

References & Further Reading

Hess, Earl J. 2009. In The Trenches at Petersburg: Field Fortifications & Confederate Defeat

Murphy, T.L. 1998. “Faithful To Us Here…” A Remembrance of Colonel Patrick Kelly of the Irish Brigade

Official Records Series 1, Volume 42, Part 2, Chapter 54. List of Field-Works, Their Armaments and Garrisons

Washington Daily National Intelligencer 18th June 1864. Obituary

New York Irish-American 22nd April 1911. Colonel, 164th Regiment, New York Volunteers (Corcoran’s Irish Legion)

American Studies University of Virginia Tour 14

Civil War Trust Battle of Petersburg Page

Petersburg National Battlefield

Pamplin Historical Park

All of the preparations for the 1865 event were put in place more than a week in advance of the big day, and it was decided that the traditional horse and foot races should once again be the central attraction. The Irish Brigade’s commander Colonel Robert Nugent was elected as the Clerk of the Course for the race-event, which the organisers were determined would be worthy of the ‘habitues of the famous Curragh of Kildare, Tramore, the Heath, Cahir, Ballybar, or any of the other popular race-courses in the old land.’ Last minute concerns for the success of the event arose on the night of 16th March, as heavy rain and wind threatened to spoil the occasion. However, the 17th dawned with blue skies, and all was set for the final St. Patrick’s Day of the American Civil War. (1)

The day began with a High Mass celebrated by Father Thomas Willet of the 69th New York, following which the main events began. The course was replete with a stand-house specially erected for the occasion, from which the flags of the Brigade were flown. Below this was a refreshment room where guests were provided with sandwiches and whiskey-punch. Captain Black of the 28th Massachusetts made sure that everyone would be in good cheer, providing a barrel of whiskey at his own expense for the occasion. Major figures from the Army of the Potomac who attended included Major-Generals Meade, Humphreys, Warren, Crawford, Griffin, Bartlett, Webb, Miles and Mott, as well as ex-commanders of the Irish Brigade Thomas Francis Meagher and Thomas Alfred Smyth. (2)

The Irish Brigade Hurdle Race on St. Patrick's Day 1863 as drawn by Edwin Forbes (Library of Congress)

The first race started shortly after 10.00am. It was over hurdles, and was restricted to horses owned by Irish Brigade officers. Five runners and riders went to post:

• ‘Harry’ ridden by Captain James D. Brady, owned by Colonel Nugent
• ‘Jim’ ridden by Captain Oldershaw, owned by Colonel Nugent
• ‘Cranky Jack’ ridden by Quartermaster Wade, owned by Surgeon Reynolds
• ‘Dandy’ ridden by Captain J.D. Black, owned by Lieutenant-Colonel Brown
• ‘Whitefoot’ ridden by Lieutenant Smith, owned by Captain Langdon

Colonel Nugent’s ‘Harry’ romped home to victory. The second race was open to horses owned by officers in the Second Corps, and was once again over hurdles. The runners and riders were:

• ‘Flint’ ridden by Colonel Van Schack, owned by Colonel Van Schack
• ‘Frank’ ridden by Quartermaster Wade, owned by Surgeon Reynolds
• ‘Monitor’ ridden by Captain Black, owned by Captain Sweney
• ‘Ajax’ ridden by Captain Brady, owned by Major Livermore

Some excellent skills in the saddle from Captain Black saw ‘Monitor’ come home victorious. The third hurdle race was open to the entire Army, and was made up of the following mounts:

• ‘Harry’ ridden by Captain Brady, owned by Colonel Nugent
• ‘Fatherland’ ridden by Colonel Von Schack, owned by Colonel Von Schack
• ‘Johnny’ ridden by Captain Russell, owned by Captain Russell
• ‘Monitor’ ridden by Captain Black, owned by Captain Sweney

This race saw the champions of the first two contests face off against each other, and it was Colonel Nugent’s ‘Harry’ who once again emerged victorious;  all did not go smoothly for Colonel Von Schack of the 7th New York either, as he was severely injured in the event.The next competition was for those who preferred to try their luck on the flat, with a course of 120 rods laid out (just over 600m). Five runners and riders went to post:

• ‘Dixie’ ridden by Colonel Lydig, owned by Colonel Lydig
• ‘Macbeth’ ridden by Lieutenant Kimball, owned by Major Leonard
• ‘Jim’ ridden by Captain Nichol, owned by Captain Nichol
• ‘Blackbird’ ridden by Captain Russell, owned by Captain Wildly
• ‘Paddy Miles’ ridden by Captain Black, owned by Colonel Craft

It was Captain Wildly’s ‘Blackbird’ came away with the prize. The final horse event now followed, once again over the flat at the same distance. This time ‘catch riders’ were selected to ride each of the mounts- for one of these men the day would end in tragedy. The horses went to post as follows:

• ‘Burnside’ owned by Colonel Lydig
• ‘General McClellan’ owned by Colonel Truex
• ‘Billy’ owned by Major Belcher
• ‘Alice’ owned by Major Farmer
• ‘Valentine’ owned by Captain Wood
• ‘Pilot’ owned by J. Hamilton

‘Alice’ won this final race, but misfortune for one of the riders marred the result. Second Lieutenant Michael McConville of the 69th New York was involved in a serious fall, which led to him sustaining a fractured skull. He would die from his injuries on 26th March. (3)

The Irish Brigade Mule Race on St. Patrick's Day 1863 as drawn by Edwin Forbes (Library of Congress)

Enlisted men of the Brigade now got their chance to partake in the days events. A foot race over a distance of 120 rods was first up, followed by a sack-race over 80 rods (just over 400m). A soldier of the 88th New York declared loudly before the off that he would win both events, and indeed he collected the winner’s purse for both, solidifying his position as the Brigade’s champion foot and sack racer.The most talked off race of the day followed, when three of the Brigade sutlers took part in a mule-race. The intrepid jockeys were Jim Donahoe of the 69th New York, Terry Duffy of the 28th Massachusetts and O’Flanagan of the 88th New York.Donahoe was aboard ‘Friar Tuck’, with Duffy mounting up on ‘The Gander’ and O’Flanagan on ‘Faug-a-Ballagh.’ (4)

One of those in attendance takes up the story:

The boys of each regiment shouted for the success of their sutler- especially the lads of the 69th, who love their oleaginous caterer and respect him for the length of his purse and boundless good humor. But ‘Friar Tuck’, on which he bestrode, had a twinkle in his eye, significant of merriment and deviltry, somewhat like those of Major Maroney; and some of the boys told their ‘Sancho Panza’ to look out. O’Flanagan’s admirers told him to win for the honor of the 88th, and ‘The Gander’ and his rider were besought to stretch their wings. At last, after kicking and biting, holsing and shying, they got off at the word of the starter, and safely went their allotted round, till the crossing of a gully or drain, into which ‘Friar Tuck’ flung his rider, who roared and floundered in the mud and water till some of the 69th, led by Captain Murtha Murphy, arrived, and, by means of a rope, pulled out poor Donahoe, concerning whose fate the utmost consternation was felt at the Stand House when the riderless ‘Friar’ came cantering in by the winning-post, followed by ‘The Gander’ who won, beating ‘Faug-a-ballagh’ by the length of his neck! (5)

As the official festivities drew to a close General Meagher presented Captain Brady of the 63rd New York with a whip for riding the winning horse in the Irish Brigade hurdle. Captain Wall and Dr. O’Meagher then presided over a meal for the invited guests, although as the food ordered for the occasion from Washington had failed to arrive, it was a relatively modest meal of sandwiches and whiskey. With this the festival ended, the last of the legendary St. Patrick’s Day party’s thrown by the Irish Brigade in the Army of the Potomac. For them and their guests it offered an all too brief respite from a gruelling campaign- little did they know that their war would draw to a conclusion in a few short weeks.

(1) New York Irish American; (2) Conyngham 1867: 514-515, New York Irish American; (3) New York Irish American, AG Report; (4) New York Irish American; (5) New York Irish American;

References

Conyngham, David Power 1867. The Irish Brigade and its Campaigns

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

New York Irish American 4th April 1865: St. Patrick’s Day in the Army: Irish Brigade Horse and Foot Races