Patrick’s story began in Co. Clare in 1840, when his mother Mary Higgins married Patrick O’Dea. The couple had at least two sons, of which Patrick was apparently the younger. When the children were still young the family emigrated to America, settling in New York state. It was while living in Cuba, Allegany County, that Mary became widowed for the first time- Patrick senior passed away in December 1850. By that stage another child had come along, and with three young dependents Mary could not afford to remain a widow for long. In April 1851 she married Michael Foran, and with renewed stability the family moved to Salamanca in Cattaraugus. (2)

July 1854 brought renewed heartache, as it was the month when Michael Foran died. Mary once again found herself a widow, now the mother of four living children. She was left with no assets, and so had to try to eke out a living as best she could, relying on her older children to help her along. She could count on some family support- her brother Martin Higgins also lived in the area, providing comforting links to her former life in Co. Clare. As the 1850s continued Mary’s older son married and moved away, and with a family of his own was unable to provide any financial assistance to Mary. It now fell to young Patrick to help his mother and two younger siblings financially. (3)

Together Mary and her son Patrick managed to bring in enough money to maintain a modest farm holding of seven acres. To supplement the agricultural income, Patrick became a work-hand at Hemlock Mills lumber works, passing the majority of his wages to his mother to help with the running of the household. At least financially, little altered when Patrick went to war. He continued to send the majority of his soldier’s wage home to his mother, posting over $100 to New York between his enlistment in 1861 and 1863. While in winter camp in Virginia in 1863, Patrick made sure not to forget his mother or his 13 year-old and ten-year old siblings. That January he wrote to them, enclosing $20, and telling his mother that he was keeping $6 for himself that he felt would ‘do him’ until he was discharged. (4)

Patrick O’Dea wrote to his mother from a camp such as this in January 1863 (Winter Camp of the 16th Michigan, 1863 by Edwin Forbes, Library of Congress)

On 1st March 1863 Thomas C. Twohey of the 37th New York sat down to write a letter to the New York Irish-American newspaper:

Camp 37th Irish Rifles, VA.,

March 1, 1863.

To the editors of the Irish-American.

I send you the annexed record of a disaster which I consider necessary, though painful, to communicate through your columns, in the hope of its reaching the interested in general, and especially the beloved mother of its subject. Patrick O’Dea, a native of Ireland, and a member of Co. I, 37th N.Y.C., was accidentally killed by the falling of a tree, while in the discharge of his daily duty at ten a.m., on Saturday, February 28. He was the only son of a widow woman who resides in Salamanca, Cattaraugus county, N.Y. He was attached to the pioneer corps on February 8, or thereabouts, and was remarkable for his courage and endurance as a soldier, as well as for his pleasantry and sociability as a companion. He was 21 years of age and joined the regiment when first organized. He was wounded in the arm before Richmond [Seven Pines] in which campaign he displayed all the qualities that a thorough soldier should possess. He was buried with due military honors at Sunday at one p.m.

Thomas C. Twohey, Co. Clerk.

In a few days Captain Wm. Bird will forward to the War Department the final statement of the pay and clothing account of the deceased. There are four months pay due to him up to his death, $52. The Brigade was on picket duty when the sad accident happened.

T. (5)

Patrick’s death was a huge emotional and financial blow to Mary. Either through the notification in the Irish-American or other means she soon learned of her son’s death, crushed by a falling tree at Camp Pitcher only three months before he was due to return home. Together she and Patrick had built a farm worth $250, but they had still not paid off all the money on their seven acres, and Mary lived in what was described by those who knew her as a ‘shanty.’ She now had to prove her connection to her boy in order to secure the pension that could mean the difference between destitution and survival for her and the two young children. As her first marriage had been in Co. Clare, she had no certification to provide as evidence. Instead she relied on witnesses to come forward and attest to her marriage to Patrick’s father, and the key role Patrick had played in supporting his mother. She eventually secured an $8 a month pension. It can have offered little consolation for the devastation that the war had heaped upon her family, just one more heartbreaking story among the thousands created by the American Civil War. (6)

(1) AG Report: 723, Widow’s Pension; (2) Widow’s Pension; (3) Widow’s Pension; (4) Widow’s Pension; (5) New York Irish American, AG Report: 723; (6) Widow’s Pension.

References

New York A.G. 1893. Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York for the Year 1893.

New York Irish-American 21st March 1863. To the Editors of the Irish-American.

Patrick O’Dea Widow’s Pension File WC92882.

Richard Curran in Later Life (U.S. Army Medical Department)

Richard Curran was born in Ennis, Co. Clare on 4th January 1838 (some sources cite 1834 as his year of birth). He emigrated with his family to the United States in 1850, and attended Harvard Medical School from where he graduated in 1859. With the outbreak of war Curran helped to raise two companies for service in upstate New York, before enlisting as a 22-year-old in the 33rd regiment. He initially mustered in as a Private in Company K on 22nd May 1861, but given his medical expertise he became Hospital Steward on 1st October that year, rising to Assistant Surgeon on 15th August 1862. (2)

When Curran arrived on the Antietam battlefield he had little time to seek out other surgeons before his unit were ordered forward. With no instructions as to where to report, he determined to follow his regiment into the action. Irwin’s brigade, of which the 33rd New York formed a part, were ordered into fighting on the Union right, and around noon they charged towards the Confederate positions near the Dunker Church. Although initially successful, the advance came to a halt when the 33rd and 77th New York on the brigade right were struck by a savage flanking volley from the West Woods. The brigade regrouped and rallied behind a ridge east of the Hagerstown Pike, where they would remain for much of the day. However they were far from safe, and those men wounded in the assault were now subjected to a merciless fire from sharpshooters and artillery. (3)

The Charge of Irwin’s Brigade around the Dunker Church at Antietam (Library of Congress)

Richard Curran had made it through the attack safely, and now took the time to assess the situation facing the 33rd New York. He remembered: ‘The ground of the battlefield at this point was a shallow valley looking east and west. The elevated land on the south was occupied by the Confederates, while the slight ridge on the north was held by our troops and batteries. From this formation of ground it was impossible for our wounded to reach the field hospital without being exposed to the fire of the enemy.’ Curran decided that he had to do something to help these men. Despite being repeatedly told to go to the rear lest he be killed, the Irish surgeon refused and moved between the wounded, administering what aid he could. (4)

As the day dragged on Assistant Surgeon Curran looked around to see if there were any suitable locations to gather the wounded men in a temporary field hospital. He finally found what he was looking for: ‘Close to the lines, and a little to the right, were a number of straw stacks. I visited the place and found that many of the disabled had availed themselves of this protection. Without delay I had the wounded led or carried to the place, and here, with such assistance as I could organize, although exposed to the overhead firing of shot and shell, I worked with all the zeal and strength I could muster, caring for the wounded and dying until far into the night.’ Curran remained worried that the straw stacks offering frail protection the men would catch light, as they were still being subjected to heavy fire. While the Clareman was treating the leg of one wounded soldier he briefly turned away to get a dressing for the injury. Turning back, Curran was horrified to see that the unfortunate man’s leg had in the meantime been carried off by a cannonball. (5)

The Temporary Field Hospital set up by Richard Curran behind Haystacks at Antietam (Deeds of Valor)

The bravery of Richard Curran at Antietam did not go unnoticed. In his official report of the fighting Colonel Irwin wrote: ‘Asst. Surg. Curran, Thirty-third New York Volunteers, was in charge of our temporary hospital, which unavoidably was under fire; but he attended faithfully to his severe duties, and I beg to mention this officer with particular commendation. His example is but too rare, most unfortunately.’ Curran stayed with the 33rd New York until they mustered out on 2nd June, 1863, but the medical man still felt he could offer more to the Union cause. Less than a month later, on 1st July, he became Assistant Surgeon in the 6th New York Cavalry, before joining up with the 9th New York Cavalry to serve as their Surgeon dating from 5th September 1864. He finished his war with the 9th, being discharged for the final time on 17th July, 1865. (6)

Richard Curran opened a drug store in Rochester, New York after the Civil War, and became active in politics with the Republican Party. He became an Assemblyman in the New York Legislature before being elected Mayor of Rochester in 1892. Curran was awarded the Medal of Honor on the 30th March 1898, nearly 36 years after the events to which it referred. His citation read: ‘Voluntarily exposed himself to great danger by going to the fighting line there succoring the wounded and helpless and conducting them to the field hospital.’ The Ennis native continued to spend his later years in Rochester, where he died on 1st January 1915 and was laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. (7)

(1) Sears 2003: 256, New York State Military Museum: 33rd New York; (2) Medal of Honor Recipients from Harvard University, A-G Report 1902; (3) Beyer & Keydel 1901: 81, Official Records:409; (4) Beyer & Keydel 1901:81; (5) Beyer & Keydel 1901:81-82; (6) Official Records:411-12, A-G Report 1902, Civil War Pension Index Card; (7) Troy Weekly Times 10th March 1892, Proft 2002: 837;

References & Further Reading

Beyer, Walter F. & Keydel, Oscar F. 1901. Deeds of Valor: How America’s Heroes Won the Medal of Honor. Volume 1.

Medal of Honor Recipients from Harvard University

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

New York State Military Museum: 33rd New York

Official Records Series 1, volume 19, Part 1, Chapter 31. Report of Col. William H. Irwin, Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of the battles of Crampton’s Pass and Antietam

Proft, R.J. (ed.), 2002. United States of America’s Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients and their Official Citations, Fourth Edition

Sears, Stephen W. 2003. Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam

Troy Weekly Times 10th March 1892: Political Posies. Floral Tributes to the New Mayor of Rochester

Richard Curran Civil War Pension Index Card

Richard J. Curran Grave

Antietam National Battlefield

Civil War Trust Battle of Antietam Page

Private Barney McAvoy, 154th New York Infantry (Library of Congress image, with thanks to Mark Dunkelman for providing a copy)

Barney McAvoy was born around 1796 in Co. Clare. He would have been a toddler when the 1798 Rebellion erupted in Ireland, and a man of 19 when Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon Bonaparte on the field of Waterloo. He was the son of Michael McAvoy and Elizabeth Poland, both of whom were dead by 1810. Barney married Elizabeth O’Hare in Ireland in 1823, and would go on to have four children with her. (2)

Barney spent some time in Scotland and England, where he served six months in the Marine Service, before emigrating to the United States in 1832. He worked as a pipe-maker and a butcher before settling into life as a farmer in Cattaraugus County, New York. By the time of the 1860 census Barney (in which he lists his age as 60) was a widower and his eldest child, John, who was born around the mid-1820s, was no longer living at home. His three other children had been born in New York, and were Francis, a 25 year old school-teacher, 23 year old Eliza and 18 year old Joseph. (3)

Barney McAvoy and his family as they appear in the 1860 Census for Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York (Image via Fold 3)

On 4th August 1862 Barney went to his local recruitment station in Olean and enlisted, becoming a member of Company G of the 154th New York. His comrades would claim in later years that the Irishman dyed his hair in order to pass as younger man, and insure his enlistment proceeded without a hitch! He was 5 feet 3 1/2 inches in height, with grey hair, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion. Despite his advanced years Private McAvoy successfully navigated the carnage of the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg in 1863, all the more notable given the extremely heavy fighting which the 154th endured on both occasions. It was to be illness that eventually proved his undoing. On 27th September 1863 Barney was sent to the Third Division US General Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, suffering from rheumatism. He recovered sufficiently to rejoin his regiment in Tennessee, but was unable to continue on campaign. He was discharged for disability on 7th February 1864 at Lookout Valley. (4)

Very little is known about Barney McAvoy aside from the information in his file at the National Archives, which also produced the only known portrait of the Irishman. His motivation for enlistment at the age of 66 remain a mystery, and his fate in later years unknown. He must surely have been an exceptional character to have thrown in his lot for the Union when men twenty years his junior were exempt. In today’s world Barney would be classed a ‘senior citizen’, someone expected to be enjoying the fruits of a quiet retirement. Somehow you feel looking into the face of this determined and proud Clare native that this is neither a term nor an outlook that would have sat well with Barney McAvoy.

*I am greatly indebted to friend Mark Dunkelman, historian of the 154th New York and author of four books (with two more to follow) on the regiment for kindly providing all the information for this post, including copies of his ‘Senior Soldiers’ paper, Barney’s portrait and information from his National Archives file. Mark has dedicated decades to the study of this regiment, work that has led to the production of some of the most insightful and moving studies of American Civil War soldiers in print. I strongly recommend a visit to his Hardtack Regiment page to find out more about the 154th and Mark’s books.

(1) See Dunkelman 1992:158-162 for a discussion of Senior Soldiers in the 154th New York; Barney McAvoy Album National Archives; (2) Barney McAvoy Album National Archives; (3) 1860 census, Barney McAvoy Album National Archives; (4) Barney McAvoy Album National Archives, Dunkelman 2004: 26, Dunkelman 1992: 162;

References & Further Reading

Dunkelman, Mark 1992. ‘Senior Soldiers’ in Gero, Anthony F. (ed.) Military Collector & Historian Vol. XLIV, No. 4, Winter 1992.

Dunkelman, Mark 2004. Brothers One and All: Esprit de Corps in a Civil War Regiment

Barney McAvoy Album National Archives

1860 US Census

The Hardtack Regiment: 154th New York Volunteer Infantry

Patrick Irwin was born in Co. Clare in 1838. As the Great Famine ravaged Ireland during the late 1840s, his parents decided to emigrate to the United States and eventually settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to the war Patrick was living in the city’s First Ward, where he worked as a blacksmith.* With the outbreak of war the Irishman enlisted in Company H of the 14th Michigan; Patrick’s company commander was fellow Irishman Captain Richard Beahan. The regiment was organised in Ypsilanti and mustered into service on 13th February 1862. (2)

The Battle of Jonesboro by Currier & Ives (Library of Congress)

The 14th Michigan attacked on 1st September as part of Colonel Charles M. Lum’s brigade, Brigadier-General James D. Morgan’s division. With the Michiganders out in front, the brigade advanced through a strip of woods, where they manoeuvred to form line of battle and connect with the other attacking brigades. Irwin and his comrades found themselves in the front rank on the right of their brigade’s line, and they began to take fire from grape and solid shot. The Confederate positions were now facing them, with the Rebels located behind breastworks in the woods to their front. Without receiving orders to advance the entire brigade began to march up the slope towards the enemy, with the 14th Michigan outpacing the rest. Irwin and his comrades were the first to enter the woods, encountering little resistance as they drove the Confederates from their first line of entrenchments. The second line of works did not fall quite so easily. The Colonel of the regiment, Henry R. Mizner, recounts his men’s advance: ‘Moving steadily forward with fixed bayonets at ‘right shoulder shift,’ first at quick time, then at double quick, my men without pause or hesitation leaped upon the rebel works, not having up to that moment fired a shot or raised a shout. Upon gaining the works which were filled with the enemy, our colors gallantly planted by Sergeant Steiner, they opened upon them a most deadly fire…it was impossible to stay the fire of my men, who swept through the entire line of works ….’ (3)

The men that Irwin and his comrades faced were Confederate’s from Brigadier-General Daniel Govan’s brigade, part of Irishman Major-General Patrick Cleburne’s division. Outnumbered by superior forces in front, and with other Union troops moving towards their rear, their fate was sealed. The 14th Michigan’s Lieutenant Gifford turned one of the captured guns on the fleeing rebels, while Lieutenant Witherspoon and Sergeant Smith of Company A captured the colors of the 1st Arkansas. But the first man of the regiment over the works was First Sergeant Patrick Irwin. In the melee the Clareman was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. In the midst of the fighting he found himself confronting none other than General Govan himself. Irwin challenged the Rebel General to yield, and Govan surrendered his sword. (4)

The Union advance had been so rapid that the Michiganders sustained relatively light casualties, with two men killed and 28 wounded. The capture of such a high-ranking prisoner earned Irwin a mention in both Lum’s and Mizner’s official reports. It also had other advantages, as the Irishman would rise to the rank of First Lieutenant before wars end. Jonesboro was the final battle of the Atlanta Campaign, as the Confederates now had no option but to withdraw their troops from the city. This turn events not only had a devastating impact on the Southern war effort, it also helped to secure the reelection of Abraham Lincoln as President, removing the possibility of a compromise peace. (5)

Patrick Irwin went on to participate in Sherman’s ‘March to the Sea’ and was honorably discharged in 1865. He married Hannah McCann of Macomb County, Michigan with whom he had a number of children. The Irishman would later serve as an Alderman in Bay City, Michigan before becoming the proprietor of a livery, sale and feed stable in the State. His actions on 1st September 1864 were officially recognised over 30 years after they took place. On 28th April 1896 Patrick Irwin was awarded the Medal of Honor, with his citation reading: ‘In a charge by the 14th Michigan Infantry against the entrenched enemy was the first man over the line of works of the enemy, and demanded and received the surrender of Confederate General Daniel Govan and his command.’ Patrick Irwin died on 6th February 1910 in Ann Arbor, where he was buried in Saint Thomas Catholic Cemetery. His wife Hannah survived him into the 1920s before burial beside her husband. (6)

Civil War Pension Index Card of Patrick Irwin (via Footnote)

*No Patrick Irwin appears in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the 1860 census, but a Patrick Ervin, aged 21, lived in the First Ward with 73 year old James Ervin. It seems likely that this is the same Patrick Irwin who would later win the Medal of Honor, and that James may have been his father.

(1) Castel 1992: 509- 515 (2) Chapman 1881:1008, 1860 Census; (3) Castel 1992: 515, Official Records: 655- 656, Robertson 1882: 348-349; (4) Castel 1992: 517, Robertson 1882: 349, Official Records: 654, Official Records: 676; (5) Robertson 1882: 349, Chapman 1881: 1008; (6) Broadwater 2007:109, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Civil War Pension Index Cards;

References & Further Reading

Broadwater, Robert P. 2007. Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients

Castel, Albert 1992. Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864

Chapman, Charles 1881. History of Washtenaw County, Michigan 

Robertson, John 1882. Michigan in the War 

Official Records Series 1, Volume 38 (Part 1), Chapter 50. Report of Col. Charles M. Lum, Tenth Michigan Infantry, commanding First Brigade, of operations August 24- September 8

Official Records Series 1, Volume 38 (Part 1), Chapter 50. Reports of Col. Henry R. Mizner, Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, of operations June 4- September 5

1860 Federal Census (Footnote)

Civil War Pensions Index (Footnote)

Civil War Trust Battle of Jonesborough Page

Color of the 14th Michigan Infantry