Irish troops on parade (KFOR – Photo by OR3 J Reilly, Irish Army)

I admit to having mixed feelings regarding this event. While it is fantastic that the Irish State will have some representation and I hope it is a great success, it is also an opportunity lost. A small color-guard and a handful of dignitaries is perhaps not the level of recognition that this event warrants from Ireland. The 150th anniversary of Fredericksburg presents the Irish community with its main opportunity to participate in the 2011-2015 commemorations, given that it is the engagement most associated with the Irish. It is my view that it is worthy of major recognition by the Irish Government, where an increased Defence Forces contribution and the presence of some senior officials might have been considered. The attendance of the President of Ireland would have been appropriate, as the event presents an opportunity for the State to formally recognise the effect the war had on the 1.6 million Irish-born people living in America at the time. It may be that Gettysburg will incite more of a reaction from the Irish Government, and if that is the case then such an effort would be welcomed. Given the desire of the Irish Government to welcome back members of the Irish diaspora for next year’s Gathering, and the recent criticism those plans have elicited, it might be prudent for our country to be seen to be taking a vigorous interest in one of the historical events that has most affected that diaspora.

John Lonergan Memorial, Carrick-On-Suir, Co. Tipperary. Lonergan received the Medal of Honor for actions at Gettysburg

The main themes dealt with during the lecture were as follows:

• Causes of the American Civil War

• The Irish in the United States before 1861

• Why Did the Irish Fight?

• Theatres of War

• The Union Irish

• The Confederate Irish

• Irish Stories

• The American Civil War and Ireland

• Aftermath and Memory

• Irish American Civil War Trail

There was a great attendance at the event and we had a lively discussion afterwards. I must say the evening was one of the most enjoyable lecture nights I have had in a long time, and I strongly recommend that anyone in the vicinity with an interest in military history consider checking out this energetic and proactive organisation. I must extend my thanks to the society for their invitation to chat them, and I hope they have continued success in the future!

Actor Don Wycherley as Thomas Francis Meagher in 'Fág an Bealach'

In an update on the previous post regarding the upcoming Fág an Bealach docudrama, Tile Films have kindly passed on the schedule information. For viewers in the United States the two episodes will be airing back to back on Smithsonian Networks this coming Thursday 17th March. In Ireland the first episode will be on TG4 on Wednesday 23rd March (repeated Saturday 26th March), with the second episode following on Wednesday 30th March (repeated Saturday 2nd April). Tile also provided their press release on the docudrama, a portion of which is reproduced below. The company’s Development Director Dave Farrell appeared on Irish radio station Newstalk with Sean Moncrieff to discuss Thomas Francis Meagher and the Irish Brigade, and you can listen to an mp3 of the interview here.

“Fág an Bealach” reveals the untold story of one of the greatest military units of the American Civil War: The Irish Brigade.

In April 1861 the most destructive conflict in American History, the Civil War, began.  Across the American continent, thousands of Irish men and women were caught up in the nationalistic fever that gripped both northern and southern states.  ‘Faugh a ballagh’ meaning ‘Clear the Way’ in old Gaelic, the battle cry of the Irish Brigade, echoed across the bloody battlefields of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.  Here, the legend of the ‘Fighting Irish’ was born.

Presented by Irish-American actor Brian Mallon (Gettysburg; Gods and Generals) and narrated by Pat Butler FÁG AN BEALACH tells the story of the Irish Brigade through the heroic actions of the Irish people involved in the Union army fight.

At the centre of the Irish Brigade’s story is its founder, the controversial and charismatic General Thomas Francis Meagher. Meagher, or “Meagher of the Sword”, is the one of the most famous Irishmen in Civil War America.  Meagher created the Irish Flag, the tricolour that decades later would fly above the GPO during the 1916 Easter Rising.  In 1848 he was sentenced to death for his part in the Young Irelander’s rebellion but, with public pressure, he was instead exiled to Australia.  In 1852 he made a daring escape to America, where he was lauded as a hero.  Yet he had a dark side, leaving his pregnant wife in Australia and later struggling with alcoholism.  Meagher is a hugely colourful, conflicted and enigmatic character.  Tile Films cast leading Irish actor Don Wycherley (Rásaí na Gaillimhe; Ondine; Perrier’s Bounty) in the pivotal role of General Thomas Francis Meagher.

Fenian, Donegal man James McKay Rorty played by Irish actor Jonathan Byrne (8.5 hours; Primeval) rose through the ranks of the Irish Brigade to become a captain of artillery at Gettysburg. Captured at the famous battle of Bull Run, he makes a bold escape to fight at other epic battles of the Civil War.   Irish priest Fr. William Corby played by American actor John Neely (Gettysburg; the speech that saved America) gave up a comfortable teaching post to minister to the men of the Irish Brigade and in the process became the most famous priest in America.  He became known as the ‘Fighting Chaplain’ and no spot on the battlefield was too dangerous or too exposed to the fire of the enemy for this priest.  Irish-American Peter Welsh, played by Colin D. Farrell (The Ghosts of Duffy’s Cut; Death or Canada) found himself caught up in the tide of war and provided a personal, gripping account of battles such as Fredericksburg, where the Irish Brigade was all but decimated.  And New York socialite and Irish Brigade fundraiser Maria Lydig Daly, played by Lesa Thurman (Thor; Gift of the Magi),  chronicles life on the home-front.  The participation of these Irish people in the war was crucial for the creation of modern Irish-America, as they proved their loyalty to their adopted homeland.

Filmed on location in Ireland and in the U.S.A., this two part HD Docudrama series, FÁG AN BEALACH, is Tile Films latest co-production for broadcasters TG4 and Smithsonian Channel USA.

The 5th and 6th of March last saw the inaugural 1848 Tricolour Celebration. The green, white and orange flag which would eventually become the national colour of the Republic of Ireland was first flown by Thomas Francis Meagher at the Wolfe Tone Confederate Club, 33 The Mall, Waterford, on 7th March 1848. The failed Young Ireland Rebellion of that year would lead to Meagher’s transportation to Tasmania, from where he escaped to the United States, going on to raise the Irish Brigade during the Civil War and serving as its Brigadier-General.

33 The Mall, Waterford, where Meagher first presented the tricolour at the Wolfe Tone Club

Meagher had returned with the flag from France, which he had visited in early 1848, and there seems little doubt that the Irish version was itself inspired by the French tricolour. The international dimension to Meagher’s life was recognised at the 2011 Celebration, with representatives of France, the United States and Canada present. The 5th March saw a replica of Meagher’s 1782 Club jacket presented to members of the 69th Regiment who had traveled from New York to attend the event. They reciprocated by presenting a replica of the 69th New York’s first color to Waterford. The evening also saw a political cabaret, where an expert panel discussed the impact of flags and emblems on politics and nationhood.

The Thomas Francis Meagher Fife and Drum Band march past as members of the public wave the tricolour

The main event took place on 6th March when a recital by soprano Donna Roche in Christ Church Cathedral was followed by a flag raising ceremony outside The House of Waterford Crystal. A detachment of the Naval Service Reserve drew up a guard of honour as the Mayor of Waterford Mary Roche addressed the crowd. She was followed by Charles Gautier, the Mayor of Saint Herblain with whom Waterford is twinned, and Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Loyola Hearne (Thomas Francis Meagher’s father had been born in Newfoundland and many Irish settled there in the 19th century). An actor played Meagher for the afternoon and presented the tricolour for the flag raising ceremony, which was followed by the raising of the United States, French and Canadian flags and a rendition of the Irish national anthem. Music during the event was provided by the Barrack Street Band and the Thomas Francis Meagher Fife and Drum Band, and the ceremony concluded with the Waterford Male Voice Choir singing ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ The event was a great success and hopefully will continue in future years. Special thanks from this site go to James Doherty, one of the principal organisers and author of the Waterford Civil War Veterans blog, who showed incredible hospitality and generosity throughout the weekend.

Members of the Irish Naval Reserve form a guard of honour at the flag raising ceremony

The 69th New York representatives, including regimental historian Colonel James P. Tierney and Adjutant of the 1st Battalion Captain Brandon Gendron, with Irish wolfhounds at the ceremony

'Thomas Francis Meagher' in a 1782 Club jacket stands to attention in front of the Irish Naval Reserve at the flag raising ceremony as dignitaries look on

The 1862 'Tiffany' Color of the 69th New York, Presented by President Kennedy to the Irish People in 1963

This is how Letitia Baldrige Hollensteiner, White House Social Secretary to President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, remembered the preparations for JFK’s visit to Ireland in June 1963. It would be the first time a serving U.S. President would visit Ireland, and his address to the Irish Parliament in Dáil Éireann would be the first occasion on which television cameras would be allowed to film an event there. Clearly the President needed to bring an extra special gift.

The flag that Letitia Baldrige Hollensteiner had sourced was the second green color of the 69th New York, the first Regiment of the Irish Brigade. By late 1862, the original colors which had been presented to the Regiments of the Irish Brigade in 1861 were in tatters, and badly needed replacement. The new flags were sponsored by New York merchants and consisted of one green flag and one national color per Regiment. They became known as the ‘Tiffany’ Colors as they were manufactured by Tiffany and Company. Although they were officially presented to representatives of the Brigade by Henry F. Spaulding in early December, they had not yet arrived at the front when the Irish Brigade made its famous charge against Marye’s Heights in Fredericksburg on 13th December.

It is somewhat ironic that the new flags arrived in Fredericksburg immediately after the Brigade had been effectively annihilated charging the Stone Wall. Indeed the Irish appropriated the theatre in Fredericksburg to have a reception for the colors, despite the fact that the town remained under fire. The banquet was attended by General Hancock, who noted that ‘Only Irishmen could enjoy themselves thus.’ (2) The flags were returned to New York to await the Brigade’s return to full strength;  however it was destined never to recover from the losses sustained at Fredericksburg. As a result, the colors never saw battle, though they were used during the Grand Review in 1865 (3). The Brigade’s 1st Regiment green color remained in the Armory of the 69th in New York, until in 1963 they kindly permitted President Kennedy to present it to the people of Ireland.

JFK chose to open his speech in the Irish Parliament by discussing the flag. It is interesting to note that his speech-writer allowed a number of inaccuracies to slip through; for example rather than referring to the 13th December in Virginia the President spoke of the 13th September in Maryland. One wonders if an earlier draft may have chosen Antietam as the battle to focus on rather than Fredericksburg, and that some details in the redraft were overlooked. Here is what JFK said on that momentous occasion:

Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister, Members of the Parliament: I am grateful for your welcome and for that of your countrymen.

The 13th day of September, 1862, will be a day long remembered in American history. At Fredericksburg, Maryland, thousands of men fought and died on one of the bloodiest battlefields of the American Civil War. One of the most brilliant stories of that day was written by a band of 1,200 men who went into battle wearing a green sprig in their hats. They bore a proud heritage and a special courage, given to those who had long fought for the cause of freedom. I am referring, of course, to the Irish Brigade. General Robert E. Lee, the great military leader of the Southern Confederate forces, said of this group of men after the battle: “The gallant stand which this bold brigade made on the heights of Fredericksburg is well known. Never were men so brave. They ennobled their race by their splendid gallantry on that desperate occasion. Their brilliant, though hopeless, assaults on our lines excited the hearty applause of our officers and soldiers.”

Of the 1,200 men who took part in that assault, 280 survived the battle. The Irish Brigade was led into battle on that occasion by Brigadier General Thomas F. Meagher, who had participated in the unsuccessful Irish uprising of 1848, was captured by the British and sent in a prison ship to Australia, from whence he finally came to America. In the fall of 1862, after serving with distinction and gallantry in some of the toughest fighting of this most bloody struggle, the Irish Brigade was presented with a new set of flags. In the city ceremony, the city chamberlain gave them the motto “The Union, our Country, and Ireland Forever.” Their old ones having been torn to shreds by bullets in previous battles, Captain Richard McGee took possession of these flags on September 2nd in New York City and arrived with them at the Battle of Fredericksburg and carried them in the battle. Today, in recognition of what these gallant Irishmen and what millions of other Irish have done for my country, and through the generosity of the Fighting 69th, I would like to present one of these flags to the people of Ireland.

At this point the President pulled back the curtains to reveal the 69th’s Tiffany color. He continued:

As you can see, gentlemen, the battle honours of the Brigade include Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Gaines Hill, Allen’s Farm, Savage’s Station, White Oak Bridge, Glendale, Malvern Hills, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Bristoe’s Station.

The Irish contribution to the American Civil War was of course a natural starting point for such an important speech by the President of the United States. The flag remains the most significant object relating to the Irish experience of the American Civil War in Ireland. Following the President’s visit, the flag was hung in Dáil Éireann, where it remains today. It is deeply unfortunate that the flag is located in the Parliament building, where visiting is restricted and its exposure to the general Irish population is low. A far more appropriate location would be in one of the Country’s national institutions, such as the National Museum of Ireland. Such a setting would allow the flag to be interpreted and presented in a way which would enable the Irish people to learn more about their forebears contribution during the Civil War. It would also ensure the flags survival for future generations, as it could be regularly monitored by conservators and displayed in climate controlled conditions. The upcoming 150th anniversary of the American Civil War provides an ideal opportunity for the flag to become more publicly accessible to the people of Ireland.

(1) John F. Kennedy Oral History Programme: 19; (2) Conyngham: 330-337, 354; (3) Pritchard 2004: 36

References & Further Reading

Conyngham, David Power (edited by Lawrence Kohl) 1994. The Irish Brigade and its Campaigns (1st Edition 1867)

Letitia Baldrige Hollensteiner, recorded interview by Mrs. Wayne Fredericks, April 24, 1964, (19), John F. Kennedy Library Oral History Program.

Pritchard, Russ A. 2004. The Irish Brigade: A Pictoral History of the Famed Civil War Fighters

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

President John F. Kennedy’s Speech to the Houses of the Oireachtas, 18th June 1963

President Kennedy Presents Flag of the Irish Brigade to the Nation (RTE Archive Film Footage)

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.