The furling of a Civil War era flag at the Martin McHugh Ceremony, April 21, 2012 (Photograph: Paula Hurst)

I was recently contacted by a reader of the site, Paula Hurst, to let me know that Martin was going to be remembered in a ceremony at his gravesite in Danville, Illinois on 21st April last. Having lain in an unmarked grave for 117 years, the Irishman was finally to receive a marker befitting his wartime service. Martin’s grave was discovered following an enquiry by Medal of Honor Historical Society researcher Ray Johnston to Machelle Long of the Vermilion County Clerk’s Office. Ray is working to locate as many Medal of Honor burial sites as he can, and together with Machelle their efforts helped to identify Martin and his wife Catherine’s grave in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. The Federal government supplied a marker for the site, and a ceremony was arranged to mark the occasion by Larry Weatherford. This consisted of a one hour memorial service at the Church, and a dedication at the graveside with speeches from the Mayor, County Board Chairman, State Senator and State Representative. The event drew to a close with a reception at the local war museum.

The Martin McHugh Information Panel (Photograph: Paula Hurst)

The efforts of individuals like Ray Johnston and Machelle Long, combined with the dedication of the people of Danville, have helped this forgotten Irishman to be appropriately recognised. It is humbling to see such efforts taking place in the United States, particularly when the majority of these men remain little-remembered in the country of their birth. It is to be hoped that over the coming years this will change, and the example of the people of Danville will be followed in Ireland.

The Marker for Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Martin McHugh (Photograph: Paula Hurst)

*I am greatly indebted to Paula Hurst for alerting me to this ceremony and for supplying details of the event. Paula also kindly gave permission for her photographs of the dedication to be reproduced here.

References

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

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

Jeremiah’s oldest son Lawrence Collins decided that he was not going to sit back and let others fight the war for him. Instead he decided to organise a company of men from LaSalle, whom he hoped to lead. The now 28-year old Irishman must have cut a striking figure as he sought out recruits, as at 6′ 1” he was extremely tall for his time. Described as having light hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion, the blacksmith turned soldier succeeded in getting enough men together to form the 58th Illinois Infantry’s Company H, which officially mustered in on 7th February 1862. The now Captain Lawrence Collins and his men would not have to wait long for their first engagement- they were immediately hurried south to participate in what would become one of the key battles of the war, at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Lawrence had a front row seat for this momentous event, and he wrote about his experiences to his brother on 19th February, four days after the fort fell to Ulysses Grant.(2)

The Battle of Fort Donelson, 1862 (Kurz and Allison 1887)

Fort Henry, Tenn., Feb. 19, 1862

Dear Brother, 

It is a week ago yesterday that we left Chicago. I will pass over our trip to Cairo. We were pushed on a steamer at that place and up the Ohio and Cumberland rivers, and landed about two miles below Fort Donelson. It was early morning when we turned out, and every man was presented with a rusty old musket of about 18 lbs weight, and other things which follow. The 58th was formed, the word “Forward,” given. We marched over some very rough country, until we met thousands of Union soldiers, who told me that the day before a battle commenced. Some we met were wounded, and other things indicated the beginnings of a great battle. We moved up to our position carefully until we came within rifle distance of Fort Donelson. In ten minutes the signal gun was fired by one of the gunboats: the fort answered instantly. I left the regiment and went up within shotgun distance to listen. The gunboats played away, fort answering about one shot to their two. It was splendid music, mixed with the sharp sound of thousands of pickets firing on both sides. The fort was entirely surrounded, and the 58th was one link in the chain drawn around the enemy. That night it was awful cold watching the enemy and walking to one’s knees in snow. It was the hardest night I ever watched. Six men were called on to guard and watch our line ext to the fort. James Kennedy*, of La Salle, volunteered to go on that duty, the most dangerous. For some reason he strayed too near the enemy, and in coming back one of the men challenged him, and being far off the sentinel shot him. I went to him as soon as possible, and spoke to him, but he could not answer by words, but gave me his hand, which was cold as death. He was taken to the hospital, and since then it has been impossible to see him; but from good authority I learn he is dead. Poor fellow! He was one of the best and bravest men I had, and one that I am very sorry to lose. 

*[James Kennedy was listed as 'Killday' in the muster rolls. The 26 year-old Irish laborer had been enlisted by Captain Collins at La Salle on 8th October 1861. He was 5' 7'' in height, unmarried, and had sandy hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He died on 15th February as a result of his wound.]

Too much praise cannot be given to the La Salle men. Lieutenant Carey behaved most gallantly, as did the other men of my command. There was so much confusion that I did not notice the aim taken at my company. The enemy’s hidden guns got the exact range of my command, and played on us a shower of shell, grape and balls. One shell burst within five or six paces of where I stood; some pieces flew past me and took half of one of my men’s bayonet, and some others were touched in many places. Two men of the 58th were killed and severel wounded. There was none of mine wounded. 

Some of the hardest fighting that was ever done on this or any other continent was done in this battle by our glorious Union boys. Two whole regiments I saw go into the battle and come out with all their ammunition used up, and about two hundred left of each of them. One regiment, the 11th Illinois, was terribly cut up. The rebels were trying to escape by cutting their way through our forces, some of them preferring death rather than be taken prisoners. They tried every point to see if they could escape, but they were every time driven back with great loss. All of those forty or fifty regiments stood back waiting orders, the 58th in the number. Who can tell my feelings, when I stood there idle, looking at most of the battle, and could not help those brave fellows who were fighting, very often, ten to one, and the enemy having entrenchments and every advantage.

The reason that we were not more in the fight was not our fault. At one time were called on to go to the other side of the hill, where the fight was going on. We started on a double quick, but when we got there the rebels were driven back. We watched awhile to see if they would rally. While watching, word came that they had attacked our old position, but when we got back again they were driven back, and only the guard that we left to take care of our things had the honor of helping to do it.

The best regiment, in my opinion, were the 11th Indiana and 8th Missouri. To look at the Indian regiment in the battle, they made the best turn out that was made, I think.

I met Capt. Carter, Co. K., 11th Illinois, after the battle, and his La Salle company was cut up so that only ten or twelve returned, but, of course, they are not all killed, but wounded and missing. The slaughter on both sides was awful. I saw fifteen Union soldiers in one place together, nearly all shot in the forehead, and many hundred scattered on the field, Union and rebel on the same ground. Heaps of men and horses mixed together, and some awfully torn. Sunday morning we formed, and after blessing myself, I went to the Colonel and told him if he should get any delicate jobs to try me for it. About 8 o’clock news came that the fort had surrendered unconditionally, and never, in the memory of any living person, in my opinion, was heard such cheering, as went up from the fifty thousand Union soldiers! We passed into the fort, one that could be held by one hundred men against a thousand. I saw one whole regiment of rebel Irishmen, who were glad to see me*. They told me they would never again fight for the South. The name of the regiment is the “United Sons of Erin.” Fort Donelson is by far the strongest in this section. It has cost millions to build these two forts- Donelson and Henry- which are only twelve miles apart.

*[The 10th Tennessee 'Irish' Regiment, recruited from amongst the Irish community in Nashville]

Since I landed in Tennessee I have not seen a head of a family at home, or any family, except one or part of one.

L. Collins. (3)

This was Lawrence Collins first taste of action, and the first time he had lost one of his men under fire. He would continue to serve throughout the bloody conflict, surviving the war to be finally discharged after the conflict’s conclusion over three years later.

(1) 1860 Census; (2) Eddy 1866:250; (3) Irish-American 29th March 1862

References & Further Reading

Eddy, T.M. 1866. The Patriotism of Illinois. Volume 2

Irish-American 29th March 1862: The Fight at Fort Donelson

Illinois Civil War Muster Roll Database

Battle of Fort Donelson Civil War Trust Page

Fort Donelson National Battlefield Park

“When it comes to just plain hard fighting, I would rather trust old Mike Lawler than any of them” – Ulysses S. Grant, military commander and 18th President of the United States of America.

General Michael Kelly Lawler

Major General Michael Kelly Lawler was one of the 150,000 or so Irishmen who fought in the bloody conflict that was the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865. He was, however, County Kildare’s only general and a very unconventional one at that. He was a huge man, weighing almost 18 stone, usually fought in his shirt sleeves and is said to have sweated profusely. His sword belt was not long enough to go around his rotund waist so he wore it by a strap from one shoulder.

And yet he led from the front, inspiring the men of the 18^th Illinois Infantry to become one of the Union Army’s most redoubtable fighting units. General Ulysses S. Grant, commanding President Lincoln’s vast army in the conflict with the Confederate South, was one of Lawler’s greatest admirers.

Lawler’s date of birth is recorded as November 14, 1814, but, as of yet, there is no additional information to aid researchers in identifying what area of the “Short Grass County” he hails from. American records do, however, detail his parents as John Lawler and Elizabeth Kelly and note that the family left Kildare for America when Michael was just two years-old. The Lawler’s eventually settled in Gallatin County, southern Illinois.

By the time that the Southern U.S. States rose up against Lincoln’s government in 1861, Lawler was already a veteran of one war, having served as a captain during the Mexican-American War thirteen years earlier. Little wonder then that he volunteered to command the recruits being mustered from his local region.

Initially commissioned a colonel, Lawler did not suffer fools and had even less patience with his men’s poor discipline. His 18^th Illinois Infantry unit, training locally at Camp Mound City, developed an unwanted reputation for drunk and disorderly behaviour. Lawler, no doubt growing impatient with army procedures, decided to take matters into his own hands.

In August 1861, Lawler introduced supervised fist fighting into the regiment as a manner of resolving disputes and was often heard to threaten to “knock down” any miscreants under his command. He sent a “present” of whiskey laced with a nausea-inducing chemical to some of his men who were in prison for drunkenness. Lawler also appointed a Catholic priest as Chaplin to the regiment despite protests from the majority of his men who were of a Protestant persuasion. Probably his most controversial act occurred in October 1861 when he withheld any objection to the summary execution of a soldier in his ranks who had shot dead a colleague in a drunken rage.

Lawler was court-martialled for these acts and convicted but was soon restored to command after he successfully appealed the decision. Mike Lawler had many friends in the military that stood as character references, Grant included. While not condoning his unorthodox methods, there seems to have been an understanding of his motives among many fellow officers.

General Michael Kelly Lawler Memorial, Equality, Illinois

Nevertheless, by the time his Illinois men went into combat, Lawler had formed an infantry unit that would become renowned for their fighting capabilities, equally matching the reputation of their commander. At the Battle of Fort Donelson in 1862, Lawler was wounded in the arm and deafened, some same permanently, by an exploding shell. However within two months, he was back leading from the front, and later directed his men during sustained and prolonged attacks on Vicksburg, a Confederate-controlled fortress city.

Having again narrowly missed death on May 16, 1863, the next day was to be Lawler’s finest moment as he led his men in a gallant and rapid advance on Rebel entrenchments. Too overweight to run, Lawler rode on horseback in advance of the charge; he and his men moving with such speed that they broke the entire Confederate line resulting in a famous Union victory. The fight, called the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, sealed Vicksburg’s fate.

Lawler was promoted to Brigadier General but illness plagued him. By 1864, he was declared unfit for duty and returned home. He spent his retired years buying and selling horses before dying in 1882 at the age of 68. Kelly Lawler is buried in Hickory Hill Cemetery near Equality, Illinois.

Although Michael Kelly Lawler is a relative unknown in his native Kildare, the citizens of the State of Illinois have long remembered his deeds. Lawler Park, near Chicago’s Midway International Airport, is called after the big Castledermot man and there is also a large memorial of stone and bronze erected to his memory near his American home in Equality.

A small group of historians have begun a campaign to inform the Irish public of the deeds and sacrifices that so many from Ireland, like Michael Kelly Lawler, made during the American Civil War and also to highlight places of interest in Ireland connected to that iconic war. Further details may be found at www.irishacwtrail.com

References

Ambrose, Stephen E. 1997. Americans at War

Lowry, Thomas P. & Davis, William C. 2003. Curmudgeons, Drunkards, and Outright Fools: The Courts-Martial of Civil War Union Colonels

Private Albert D.J. Cashier (Jennie Hodgers) in the 95th Illinois Infantry

Jennie Hodgers was born in Clogherhead, Co. Louth in 1843. She emigrated to the United States shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. It is thought her uncle may have got her a job in an all-male shoe factory on her arrival in America, a position that perhaps opened her eyes to the possibilities of masquerading as a man. She next appears when she presented herself for enlistment in Belvidere, Illinois on 3rd August 1862 as one Albert Cashier. No detailed medical examination took place, which might have revealed her true sex. She was duly signed up, and was described on her enrollment as having a light complexion, blue eyes and auburn hair. For the following three years she would march across the South with her regiment, never raising any suspicions as to her true identity. (2)

It is remarkable that Jennie/Albert successfully concealed her womanhood on campaign, a task that must have been a considerable additional burden to carry on top of what was already a tough war. She clearly felt that life as a male offered her more opportunities, for on mustering out she chose to continue as Albert Cashier. After some time as a laborer in Belvidere Jennie moved to Saunemin, Illinois in 1869. She would remain here for over 40 years, living out her life as a man. (3)

The Pension Index Card of Albert D.J. Cashier (Image via Footnote)

Jennie Hodger’s successfully lived as Albert Cashier well into the 20th century. An illness and a leg-break had led to her true sex being revealed to some friends, but they agreed not to disclose it publicly. As age caught up with her she moved to the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Quincy, Illinois, and it was here in 1913 that Jennie’s secret came out. The news caused a sensation as papers around the country broke the story. A reporter writing in the The Hartford Republican went to visit Cashier (her real name did not emerge for some time) and described the scene: I had expected to meet an amazon. A woman who had fought in the death grapple of a nation and had lived and toiled as a man through half a century should be big, strong and masculine. And when I entered her hospital ward there rose and came to meet me, in her faded soldier’s uniform, just a little frail, sweet-faced, old-lady, who might be anybody’s grandmother. (4)

Unfortunately Albert/Jennie was eventually moved to an insane asylum, where she died on 11th October 1914. The house where she lived still survives in Saunemin, and her headstone in the local cemetery now bears both of the Irishwoman’s names; Jennie Hodgers, the girl who emigrated to the United States, and Albert Cashier, the veteran of the American Civil War. (5)

(1) Woods 1915: 15- 226, Himes 1915: Deposition; (2) Dawson 2005: 5, Salt Magazine: 3, The Democratic Banner, Blanton 1993: Part 2; (3) Hicks-Bartlett 1994; (4) Hicks-Bartlett 1994, Blanton 1993: Part 2, The Hartford Republican; (5)  Blanton 1993: Part 2;

References

Blanton, DeAnne 1993. Women Soldiers of the Civil War 

Dawson, Lon P. 2005. Also Known As Albert D.J. Cashier

Hicks-Bartlett, Alani 1994. When Jennie Comes Marchin’ Home

Himes, J.H. 1915. Deposition in the Case of Albert D.J. Cashier 

Woods, Wales W. 1865. A History of the Ninety-Fifth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers

Salt Magazine “What Part am I to Act in this Great Drama” Women Soldiers in the American Civil War

The Democratic Banner May 6th 1913

The Hartford Republican June 6th 1913

Jennie Hodgers/Albert D.J. Cashier Grave

THE IRISH BOYS

At Winchester, two Irish companies in the rebel service refused to fire on the United States flag.- Louisville Journal.

The Irish boys are bold and brave,

The Irish boys are true;

They love the dear old stars and stripes,

The spangled field of blue.

‘Tis Mulligan can tell the tale,

Of how they fought that day,

When with the foe at Lexington,

They met in bloody fray.

Fast whizzed the shot and murderous shell,

The bullets fell like rain;

But dauntless stood his brave brigade-

The heroes of the plain.

Then pressed the foe, in serried ranks-

But not to them they yield;

Hunger and thirst had done their work,

Before they gave the field.

Oh! honor to the Irish boys,

And cheers of three times three;

Old Ireland is with our side-

I wish that she were free.

The Irish boys are bold and brave

The Irish boys are true;

They love the dear old stars and stripes-

The spangled field of blue.

Oh! brave were those who nobly fought;

But braver still the band,

Who, forced by rebels in their ranks,

United made their stand.

They saw the old and honored flag,

Borne out upon the air,

And not a gun was raised against,

Its floating folds so fair!

Ah! Lexington and Springfield boast

Their heroes true and grand;

But Winchester shall stir men’s hearts

Throughout Columbia’s land.

Oh! honor to the Irish boys,

And cheers of three times three;

For Ireland we’ll fight someday,

And she shall yet be free.                   C.M.

References & Further Reading

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers

Battle of Lexington State Historic Park

The 90th Illinois was raised in the latter part of 1862, at a time when enthusiasm for volunteering had long since passed. The book provides an honest and highly informative account of the early weeks of the embryonic Legion. Far from experiencing a rush to the colors, it was a long hard battle to get the Regiment off the ground at all- the unit struggled not only with attracting recruits but also with keeping them, with desertion commonplace while they remained encamped in Illinois. It was against this somewhat inauspicious backdrop that the Legion, still understrength, finally went to war. They were to spend the early portion of their service guarding the Memphis and Charleston Railroad; when they did eventually move towards Vicksburg they did not take a direct part in the siege, although they bore witness to it. They participated in the Siege of Jackson, but it was to be at Missionary Ridge in November 1863 that the Regiment’s true baptism of fire took place, having the misfortune of advancing into a hail of shot and shell at Tunnel Hill. From there they took part in the Atlanta Campaign before experiencing Sherman’s March to the Sea and through the Carolinas. At war’s end they were among the troops who marched as part of the Grand Review in Washington D.C., before their eventual return to Illinois.

The author describes the actions in which the 90th participated with skill and clarity, but the books greatest strength is in adroitly portraying the everyday life of soldiers in the West. To the fore in this are two of the activities that preoccupied the lives of most Civil War soldiers- marching and sickness. Surely few units in the war could have matched the incredible distances traversed by the Legion, mainly on foot, which Swan calculates to be a staggering 2,600 miles. Equally, it is apparent just how real a threat illness posed, as reflected both in the Regiment’s returns and in the fears of some of its members.

Swan has successfully mined the letters and correspondence of a number of the officers and men to create a narrative that reflects the reality of their experience. These include the attempts of one woman to join the Legion disguised as a man; the story of Captain Patrick Sarsfield Real, an officer in the 90th, whose brother had died at Shiloh serving the Confederacy, and of Captain Peter Casey, who discovered during the arduous campaigning that he wasn’t cut out for army life.

The 90th Illinois did not achieve the fame or glory of some other regiments on the field of battle, which is one of the reasons this book is so appealing. The absence of large-scale encounters for much of the history allows Swan to focus on the more mundane and everyday aspects of regimental life, often missing from other histories. We learn of the interaction between  members of the regiment (not always friendly), with the people of the South, and with the people of Illinois. James Swan’s book is more than simply a history of the battles in which the Irish Legion fought, it is a history of the war they experienced. I have no hesitation in recommending it for anyone interested in this aspect of the American Civil War.

Swan, James B. 2009.  Chicago’s Irish Legion: The 90th Illinois Volunteers in the Civil War. Southern Illinois University Press. 306pp.

Further Reading

Chicago’s Irish Legion Website

General James Shields during the Civil War

The sequence of events that led to the duel began with decisions that Shields, a democrat, took as Illinois State Auditor. A financial crisis termed the ‘Panic of 1837′ had swept across the country, with banks responding by accepting only gold and silver as payment. In turn, Shields felt it necessary in order to maintain state credit to insist that all taxes in Illinois also be paid in gold and silver. This incensed the Whigs, the party of which Lincoln was a member. Lincoln published an anonymous letter dated August 27th 1842 in the Springfield Journal, signed ‘Rebecca of the Lost Townships’ in which the fictitious Rebecca has a conversation with a farmer about the unjustness of Shields’ policy.

The situation escalated when Lincoln’s friends Mary Todd (his future wife) and Julia Jayne became involved in writing further letters from ‘Aunt Rebecca’ in which Shields was compared to ‘cat’s fur’ and was described as being ‘mad as a march hare’ among other insults. Unable to bear the ridicule any longer, Shields demanded that the paper’s editor reveal the author of the letters. Lincoln felt honour-bound not to mention the ladies involvement and so accepted responsibility for all of the correspondence. Shields demanded the retraction of the statements regarding his personal character, though Lincoln refused to do so as he felt the initial request was written in a menacing fashion. Shields the sought satisfaction, and so a duel was arranged.

Lincoln selected broadswords of the same size for the contest, and both parties with their seconds travelled to an island in the Mississippi River claimed by Missouri- duelling was illegal in the state of Illinois. As their friends continued to intercede to try to arrange a peaceful resolution, it was made clear to Shields that Lincoln had not in fact been the author of all of the letters. Lincoln admitted to having written the first letter and also stated that he had no intention of injuring Shields’ personal or private character, and held no personal grudge against him. With this apology and the knowledge that Lincoln had in fact been protecting the reputation of his soon to be wife, Shields withdrew the challenge and the duel was avoided.

It is interesting to consider the consequences of the duel had it proceeded. Although Lincoln had a significant height advantage, Shields had some military training and was accustomed to fighting with swords. The outcome would have been far from certain, and had Lincoln fallen the historical ramifications would have been immeasurable. Happily the duel did not take place, and Lincoln went on to become the 16th President of the United States. James Shields became the only person to represent three different states as a senator (Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri) and served as a Brigadier-General in the Mexican War. During the Civil War, he commanded a division against Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley but resigned his commission in 1863. He died in Iowa in 1879 and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri.

Further Reading

Condon, William H. 1900. Life of General James Shields, Hero of the Mexican and Civil Wars and United States Senator from Three States