Colors of the 20th Maine Infantry (Image via Wikipedia)

In 1864 Patrick H. Finney, a native of Loughrea, Co. Galway, arrived in Ireland to work as an agent, ostensibly recruiting men to work on industrial projects in the United States. The authorities quickly began to suspect that this was just a cover story, and that in reality Finney was looking for men to serve in the Union army. That such activities might occur is hardly surprising, given the large bounties available at this point in the war for enlistment- there were potentially big profits to made. Finney was barely off the boat before the police began to monitor him; the Sub-Inspector of the Constabulary in Galway reported that ‘steps have been taken to watch the man’s movements.’  That January he was arrested in Loughrea on suspicion of breaching of the Foreign Enlistments Act, which made it illegal in British territories to recruit for service in foreign armies. However there was not enough evidence to hold the Galway man, and he was soon released. (1)

Unperturbed, Finney continued to travel around Ireland to gain recruits. He remained under suspicion, and somewhat foolishly failed to keep a low profile. On 28th January he was brought to court in Dublin by William Pike, who alleged that Finney owed him money. A Mr. McKenna took the stand as a witness for Pike, and stated that Finney was hoping the men he recruited would join the Union army:

…Finney, after his return from Galway, said he wanted tip-top men…Finney showed him [McKenna] the bounty that was being given for the American army, and from some conversation with him he believed that that was the purpose for which he wanted the men; Finney said he conceived they would all join the army when they saw the amount of wages and the bounty that were being given..’ (2)

Despite this evidence Finney was able to produce documentation which showed he intended to recruit only for businesses, and so he escaped sanction. He continued his work. On 16th February 1864 it was reported to the Dublin Metropolitan Police that he had recruited 70 men around the Loughrea-Galway area. Finney next set up an office in the back room of a cottage on Guild Street in Dublin, where he continued to sign up more men. They had been offered free passage, steady work, and the equivalent of £2 a month with board and two new suits a year. The text of the declaration that each man signed survives, and is worth reproducing in full:

We, the undersigned, hereby agree with Patrick H. Phinney [Finney], that in consideration of the said Patrick H. Phinney advancing the money necessary for the payment of our respective passages to Boston, in the United States of America.- that we, each of us hereto signing our names (or making our marks in presence of witnesses), hereby agree with said P.H. Phinney, that we will on our arrival at Boston aforesaid, commence to labor for said Patrick H. Phinney or his assigns, either on the Charlestown waterworks, in the City of Charlestown, or the Webster and Southbridge Railroad, in the employ of Wall and Lynch; or the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad, in the employ of E. Crane, in the State of Massachusetts; or the Pacific Railroad; or the Bear Valley Coal Company, in the employ of George P. Sanger; or the Franklin Coal Company, in the employ of E.C. Bates, in the State of Pennsylvania. 

And we hereby agree that we will, each of us hereto signing as aforesaid, continue to labour and work to our best ability for the said P.H. Phinney, or his assigns, for the term of twelve months, from the date of our arrival in said Boston, for and at the rate of ___ dollars per month, in addition to our board and lodging, which is to be furnished to us by the said P.H. Phinney.

And we each of us hereby agree that we will repay to said P.H. Phinney, or to his assigns, the amount which will have been paid by the said P.H. Phinney, or his assigns, for each of our passages to Boston as aforesaid, and also those of us who shall have had our inland passages paid for us by the said P.H. Phinney, or any other advances which may have been made to us by the said P.H. Phinney, or that the same shall be deducted from or repaid from our wages first earned as aforesaid, and paid to said P.H. Phinney or his assigns by our employers.

It is understood that the wages aforesaid of each of us will commence within one week after our arrival in Boston, or as soon as we commence work. (3)

In all 102 men agreed to travel from Dublin. Finney instructed them to proceed to the Office of Mr. Delany at 13, North Wall, where they were given tickets for their passage to the United States via Liverpool. Although suspicious, the authorities were unable to procure enough evidence of Finney’s real intentions to prevent their departure. The men set sail from Liverpool aboard the Nova Scotia bound for Portland in Maine, from where they were to proceed by train to Boston. The Nova Scotia arrived in Portland on 9th March, 1864. Seven of the men got not further, apparently coerced into the ranks of the famous 20th Maine. The majority got as far Boston, where they were soon informed that there was no work to be had. It was put to them that perhaps they might like to enlist in the 28th Massachusetts. The actions in both Portland and Boston caused consternation among the local Irish-American populations, and became a major news story. Part Two of the post will examine the fate of the men after their arrival- particularly those who went to war with the 20th Maine- and the political tug of war that their cause created. (4)

(1) Hernon 1968:31, North American Correspondence 1864: 5 (2) North American Correspondence 1864:6, Hernon 196832; (3) North American Correspondence 1864: 2-3, 13, Sydney Morning Herald; Hernon 1968:32; (4) North American Correspondence 1864:13;

References

Hernon, Joseph Jnr. 1968. Celts, Catholics and Copperheads: Ireland Views the American Civil War.

North American Correspondence N0.8, 1864 Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. Correspondence Respecting Recruitment in Ireland For The Military Service of the United States.

Sydney Morning Herald 23rd June 1864. Recruiting in New York.

American Civil War Recruitment Poster for The Phoenix Regiment (Civil War Treasures from the New York Historical Society, via Library of Congress)

In December 1854, as many as 30,000 Irishmen were embodied to form part of the Militia Regiments for the defence of the United Kingdom during the Crimean War. Many of these units were to remain in this state of embodiment until 1860, meaning that the men in these amateur regiments came to be seen as highly efficient soldiers, and this was particularly the case of the 2nd, North Tipperary Artillery Militia, who were even considered as suitable candidates for conversion to a professional artillery regiment. This was not to be the case and thus the majority of these Tipperary men went back to their locality, many, it would seem, in some frustration.

The unit’s ‘Digest of Service’ records that two years after the end of their embodiment, ‘the Civil War in America, which had now lasted several months, tempted large numbers of men to go to that country, particularly such as were known to be well-drilled soldiers, to whom most tempting inducements were held out by agents who visited Ireland for the purpose, and their efforts had the more success from the want of any kind of employment for labourers in this country’. As a result of this, it is recorded that many men of this militia regiment enlisted to fight in America, some of those returning to once again serve as amateur soldiers in their native land. Similar examples are seen in other Irish Militia units, such as the Westmeath Militia. However, very little official documentation is available, owing to the difficulty in prosecuting anyone under the Foreign Enlistment Act. Owing to this lack of official evidence the author would greatly appreciate any information, or, indeed, other examples of former Irish Militiamen serving in America during the Civil War period.

If you have any information that you think might be of use to Will please email at irishamericancivilwar@gmail.com for his details or leave a comment on this post.

The USS Kearsarge (Library of Congress)

Coal Heaver Charles Poole of the Kearsarge thought Queenstown (now Cobh) was a small town considering how busy the port was, and he remarked that the old houses on the shore gave the settlement an ‘antique’ look. For some of the crew it was a familiar sight. Quarter Gunner John Dempsey knew it well, and even encountered people who knew his family amongst those who rowed out to meet the ship. Captain of the Forecastle Jimmy Haley hailed from nearby Ringaskiddy, and was allowed ashore to visit his sister. As Queenstown was a neutral port, the local Examining Officer sought to inform the Kerasarge’s Captain, John A. Winslow, that the vessel could stay for no longer than 24 hours. However, Captain Winslow had travelled to Cork, and his deputy, Lieutenant-Commander James Thornton, told the officials that he would leave when his Captain ordered him to. The local media quickly condemned the Union warship’s actions as defiance of the law. Things had got off to a bad start. (2)

While the Captain visited Cork, the Kearsarge’s officers got to work on shore. Although the vessel was ostensibly looking for coal, the ship was also short-handed and badly needed new recruits. It was illegal for Union or Confederate vessels to recruit in British ports, but this rarely prevented them from trying. The Petty Officers began actively seeking out men in the town; Ringaskiddy native Haley alone managed to persuade five men- John Sullivan, Edward Rylurne, Thomas Murphy, George Patterson and Dennis Leary- to sign up at $12 a month. Many of the locals undoubtedly hoped that enlisting would allow them to eventually gain passage to America. Any men interested were taken on-board, where they were given a medical examination below decks. Not everyone passed muster; Edward Lynch was rejected for being too short. Others suffered from cold feet- Queenstown natives Patrick Kennedy and Edward Lynch agreed to enter as seamen but elected not to sail with the ship when she departed. In the end 16 men from Ringaskiddy and Queenstown were accepted, local men like Daniel O’Connell of Whitepoint and John Connelly of Bishop’s Street. The illegal recruits were cautioned to stay out of sight until the Kearsarge had raised anchor for fear of discovery. (3)

The modern-day Spit Light at Queenstown (Cobh), Co. Cork as seen in 2012, where the USS Kearsarge anchored in 1863. The Irish Naval vessels LE Aoife (foreground) and LE Emer (background) highlight the continued military presence at this important port

Captain Winslow returned from his visit to Cork on 5th November and the sloop made ready for sea. Departing that afternoon the new men quickly found themselves subjected to the full rigours of life before the mast, as heavy seas caused most of them to become violently seasick. The Captain was keen not to flagrantly violate British law by officially signing the men up in Her Majesty’s waters. For now they would officially remain ‘stowaways.’ As the Kearsarge neared Brest on the coast of France, Winslow sent an officer ashore in a launch, together with the 16 Irishmen. Here the ‘stowaways’ were asked if they wanted to depart for shore, or if they would prefer to seek the Captain’s mercy. Unsurprisingly all chose the latter course, and they were enlisted ‘for the purpose of their support and comfort.’ The ruse was intended to circumvent any legal implications resulting from the recruitment, but unfolding events would soon place Captain Winslow in an extremely uncomfortable position. (4)

Ordinarily the incident would have gone practically unnoticed and the new men would have been quietly subsumed into the crew of the Kearsarge. However, on this occasion Captain Winslow’s luck was out. British authorities became aware of the illegal recruitment, and it was the subject of an official complaint to the United States as well as questions in Parliament. The incident quickly became major news, and was used to demonstrate a lack of respect by the Union for the British  Foreign Enlistment Act, which made such recruitment illegal. Confederate agents and sympathisers held up the incident as an example of U.S. perfidy. Confederate agents such as Lieutenant J.L. Capston were active in Queenstown at this time, and was actively corresponding about the incident. As pressure increased, Captain Winslow had little option but to create an appropriate paper trail and deny all knowledge of  illegal recruitment, while hurriedly seeking to re-embark the men at Queenstown. (5)

The main waterfront buildings in Cobh (Queenstown), Co. Cork as they appear today

Captain Winslow wrote to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles on 7th December to inform him that: ‘A party of men, either by connivance of the crew or otherwise, were concealed on board this vessel on the night of her departure from Queenstown, the 5th ultimo. These men I learn were in expectation of being enlisted in the service of the United States after the Kearsarge had proceeded to sea, but found their mistake.’ On the same day that he wrote to Secretary Welles, Winslow had returned to Queenstown and repatriated the unfortunate men, who had once again officially become ‘stowaways’. As was later pointed out in Parliament, the fact that all the returned men subsequently pleaded guilty to enlisting with the Kearsarge suggests that Captain Winslow was being somewhat economical with the truth. (6)

When the Corkmen were returned to the port in December 1863, one man was missing. Michael Ahern, who had been working as a clerk with Messrs. Scott of Queenstown prior to throwing in his lot with the Kearsarge, was not amongst them. Captain Winslow seems to have managed to develop another ruse to keep this man aboard, as he had specific qualifications which were needed on the ship. Ahern was to become a Paymaster’s Steward. The man who on 2nd November 1863 was quietly working in a Co. Cork office would achieve an unlikely feat just over 6 months later. On 19th June 1864, the USS Kearsarge did battle with the notorious Confederate warship, the CSS Alabama, off Cherbourg, France. The rebel vessel was sent to the bottom in the fight; amongst those men commended for their actions was one Michael Ahern, who exhibited ‘coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended by his divisional officer for gallantry under enemy fire.’ On 31st December 1864, just over a year since he had been illegally recruited in Queenstown, Michael Ahern was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The only man to avoid repatriation following the ‘Queenstown Affair’ had gone on to receive the United States highest award for gallantry. (7)

(1) Marvel 1996: 202; (2) Marvel 1996: 202-3, Official Records: 489; (3) Marvel 1996: 203, Diplomatic Correspondence Earl Russell to Mr. Adams; (4) Marvel 1996: 203-204, Official Records: 565; (5) Marvel 1996: 204-5; (6) Marvel 1996: 204-5, Official Records: 563, Debate on the Kearsarge; (7) Marvel 1996: 204-5, Diplomatic Correspondence Earl Russell to Mr. Adams, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Broadwater 2007: 7;

References & Further Reading

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

Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Irish Emigration Database: Debate on the ‘Kearsarge’ Federal Enlistments in Ireland

Marvel, William 1996. The Alabama and the Kearsarge: The Sailor’s Civil War

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of Rebellion; Series 1, Volume 2: The Operation of the Cruisers (January 1, 1863- March 31, 1864)

University of Wisconsin Digital Collections: United States Department of State- Diplomatic Correspondence Earl Russell to Mr. Adams

The fact that this issue was a hot topic in Ireland at the time is revealed by the latest addition to The Irish Times ‘From the Archives’ feature. The paper has once again delved into their 1864 issues, this time focusing on an editorial from 1st March that year. The editor describes a practice whereby Federal agents recruited a large number of men in Dublin to ostensibly work on a railroad, and arranged their passage to the United States. He tells of their isolation and segregation upon arrival in New York, eventually being left with no option but to enlist in the army in order to survive.

There is little doubt that Federal agents were at work in Ireland during the Civil War years and that the Confederacy sent their own agents to undermine these efforts. There remains debate as to the extent of these activities and how much truth there is in the types of incidents related by papers such as The Irish Times. Nonetheless it is a fascinating aspect of the Irish experience of the American Civil War. You can read the full editorial from 1864 here.