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

On the 9^th December 1863  the Union Steamship Circassian captured the blockade runner Minna off Charleston. The Minna was towed into Hampton Roads where its cargo was disposed of. One of the curious items onboard the Minna  was a consignment of bibles which had been in short supply since the outbreak of the war. The Circassian itself was a former blockade runner which had been captured earlier in the war. She had been an emigrant ship prior to the war and had served the Galway to New York route.

An 1862 Harper's Weekly engraving of captured blockade runners: The 'Circassian' is in the right foreground (Naval History and Heritage Command)

The Minna was apparently part owned by the Malcomsons of Portlaw, Co. Waterford, who were cotton merchants that had a workforce of over 2000 in their Waterford mill. As the war progressed two sons of the mill manager were dispatched to the South to try and reclaim some of the large amounts of money owed to the Malcomsons by the Confederate government. The two unfortunate men were never heard from again and their fate is unknown. The Malcomsons had by necessity backed the South, a decision which led to the eventual ruin of their business empire.

Due to its nature information on blockade running is scarce and the author of this post would greatly appreciate more information on the eventual fate of the Minna or any blockade runner with Irish connections. James Doherty can be reached at jamesandrewdoherty@gmail.com

Captain Patrick Clooney Memorial in Ballybricken Churchyard, Waterford

Captain Patrick Clooney of the 88th New York, Irish Brigade, was a native of Waterford. He had served with distinction in the Battalion of St. Patrick during the Papal War in 1860, and travelled to the United States in July 1861. He enlisted as a Private in Company K (Meagher’s Zouaves) of the 69th New York State Militia, with whom he fought at First Bull Run. Returning to New York he raised a company for the 88th New York Volunteers and was commissioned a Captain on 2nd October 1861. This regiment became part of the Irish Brigade, and Captain Clooney fought with it through the battles of the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. On 17th September 1862 at Antietam, Maryland, Clooney advanced with his regiment for the final time. Historian of the Irish Brigade David Power Conyngham tells of what happened to the Waterford native:

On the battle-field of Antietam his commanding form could be seen remarkably conspicuous among his comrades. High above the din of battle, his rich, manly voice could be heard encouraging his men and inspiring them to action. To see him unflinchingly and fearlessly stand, like one of the heroes of Grecian lore, sword in hand, his green plume waving in the wind, whilst the leaden hail flew thick and fast around him, you would perceive a sublimity of person, appearance, and of action no pen can portray nor words express. After receiving a severe gunshot wound in the knee, he would not leave the field, though he was urged and entreated repeatedly by his men to do so. No; he still kept his place, until a rifle-bullet passed through his body, killing him instantly. (1)

News of Patrick Clooney’s death in the Irish Brigade assault on the Bloody Lane at Antietam reached Waterford, and in 1863 locals erected a memorial to him in Ballybricken Churchyard near the place of his birth. The monument survives to this day, although it is in serious need of restoration. Waterford historian James Doherty has started a fund in order to finance this much needed work; if you wish to make a donation you can visit his site here.

Detail of Captain Clooney Memorial recording his rank and service

Detail of the memorial listing the Papal Battles in which Clooney fought: Castlefidardo, Spoleto and Perugia

Detail of the Clooney Memorial listing the Battles in which he fought with the Army of the Potomac: Manassas, Malvern Hill, Fair Oaks, Gaines Mill and Antietam

(1) Conyngham 1867: 560;

References & Further Reading

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

Waterford Civil War Veterans

Antietam National Battlefield

Civil War Trust Battle of Antietam Page

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 IRISH BRIGADE;

ORATION OF THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC

AN OVERFLOWING HOUSE AND ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING

ERIN FOR THE UNION

If the complete success of the Irish Brigade depended upon the meeting at the Academy of Music, last evening, it would be most indubitably assured. The house was crowded in every part with an audience composed of Erin’s most stalwart sons and fairest daughters. From the upper private boxes descended the standards of the Emerald Isle and of the United States; and the hours from the opening of the doors to the commencement of the Oration were beguiled by music which awakened memories of the shamrock, as well as of the Stars and Stripes. Suddenly the melody swelled to a volume of martial sounds the gaslight assumed its most glaring brilliancy, and amidst the most deafening cheers and long continued plaudits, Mr. Meagher headed a long line of distinguished guests proceeding to the stage. Among the most familiar faces were those of Judge Daly, Collector Barney, Judge Connolly, Lieut.-Col. Nugent, Alderman Bagley, and others of equal note. Their appearance was the signal for a cry from an enthusiastic Celt, for “three cheers for Bull’s Run.” Failing to elicit these, he called for a similar compliment to the name of Mr. Meagher, which was given with a will.

Academy of Music, East 14th Street and Irving Place, Manhattan

Mr. Meagher, having been introduced in a neat speech by Judge Daly, commenced the reading of his address. He occupied two hours in a sketch of the history and duty of the Irish soldier, a review of the cause in which he was called to fight, a denunciation of the traitors and their abettors, and a glance at the prospects of the Union arms. There were, he said, no battle-fields in Europe that the feet of Irishmen had not trodden. [Applause.] The shamrock and the lily had been emblazoned on the banners of France in her proudest days. Ireland had shown that, although weak at home, she was strong abroad. [Applause.] Whether in the burning jungles of Hindoostan, the snows of Canada, or the sterilities of the Crimea, the Irishman stood erect and dauntless, [Applause.] The world knew their history, and he would not stop here to explain the historic contradictions of his race. He was here to plead their support for a cause whose justice and righteousness would not be impeached. [Applause.] He painted in eloquent terms the reverence of the people for Washington, denouncing with scathing terms the false-hearted traitors who would destroy every principle for which the Father of his country fought [Applause.] The legally elected Government had been most murderously assailed and by whom? With what violence, insubordination, malevolence and sacrilege? What justification was there for it? What part of the Constitution had been annulled? None. The South had always been the imperious dictator, and had come to regard the Presidential Chair as her peculiar institution. [Laughter.] And because the popular verdict had been against them, they undertook to substitute the bayonet for the will of the people. Instead of being Americans, they had become Mexicans. They had adopted the maxim of Lucifer — they would rather reign in hell, than serve in Heaven. What! had there been anything to justify their exasperation? If there was, he could not see it. [Great laughter.] It was claimed that the Chicago Platform was sufficient cause; but the trading politicians who had sold themselves to the rice and cotton plantations of the South must relinquish that argument. The President laid aside his platform when he took the oath of allegiance. [Applause.] But, even if the President had been in alliance with the prescriptive Dark Lantern of Ullman, or Gustavus Adolphus Narcissus Scroggs, of Buffalo, [great laughter,] it would have been the duty of all of them to support him. [Applause.] The President no longer could obey the mandate of a party — he must be the executive of a nation. [Applause.] But the so-called chivalry would not give him one day to disprove the calumnies of his unprincipled accusers. The spoils-seekers of the Buchanan Administration — the Fort Snelling Willett’s Point gentlemen — the Breckinridge, and Floyd, and Buchanan schools, had goarded on the North to madness. [Applause.] They had been exasperated by Greeley. [Hisses.] Oh let them be good-natured and give three cheers for Greeley. [Three faint cheers and hisses.] Well, he would leave it to their good-nature. [Laughter.] The sermons of Beecher, [hisses,] and the Phillippies of Phillips, [hisses,] and the poetry of Whittier, (he guessed they didn’t know much about the poetry) [laughter,] had driven the South to madness, and they should all alike be consigned to silence and seclusion. [Applause.] The South, too, had stigmatized the North, and insulted its honest toilers. But, through all, the Legislative, executive and Judicial Departments of the Government had been true to the rights of the South. He excoriated without mercy the traitors in our midst who are trying to poison the people’s minds with cries of “peace,” and eloquently depicted the more shameful calamities that could befall a nation than that of a war for the preservation of constitutional government. [Applause.] He humorously pictured the appearance of a perfumed, kid-gloved abolitionist, to whom he had described the Sixty-ninth Regiment at the battle of Bull Run, characterizing them, among other things, as Jacksonian Democrats, and, with a few conscientious exceptions, Roman Catholics all. He was himself a Jacksonian Democrat, and could not be suspected of sympathy with Republicanism. He described the traitors here among us as men “of immense stomach and shrivelled heart,” and anon returned to describe them in terms of loathing and contempt. In this connection he read a letter denunciatory of himself, accusing him of selling his birthright to Republicans for mess of pottage. [Laughter.] He boldly disavowed any sympathy with Irishmen who could shrink from such a cause as this.

Interior of Academy of Music, 1859

He glowingly painted the immense expanse of liberty here available to Erin’s sons, and asked should he, as a crowning reason, beg them to fight for the North because England’s sympathy was with the South. [Cries of "No," "No," "Yes," "Yes," and mingled cheers and hisses.] England was undoubtedly with the South. He eulogized the Union cause as worth living for, fighting for, and dying for, and besought Irishman, by all their most endearing memories, to do their duty to the land of their adoption. He, who had lost his Ireland home because he would not submit to the outrages that Castlereagh and Pitt would force upon his country, thought he had claims on Irishman here, and in that view he called upon them to come forward boldly. It was urged that they would be fighting against their own countrymen. Well, it would not be the first time they had done that. In the Revolution, Fitzgerald, who rode by the side of Washington, was confronted by Edward, the noblest of the Geraldines. He avowed that the Government never would surrender until allegiance had been everywhere restored, and one flag flew on the Mississippi, from its source to its estuary. He eulogized the valor of the Sixty-ninth, and sketched the intention of the new Brigade. He called upon the recipients of the Jones’ Wood Festival funds to hand over the same to the Sixty-ninth Regiment Committee, and averred that those who had once smelt the smoke of the battle, would not at this time be found wanting. After paying a merited tribute to the gallant Mulligan, of Lexington, he in conclusion, urged his countrymen to fight for American liberty, American honor, the supremacy of the popular will, and for National existence.