I’m pleased to let readers know of the official launch the Andersonville Irish Project here on Irish in the American Civil War. We’re seeking public help to ID Irish interred at Andersonville, the cemetery that likely contains more Irish casualties from the American Civil War than any other. I’ve teamed up with Nicholas Allen, Director of the Willson Center at the University of Georgia to try to tell the story and remember the hundreds of Irish Americans buried at the notorious Georgia POW camp. We’ve already received great encouragement and support from the Irish Consulate in Atlanta, and the amazing National Park Service staff at Andersonville.

You can explore the project page here. On it, you will find three main elements. The interactive Ireland Map records known locations in Ireland where men who died at Andersonville were from. It provides their details and includes and image of their grave.

The interactive database records the names and more specific detail on the almost 170 Irish Americans who died at Andersonville that we have identified thus far, with hopefully with many more to come.

The blog sections gathers together current and future posts that examine the Irish experience of Andersonville and tell the stories of some of these emigrant families.

Details of how people can contribute info on individuals can be found on the project page- if you have anything of relevance to any of the Irishmen buried at Andersonville National Cemetery (or their families), you can contact us at andersonvilleirish[at]gmail.com. Please share news of this project far and wide, as we are keen to add as many men as possible to the database!