For any of our readers who may be interesting I (Damian) an offering a short online course- three talks over three weeks in December- on researching the Irish in the American Civil War. We’ll be discussing everything from where the Irish fought to identifying and navigating pension files and other military records. The course is to support the work of the American Irish Historical Society and has a modest registration fee of $30. The sessions begin at 6pm Eastern Time. You can see more details on each of the topics being covered in the sessions below- and if you are interested in registering you can do so at the AIHS site by clicking here. Please share with whoever you think may be interested, and hopefully see some of you there!

1. An Introduction to the Irish Experience of the American Civil War, December 3rd 2024

An overview of Irish participation in the American Civil War, exploring where the Irish fought, in what numbers, the units they served with and some of the most well-known Irish individuals. The talk will also provide information on how to find out more details about some of the units in which the Irish were particularly prevalent. 

2. Researching the Irish of the American Civil War: A Guide to Pension Files, December 11th 2024

The American Civil War pension files are the largest and most under-utilised resource on ordinary 19th century Irish people that exist anywhere in the world, often providing extraordinary information on Irish emigrants, particularly Irish women. This talk will explore the different types of pension files available, how to access them, and provide a guide on how to interpret and understand their contents. 

3. Researching the Irish of the American Civil War: A Guide to Military & Other Records, December 18th 2024

The final talk will explore the copious other types of information available in both digital and archival form available on Irish American participants, exploring where to find this information and how to interpret it, as well as providing research tips on how to uncover details about individuals during this period.