Posted on 03/16/2008 5:10:54 PM PDT by StarCMC
Thank you Starlette for this evenings thread!
Hope your project is going well.....*Hugs*
Oh, that’s right, this is the painting weekend, isn’t it!?
Star, did you paint the living room green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day?
IRISH BRIGADE HISTORY
As the threat of civil war loomed over the nation, Thomas Francis Meagher, joined the 69th New York State Militia. This was a ninety-day regiment that first saw action at First Bull Run and was under the command of Colonel Michael Cocoran. The colonel was captured and spent more than a year in a Confederate prison. When the ninety-day enlistment expired, Captain Meagher returned, with his regiment to New York.
Shortly after his return, Meagher began raising a unit of Irish volunteers to serve for a term of three years. This unit would eventually become the 63rd, 69th and 88th New York Voluntary Infantry Regiments. The 69th and 88th regiments were organized at Throgs Neck, New York and enlistments primarily occurred between early September through mid-November, 1861. The 63rd New York was organized at Staten Island, New York. Meagher was appointed brigadier general and took command of the Irish Brigade on February 5, 1862. During the spring of 1862 a non-Irish regiment, the 29th Massachusetts was added to strengthen the Brigade during the Peninsula Campaign.
In October, 1862, the men of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment joined the ranks of the brigade. Composed primarily of Irishmen from Philadelphia they were organized at Camp Emitt and joined the brigade at Harper’s Ferry. One month later, in November, 1862, the 29th Massachusetts was traded for another Irish regiment, the 28th Massachusetts. This regiment was organized at Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 13, 1861.
The brigade was assigned to General Edwin V. Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac. In March of 1862, the brigade became the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps.
Throughout its life in the Army of the Potomac, the Irish Brigade was almost always at the foremost position and suffered high casualties as a result. Such was the case at the “Bloody Lane” at Antietem, below Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg, the battle in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg and at Chancellorsville. Efforts were made after the Chancellorsville battle to disband the brigade. General Meagher protested this action and resigned his commission on May 14, 1863. Though his resignation was later cancelled, he never again served in the field with the Irish Brigade.
Though the brigade continued to distinguish itself on the battlefields, increasing casualties forced changes within the brigade. By June, 1864, the brigade had been reduced to that of nearly regimental size. The brigade was officially disbanded in June, 1864, with the 116th Pennsylvania being made part of the 2nd Corps, 1st Division, 4th Brigade, in July. The three New York regiments now comprised the 3rd Brigade. Later in the year, the Second Irish Brigade was created, comprising of the 63rd, 69th, 88th New York, the 28th Massachusetts and the 7th New York Heavy Artillery. The 7th New York was then replaced by the 4th New York Heavy Artillery in the early part of 1865. During its almost four years of service, the Irish Brigade lost more than 4,000 officers and men, more than which served within the brigade at any one time. Though Richard Byrnes, Richard Duryes, Patrick Kelly, Robert Nugent and Thomas Smyth held temporary commands at various times through the brigades existence, Thomas Francis Meagher served as the brigade’s only commanding general.
THE BALLAD OF THE SIXTY-NINTH INF REGIMENT (FIGHTIN IRISH)
Clouds black with thunder o’er the southern states;
North, East and West a sickening fear;
The Union on the dark laps of the Fates,
And nowhere signs the skies would clear.
would hate haul down the flag we loved so well
The star-flag that at Yorktown flew?
For answer came the hurtling of a shell,
With the Union cleft in two!
Never since out of chaos the world
Sang with such resolve as took us then:
“Thro’ blood and fire, with that brave flag unfurled
The Union shall be whole again.”
At Lincoln’s call men swarmed from towns and farms:
An ecstasy shook all the land.
Tramp1 tramp! the people’s bravest rose in arms
With them the Irish took their stand.
For here their slave rags had away been cast.
Freedom had met them at the door.
To share such empire lovelit, rich and vast
As never fronted men before.
Our great Republic! Shall the kings behold.
Neath slavery’s thrust, its overthrow?
Loud, righteous, quick our regiment’s answered rolled
The Irish Sixty-ninth says, “No!”
Tramp! Tramp! At Corcoran’s command they’ve swung
Down Broadway’s length a thousand strong.
Their green flag by grand Old glory flung.
Their steps like music to the cheering throng.
The great Archbishop, blessing rank and file,
Bends o’er them- soldier, gun and blade.
On every face the bold-heart Irish smile
That looks in Death’s eyes unafraid.
Mother of Irish regiments, march in pride;
No idle presage in your tread!
The way is long; the battle ground is wide;
High will be the roster of your dead.
Ever you’ll find the battle’s crest and front,
Then march to seek new fighting ground:
Ever, when shattered in the battle brunt.
Men for the gaps will still be found.
You’ll be baptized in fire at Blackburn’s Ford.
Bull Run shall see two hundred fall-
You facing south when north the rout has poured:
At Rappahannock like a wall:
You’ll strike at Fair Oaks; clash at Gaines’s Mill.
and ramp like tigers over Malvern Hill:
Stand and be hammered at Chancellorsville:
Antietam’s corn shall redden at your name.
The while you deal the blow that stuns;
At Marye’s Heights your men shall feed on flame.
Up to the muzzles of the guns;
At Gettysburg fire-dwindled on you’ll press.
and then remanned again seek fight;
All through the tangle of the wilderness.
You’ll battle day and night:
At Petersburg you’ll spring to the assault:
Only at Appomattox shall you halt!
Let Nugent, Meagher, Cavanagh be praised.
MacMahon, Kelly, Haggerty, Clark.
But the thousands three the regiment raised.
As surely bore the hero-mark.
Fame’s darling child, the sixty-ninth shall shine
Never in duty’s hour to lag;
Forty-eight times in battle line.
Never, never to lose a flag.
Tramp! Tramp! you saw the Union split in twain
Tramp! Tramp! you saw the nation whole.
Your ed blood flowed in torrents not in vain:
It fed the great Republic’s soul.
Your drums still roll: your serried ranks still form:
From manhood’s service no release:
Ready at call to ride the battle-storm,
And, in God’s time, the Guard of Peace
Joseph I. C. Clarke
Happy belated anniversary Taz & Tazman! Hope it was a great one! *Hugs*
Happy St. Patty's Day, everyone!
And my Ham? Happy Saint Patricks to you Darling! :^)
Evening Star, Hugs.
Happy St. Pats to all ya’ll.
Don’t look now Sarge.....{{{{Fiona}}}}!
#88 was for you, too! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Cute pics Kathy. Hugs.
Top O the Evening to ya..
11 days off after this shift ends....
Evening eyedigress.
The funny part of that pic is nobody is eating the eggs!
Evenin...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
