When President Lincoln issued his 1861 call to arms, the 63rd, 69th and 88th New York Volunteers were among the first to step forward. Comprised primarily of first and second generation Irish immigrants, these three regiments were later joined by the 28th Massachusetts and the 116th Pennsylvania. Suffering heavy casualties, this Irish Brigade, commanded by Thomas Francis Meagher, was one of the most famous fighting groups of the Civil War. This work provides a balanced, historically factual picture of the Irish Brigade and its commander, focusing on their role in the Seven Days’ battles and at Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Primary sources range from veterans’ memoirs published just after the war to letters and memoirs published as recently as 1996.

Daniel M. Callaghan has written on politics and education policy. He lives in London.

Daniel M. Callaghan
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 213
Bibliographic Info: 24 photos, maps, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011 [2006]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6606-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0325-4
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1

1. Saved by Sumter      7
2. “You Are All Green Alike”      18
3. The Fighting 69th      27
4. Standing by the Union      35
5. Commissioning a Brigade      43
6. Frolics and Frustrations      54
7. Fort Monroe to Fair Oaks      61
8. “Column of Generous Friends”      73
9. To Malvern Hill      79
10. Rebels Resurgent      88
11. “The Longest Saddest Day”      97
12. To Fredericksburg      107
13. Visions of Hell      117
14. “Our Noble Little Brigade Has Almost Disappeared”      131
15. A Sideshow of the Big Show      147
16. Gettysburg—The “Terifick Battle”      153
17. Fire in the Rear      163
18. “What There Is Left of It”      171

Notes      181
Bibliography      197
Index      201

“well-written…solid…recommended”—Choice.