wicklow \u0026 the american civil war
TRANSCRIPT
Wicklow & the American Civil War
Damian ShielsRoundwood & District Historical & Folklore Society,
27 October 2015
www.irishamericancivilwar.com @irishacw
Ireland’s Forgotten Great War❖ 1.6 million Irish-born in the United States❖ 1 in 4 New Yorkers Irish-born❖ c. 200,000 Irish serve during the conflict❖ 18 Irishmen became Generals❖ 32 Irishmen became Brevet-Generals❖ At least 146 Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients❖ 1 in 5 Union sailors Irish-born❖ Irish-born death total likely c. 25,000– 35,000
❖ The largest War in history for many Irish counties
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The Union Irish
❖ c. 180,000 served in Union forces
❖ 2 brigades: The Irish Brigade & Corcoran’s Irish Legion
❖ Ethnic ‘green flag’ regiments from a large number of states
❖ The majority served in non-Irish units
❖ 20% of the Union navy were men of Irish birth
❖ 12 Union Generals were Irish born
❖ New York had by far the largest Irish contingent, followed by Pennsylvania, Illinois and Massachusetts
❖ Disillusionment with the war from late 1862 onwards
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The Confederate Irish
❖ c. 20,000 served in Confederate forces
❖ Only one full ‘green flag’ regiment, 10th Tennessee Infantry
❖ Many ‘green flag’ companies within regiments
❖ 6 Confederate Generals were Irish-born
❖ The highest ranking Irishman on either side was a Confederate
❖ Louisiana had the largest Irish contingent
❖ Irish more likely to accept defeat of the South than native born
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Captain Robert Halpin❖ Born in Wicklow Town on 16th
February 1836
❖ Famed for his cable-laying and command of the SS Great Eastern in the 1860s and 1870s
❖ Ran the Union blockade in 1863 and 1864 on behalf of the European Trading Company
❖ Witness to the Battle of Mobile Bay?
❖ Died on 20th January 1894 at Tinakilly
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Surgeon William Blackwood❖ Born in Hollywood on 12th May 1838
❖ Emigrated to the United States in 1850
❖ Qualified from University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1862
❖ Served in 149th PA and 48th PA during the War, helped with the tunnel at ‘Battle of the Crater’
❖ Awarded Medal of Honor for actions on 2nd April 1865
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Sergeant William Jones❖ Born in Wicklow around 1836
❖ Emigrated to New York where he lived in Brooklyn and worked as a Stevedore
❖ Enlisted in the 73rd New York Infantry, Excelsior Brigade, in 1861
❖ Received the Medal of Honor for actions at Spotsylvania Court House in 1864
❖ Citation: ‘Capture of the flag of the 65th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.)’
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In Search of Wicklow SoldiersNew York Irish World 31 December 1904
❖ Miles Balfe of the Union Army
New York Irish World 8 December 1895
❖ Mary Furlong last heard from at the breaking out of the Civil War
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William Ford, 2nd Colorado Cavalry
❖ Born in Wicklow around 1839
❖ Participant in the Colorado Gold Rush
❖ Served in Company A of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry based in Missouri
❖ Killed by ‘Bushwhackers’ in 1864
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Ireland’s Forgotten Resource
❖ US Army Veterans 1861-1917: c.2,000,000
❖ US Navy Veterans 1861-1910: c. 26,000
❖ US Army Dependents 1861-1910: c. 1,280,000
❖ US Navy Dependents 1861-1910: c. 20,000
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The Burden of Proof❖ Affidavits by prospective pensioner, friends, family,
acquaintance, employers, physicians
❖ Documents such as military discharges, marriage certificates, baptismal certificates
❖ Letter from soldiers
❖ Investigation files
❖ Expenses from funeral homes & undertakers
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The Gleesons of Wicklow Town❖ John & Sarah married in Wicklow
Town, October 1847
❖ John born Ireland? 1850, Sarah Ann born Buffalo 1855
❖ Enlisted in September 1862 in 100th NY
❖ Captured at Drewry’s Bluff, VA on 16th May 1864
❖ Died a POW in Andersonville, GA, 7th July 1864
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The Plucks of Wicklow Town❖ John David Pluck & Sarah Ost married
in Wicklow on 5th September 1854
❖ John emigrated to the United States alone and enlisted aged 30 in New York
❖ Died on 10th November 1864 of disease
❖ Mother-in-law gave affidavit saying he served in ‘Royal Irish Brigade’
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The Mangans of Castlekevin
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❖ Thomas Mangan and Sarah Connolly married in Castlekevin on 3rd February 1834
❖ Thomas Jr. born in Dublin in 1845
❖ Emigrated to the United States in 1865
❖ Enlisted in the U.S. Army aged 21 in 1866
❖ Served in Fort Sedgwick, Colorado Territory
The Keegans of Bray
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❖ Joseph Keegan and Mary Burns marred in Bray on 11th September 1848
❖ Family emigrated to Philadelphia, Joseph enlisted in the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry
❖ Captured on 9th May 1864 in Spotsylvania
❖ Sent to Andersonville POW Camp, Georgia
The Caffreys of Arklow
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❖ Patrick Caffrey and Alice Cullen married in Arklow R.C. Church on 13th January 1819
❖ Son Hugh baptised in Dundrum Chapel c. 1842
❖ Enlisted aged 19 in Albany on 23rd October 1861
❖ Part of the 17th New York in first wave of the attack against the ‘Deep Cut’, Second Bull Run
The O’Neills of Kilbride
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❖ John O’Neill and Mary Doyle married in Kilbride on 1st December 1855
❖ Three children, emigrated to relatives in Sparta, Crawford County, PA
❖ John enlisted in 49th New York on 20th January 1864 at age of 31
❖ KIA at Spotsylvania Court House, 10th May 1864
Aftermath & Memory❖ William Perry, born in Wicklow around
1839
❖ Served in 35th Massachusetts Infantry
❖ Suffered from a range of problems- mistral of heart valve, rheumatism, bronchitis
❖ 5 feet 6, blue eyes, grey hair, R.C.
❖ Admitted to National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Eastern Branch (Kennebec, Maine) 22nd April 1903 aged 64
❖ Died in home of heart failure and was buried there on 21st November 1904. Personal effects sold for $1.00
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