 |
AND |  |
PRESENT
'You Have Got Your Chance at Last':
THE IRISH AT FIRST MANASSAS
The First Battle of Bull Run, or First Manassas, as Southerners named it, unleashed four years of war on a scale never before scene on the American continent. For most of the Irish, who, typically enough, volunteered in large numbers for both armies, it was to be a baptism of fire. We're offering a look at how Irish America marked their story on the battle's 140th anniversary. Let's set the stage.
 |
Library of Congress
The Philadelphia riots, from a period engraving. |
The more than a million and a half Irish residing in America by 1860 had withstood much.
In Philadelphia, "Know-Nothing" mobs, fueled by a growing fear and hatred of America's tide of Catholic immigrants, burned two Irish churches to the ground. Irish militias, an important status-symbol in cities and towns throughout the United States, were disbanded in Boston in the 1850s. And in major cities across the nation, most Irish immigrants found themselves restricted to ghettos and subsistence wages.
As well, a good number of them had to survive the Irish potato famine, "The Great Hunger," one of the worst calamities in the history of Europe, in order to get to America.
About the only one of the four major plagues they had avoided by and large was war. That would change -- dramatically -- on July 21, 1861.
On that morning, 68,000 soldiers -- 35,000 of the Federal government and about 33,000 ready to fight for the new Confederate States of America, met in battle by the banks of a sluggish stream in northern Virginia called Bull Run.
 |
Courtesy of Historical Art Prints
Soldiers from Co. K, 69th New York, a company of Zouaves led by Thomas Francis Meagher at First Manassas, portrayed in painstaking detail by artist Don Troiani. |
By dusk, nearly 5,000 Americans, from North and South, including hundreds of Irishmen, would be among the casualties. The battle was not the quick stroke that most had thought would decide the fate of the newly minted Confederacy. By the war's end four years later, close to 200,000 Irishmen would flock to the colors of both the Union and the Confederacy, a number rivaled only by the Germans. Tens of thousands of Irish would yield their lives.
The Wild Geese Today, in conjunction with Civil War Interactive, takes special pleasure in presenting 'You Have Got Your Chance at Last': THE IRISH AT FIRST MANASSAS.'
Over a period of seven days, we will be presenting the story of the Irish at the Battle of First Manassas, or first Battle of Bull Run, as Northerners came to call it. The culmination will be our on-the-scene coverage of Irish America at the Aug. 3-5 140th anniversary re-enactment of the battle, held on the 400-acre Locust Hill Farm, in Leesburg, Va.
The event is expected to draw 10,000 reenactors, along with many more spectators, to the northern Virginia countryside, 24 miles from the actual battlefield.
 |
Currier and Ives lithograph
A somewhat fanciful depiction of Michael Corcoran leading the 69th into battle at First Manassas. |
Among the participants will be re-enactors from Ireland and Britain, joining the ranks of Americans portraying the 69th New York State Militia regiment, commanded in 1861 by Sligo-born Michael Corcoran. More than 100 re-enactors will be marching behind a full-scale replica of the regiment's "Prince of Wales flag," recalling how Corcoran's regiment made Americans take notice that the Irish were willing to stand their ground and fight.
It was a claim not many regiments could make during that day, which ended with Confederate arms driving the at-times panic-stricken, demoralized Federal army back to Washington.
Helping inspire the Southrons, who seemed in the battle's first hours, destined to fold, was then-Brigadier General Thomas Jonathan Jackson, in command of a brigade of Virginians. Jackson, whose great-grandfather hailed from Coleraine, County Derry, held firm in the face of furious assaults against his lines. His coolness and unfaltering stand inspired onlookers' admiration and the nickname "Stonewall," and launched a legend in military history.
 SEVEN DAYS/SEVEN QUIZZES -- THE WILD GEESE TODAY/CIVIL WAR INTERACTIVE "FIRST MANASSAS" WEEKLONG TRIVIA QUIZ: The first-place winner of this best-of-seven tourney is Rory McIntyre, of Dublin, Ohio. Second-place goes to Tom Voeltz, of Grayson, Ky., and third-place to Fred Link, of Northborough, Mass. PRIZES INCLUDE a limited edition art print of the 79th New York State (Highlanders), seen to the right, by Don Troiani, courtesy of Historical Art Prints, and a full-color Currier & Ives lithograph of Michael Corcoran at First Manassas, courtesy of Tara Hall, Inc., at TheFighting69th.com. THE WILD GEESE FORUM: Irish History -- Non-Stop, Worldwide.
|
There were other Irish on the field, as well, such as rough and tumble longshoremen from New Orleans, fighting with Roberdeau Wheat's 1st Louisiana Special Battalion, aka "Wheat's Tigers." In Jackson's command was the 1st Virginia Infantry, whose Company C ("Montgomery Guards") was nearly Irish to a man, led by John Dooley. Irishmen in Alexandria, Va., formed the Emmett Guards and O'Connell Guards, which were incorporated into the 17th Virginia Infantry, also on the field.
Tyrone-born Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson failed to contain Confederate reinforcements that won the day at Bull Run. His father was an exiled hero of the 1798 Rising. Proving the Irish have sinners as well as saints, Dublin-born London Times correspondent William Howard Russell also became a scapegoat for the Union side, with his accurate account of the Federal Army's chaotic retreat from the battle. He became anathema in the North, whose citizens gave him the sobriquet "Bull Run" Russell.
The list of Irish at First Manassas -- as does the list of the Irish casualties -- goes on and on.
Edmund Clarence Stedman, a correspondent at the battle for the New York World, recorded for posterity "that rush" of the 69th to meet the enemy for its baptism of fire. Wrote Stedman, "As the line swept along, (company commander Thomas Francis) Meagher galloped towards the head, crying 'Come on boys! You have got your chance at last.'"
|
USAMHI
Capt. Thomas Francis Meagher in the Zouave uniform of Co. K. |
Corcoran, and particularly Meagher, ever the poet, were aware of historical antecedents. Their men were keeping faith with an earlier Irish exile, Patrick Sarsfield, who at Landen, another foreign battlefield, led his band of Irish exiles in support of a French victory over England and its allies. As he lay dying, Sarsfield said "Would it were for Ireland."
| Green, Blue and Gray -- Civil War Interactive and WGT have teamed to present a day-by-day look at Irish America at the recent 140th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of First Manassas (or First Battle of Bull Run, as the Northerners called it). Learn how more than 9,000 re-enactors brought to life the saga of the first major battle of American Civil War, as we explore the Irish role in this great epic from American, and Irish American, history.
|
Though they were fighting for their adopted countries at First Manassas, the Irish -- even as they were poised to kill each other -- were sending a pointed message to the British. See -- and fear -- what Irish Americans under arms might yet accomplish.
Meanwhile, though, sides had to be taken. In his book, "The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns," Tipperary-born journalist David Conyngham relates a probably apocryphal dialogue between Pat, an Irish-born veteran of the U.S. cavalry, and an officer at the war's outset:
0fficer.-Do you know that you will have to fire on green Irish colors, in the Southern ranks?
Pat.-And won't you have to fire on them colors pointing to the flag at Fort Bliss that yerself and five of us licked nineteen Injins under? Sure it isn't a greater shame for an Irishman to fire on Irish colors than for an American to fire on American colors. An' th' oath' be on my side, you know, lieutenant.
O.-D-n the man that relies on Paddies, I say.
P.-The same compliments to desarters, yer honor.
The Irish green shall again be seen
As our Irish fathers bore it, --
A burning wind from the South behind,
And the Yankee rout before it! --
-- From 'Song of the Irish Brigade'
by "Shamrock" of the Sumpter Rifles, 1861
|
Selected Bibliography:
- Bilby, Joseph G. The Irish Brigade in the Civil War, Combined Publishing, 1998
- Conyngham, Capt. D. P. The Irish Brigade, New York: 1866. Reprinted by Olde Soldier Books, Inc.
- O'Connor, Thomas The Boston Irish: A Political History, Back Bay Books, 1995
- O'Grady, Kelly J. Clear the Confederate Way!: The Irish in the Army of Northern Virginia, Savas Publishing Co., 1999
- Spann, Edward K. "Union Green: The Irish Community and the Civil War," The New York Irish, Ronald H. Bayor (Editor), Timothy J. Meagher (Editor), Johns Hopkins Univ Press, 1996
INTRODUCTION
FROM THE FIELD
Irish America at the 140TH Anniversary Re-Enactment -- COMING FRIDAY.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Call to Arms and Bull Run -- from The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns, by Capt. D.P. Conyngham
A Legend Is Born -- 'Stonewall' Jackson 'Speaks'
The 69th New York at 150 -- From Manassas to Makin
James McKay Rorty: From Donegal To Cemetery Ridge
Thomas Francis Meagher -- "Meagher of the Sword"
Michael Corcoran -- Colorful and Gallant
Resources: More on The Irish at First Manassas
INTERACT
SEVEN QUIZZES/SEVEN DAYS -- Win the WGT/CWI Manassas History "World Series." New questions posted daily.
The Wild Geese Forum -- featuring The Irish at Manassas and Daily Manassas Opinion Polls, e.g. -- What Goes Better With Green -- Blue or Gray? in The Wild Geese Forum.
SPONSORS OF 'THE IRISH AT FIRST MANASSAS':
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our sponsors:
Irish Regimental Militaria, specializing in original Uniforms, Medals and Insignia of Irish Regiments of the British Army and the Republic of Ireland, past and present.
Historical Art Prints Limited Edition Prints, featuring the artwork of Don Troiani.
The Civil War News, a monthly newspaper for people with an active interest in the Civil War today, on the web at www.CivilWarNews.com.
and Tara Hall, Inc., purveyors of fine merchandise highlighting the history of the Irish Brigade, The Fighting 69th, The Corcoran Legion and Irish-Americana, 1-800-205-0069, e-mail: tarahall@fighting69th.com, on the Web at www.Fighting69th.com.
More on The Wild Geese During the America's Civil War
The Wild Geese Today needs your help. For more information, click here.
|
E-mail us for more information
about The Wild Geese Today
|
