Graphics courtesy of Historical Art Prints
Please support our sponsor, Powells Books. A percentage of each book sold will go toward keeping THE WILD GEESE TODAY online and free.
'Undaunted Courage': The Irish at Fredericksburg
Did Meagher Lose His Nerve at Fredericksburg?
by Joseph E. Gannon
 |
Library of Congress
Thomas Francis Meagher. |
In “Clear the Confederate Way,” an otherwise valuable and interesting book
on the Irish in the Confederate Army, author Kelly O'Grady addresses what
he sees as the "myths" of the Irish in the Union Army. His chief target
seems to be Thomas Francis Meagher, whom he suggests, lost his nerve at
Fredericksburg.
It is important to understand that Meagher reported his knee was still
injured from Antietam, and thus he could not follow his brigade in the
final part of the assault. In underscoring Meagher’s absence during the
assault's end-stage, O’Grady infers that Meagher did not have a legitimate
reason to avoid making the final portion of the charge, that he was, in essence, a coward.
In some instances, O’Grady’s comments about Meagher’s actions that day are
puzzling, unless O'Grady truly knew nothing of what happened to Meagher's
Irish Brigade on December 13, 1862. On Page 125, he writes: "In fact,
Meagher did not even take part in the assault of the Union Irish Brigade on
Marye’s Heights." And later on the same page, he states, "The Irish General
did not expose himself to enemy fire at Fredericksburg."
In fact, the historical record indicates that Meagher did take part in the
assault that day and he did expose himself to enemy fire. As his command
emerged from town, the Confederate artillery targeted them, and did so with
devastating accuracy. That marked the beginning of the assault for the
brigade. Here, 18 men of the brigade's 88th New York were felled with one
round. Another round hit the 116th Pennsylvania, injuring a number of them,
and decapitating Sgt. John Marley.
 |
The Story of the 116th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry
Lt. Robert Montgomery, 116th PA, killed at Fredericksburg. |
More were killed and injured on the way to and across the canal the brigade
needed to cross to make the attack. Among the dead here were the 116th's
Lt. Robert Montgomery. If we accept O’Grady’s premise, then Montgomery, the
decapitated Marley and dozens of other dead and wounded men of the Irish
Brigade also "did not even take part in the assault" nor did any of them
"expose himself to enemy fire."
Meagher could easily have been killed or maimed at Fredericksburg, without
leading his command in the last part of the assault. In his report after
the battle, Capt. P.J. Condon, of the brigade's 63rd New York, reported
that as the brigade left town, "The fire on us here is galling and
destructive." Surely, Meagher could have, and a coward would have, begged
out at the canal, but he dismounted and had two men help him across.
On the other side of the canal, "under .... heavy fire," according to Condon
and other eyewitness accounts, Meagher, still in command, had his officers
form the brigade. Meagher then gave the command to advance and even moved
up the slope a way with them, observed Condon, who wrote: "Passed by
General Meagher here, waving his sword and closing us in." Shortly, the
Brigade went to the double-quick, up the muddy slope. Hobbled by a painful
knee, Meagher then turned back.
Author O’Grady’s insinuation that Meagher lost his nerve at Fredericksburg
is unfounded. -- J.E.Gannon
 The Irish Brigade did not have a monopoly on Irish in the ranks on December 13, 1862, there were many in the Confederate ranks as well. Read the stories of all the Irish in Robert E. Lee's army in "Clear the Confederate Way" by Kelly J. O'Grady
Get $5 off any purchase of $35 or more. Just enter the coupon code CHNKBKAMZNFT during checkout. (A portion of your purchase price will help support "The Wild Geese Today.")
|
|
Are you one of The Wild Geese? Show the world with a hat, shirt, or other item displaying one of these Wild Geese graphics.
|
Related Stories:
Selected Bibliography:
- Bilby, Joseph G. Remember Fontenoy!, Longstreet House, 1995.
- Boyle, Frank A. A Party of Mad Fellows, Morningside House, 1996
- Cavanagh, Michael. Memoirs of Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher, Olde Soldier Books.
- Conyngham, Capt. D. P. The Irish Brigade, New York: 1866. Reprinted by Olde Soldier Books, Inc. (You can read excerpts online).
- Kohl, Lawrence Frederick, Editor. Irish Green and Union Blue,
Fordham University Press,1986.
- O'Grady, Kelly J.: Clear the Confederate Way: The Irish in the Army of
Northern Virginia Savas Publishing Company - 2000
More on The Wild Geese During the America's Civil War
E-mail us for more information
about The Wild Geese Today
|
