The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero

In the early hours of July 21, 1861, the Union army, including the 69th New York State Militia, marched towards the battlefield at Bull Run in the dark, listening to the sounds of war ahead. At dawn, cannons opened fire. The Union army, attempting a flanking maneuver, crossed Bull Run to attack the Confederates from behind. When the 69th, under Colonel Sherman, finally advanced, they witnessed the horrors of war up close. Colonel James Haggerty, a leader of the Irish volunteers, was killed early in the battle. The Confederates regrouped around the Henry farmhouse, defended by General "Stonewall" Jackson. The battle stalled at midday, allowing the Confederates to strengthen their positions. The Union forces repeatedly attacked but were repelled each time.

The Irish soldiers made several charges, suffering heavy casualties. Meagher led them in a final attempt to take the hill, but they were overwhelmed by fresh Confederate reinforcements. The Union army retreated in chaos, many soldiers abandoning their weapons and fleeing. Meagher tried to rally his men, but he was knocked unconscious when his horse was killed by cannon fire. He was rescued by a fellow soldier, Private Joseph P. McCoy.

The Union forces suffered significant casualties: 625 killed, 950 wounded, and 1,200 captured. The Confederates had 400 killed and about 1,600 wounded. The 69th Militia lost 38 men, with many more wounded or missing. Colonel Corcoran was captured. Meagher was mistakenly reported dead in some newspapers, but was praised for his bravery by others.

After the battle, Lincoln called for a larger, professional army. Meagher planned to return to New York, but Colonel Sherman insisted he remain, threatening to shoot him if he left without orders. President Lincoln visited the Irish soldiers, offering encouragement and acknowledging their contributions. Meagher expressed his grievances to Lincoln, who made a lighthearted comment to diffuse the tension. The 69th was mustered out of service shortly after, but Lincoln remembered Meagher's efforts and his role in the battle.

Meagher couldn't shake the horrific memories of Bull Run, particularly the deaths of his friends Haggerty and Corcoran. Back in New York, he shared these gruesome experiences with his wife Elizabeth, or Libby, lamenting the reality of war. Corcoran, it turned out, was not dead—he’d been captured by the Confederates and held as a high-value prisoner. He refused their offer of release in exchange for renouncing combat.

With Corcoran's capture, Meagher was pressured to lead the Irish troops. Although he lacked formal military training, his sense of duty drove him to Washington to assist the wounded. The War Department offered him a captaincy, and General Frémont proposed making him an aide-de-camp. However, Meagher declined both, choosing to stay with the New York Irish.

Inspired by historical Gaelic units and driven by a desire to prove their worth, Meagher proposed an all-Irish brigade. This unit would have its own distinct identity, including flags, music, and religious support. He recruited for this brigade at a massive rally at Jones’s Wood in New York on August 29, 1861. Addressing a crowd of 60,000, he framed the Civil War as a just and sacred cause, drawing parallels between the Irish struggle and the Union’s fight.

Meagher's speeches resonated, particularly when he linked the Confederacy to the hated English aristocracy. His rhetoric, combined with ongoing events like the Trent Affair, which heightened tensions between the US and Britain, helped galvanize support. In cities like Boston and Philadelphia, his oratory drew large crowds and commitments to the brigade.

Libby actively supported Meagher's cause, often appearing by his side at public events and in private recruitment efforts. Their partnership strengthened the morale of the Irish recruits. By the end of 1861, Meagher had assembled nearly 3,000 men. In December 1861, the brigade trained at Camp California, near Arlington, Virginia. Their equipment was outdated, and living conditions were harsh, but Meagher's leadership and charisma kept their spirits high. General McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac, saw potential in the Irish Brigade, despite initial skepticism from other military leaders.

Meagher's official appointment as brigadier general came in February 1862. This promotion was a morale booster for the Irish troops, who celebrated their leader's ascension with great enthusiasm. Despite criticisms labeling him a political general, Meagher's dedication to his men and the Union cause was unwavering. Meagher aimed to prove that the Irish in America could be a formidable and loyal force, driven by the hope of one day liberating Ireland. However, the stress and the weight of command led him to drink heavily. Father William Corby, a chaplain for the brigade, noted Meagher's charisma and intellectual prowess, but also his alcohol use disorder.

By late May 1862, the Irish Brigade approached Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, which was preparing for a siege. The Confederacy, under martial law, had enacted the first military draft but was dealing with shortages, flooding, and panic. Despite previous Union defeats like Bull Run, General Ulysses S. Grant had captured key forts, and Federal ships took New Orleans, giving the Union control of much of the Mississippi.

In Virginia, General McClellan's Union forces, numbering 105,000, camped near Richmond, but delayed their advance. General Meagher kept his brigade occupied with drills, poetry recitations, and sports events like steeplechases and Gaelic football matches. The Irish Brigade was close enough to Richmond to hear cannons and church bells but waited on McClellan’s orders.

In June, after weeks of inactivity, the Confederates attacked the Union forces at the Battle of Fair Oaks. Meagher’s brigade crossed the flooded Chickahominy River under difficult conditions to reinforce the Union troops. The Irish Brigade, with their distinctive battle cry, pushed the Confederates back. The Union forces won the battle, with heavy casualties on both sides.

Despite the Union's proximity to Richmond, McClellan hesitated to press the advantage. The Irish Brigade suffered significant losses, but proved their combat effectiveness. McClellan, though pleased with their performance, feared Confederate reinforcements. Throughout June, the Union army waited, and the Irish Brigade was joined by the 29th Massachusetts Regiment. The soldiers faced disease, malnutrition, unsanitary conditions, and continuous skirmishes. Harsh conditions led to high casualties even without active combat.

On June 25, Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched an offensive to drive Union forces from the Virginia Peninsula. The Irish Brigade played a notable role in reinforcing the Union lines at Gaines’s Mill, where they helped stabilize the front without firing a shot. Lee's forces inflicted heavy casualties, but the Union army remained intact.

McClellan ordered a retreat to the James River, which demoralized the Union soldiers. The Irish Brigade protected the rear, engaging in continuous skirmishes and suffering exhaustion, hunger, and illness. One important nighttime skirmish was against the Louisiana Tiger Rifles, an Irish unit fighting for the Confederacy.

At Malvern Hill, the final battle of the Seven Days Battles, the Union forces, including the Irish Brigade, held the high ground and repelled repeated Confederate assaults. Despite the Union's tactical victory, McClellan's hesitation allowed the Confederates to regroup and maintain control of Richmond.

Meagher's brigade, significantly reduced in numbers, struggled with the loss of many men. McClellan, recognizing the Irish Brigade's bravery, allowed Meagher a brief leave to recruit more soldiers. Meagher returned to New York with his ailing aide, Temple Emmet, to rally more Irishmen to the Union cause, determined to continue the fight despite the heavy toll it had taken.

Back in New York, Meagher reunited with his wife, sharing the traumatic experiences of war. The city, meanwhile, had growing support for the Copperheads—Democrats who advocated for peace with the Confederacy. The Irish community was divided, with many questioning why they were fighting and dying in a war that seemed distant from their interests.

On July 25, 1862, Meagher addressed a crowd at the New York 7th Regiment Armory to rally support for the war and recruit more soldiers. The Irish Brigade had gained a reputation for bravery and eccentricity, praised by both Union and Confederate generals. Despite this, Meagher faced hecklers and had to defend the cause, emphasizing the importance of their sacrifices. He highlighted the valor of Captain Donovan, who, despite severe injuries, vowed to continue fighting. Meagher called for more recruits, but his success was limited, with only 250 new men joining. He wrote a letter to President Lincoln, expressing the difficulty of filling the brigade's ranks.

In mid-September, the Irish Brigade marched towards Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland, under harsh conditions. The Battle of Antietam commenced on September 17, 1862. It became the bloodiest single day in US history. The brigade faced severe losses, with many soldiers, including Meagher’s close friends like Captain John Kavanagh, killed in action.

Despite many casualties, the Irish Brigade fought valiantly. Meagher was thrown from his horse and injured. The Union forces managed to hold their ground, but McClellan's hesitance prevented a decisive victory. The aftermath saw the Irish Brigade decimated, with Meagher reflecting on the heavy toll and the purpose of their sacrifices. On September 22, President Lincoln announced the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved people in rebellious states would be free as of January 1, 1863. This shifted the war's purpose, making it clear that the Irish Brigade, and all Union soldiers, were fighting not only to preserve the nation but also to end slavery.

In late November 1862, the Irish Brigade was suffering from harsh conditions and low morale. They scavenged for food and dealt with the cold, while Meagher drank for relief. Private William McCarter, a soldier with a stammer but exceptional writing skills, had developed a friendship with Meagher, who appreciated his literary talents. Meagher's wife Libby visited briefly, bringing comfort and support. Despite her presence, Meagher's spirits remained low, exacerbated by his worsening knee injury. A Pennsylvania unit, including McCarter, joined the brigade, adding fresh faces to the depleted ranks.

McClellan, still admired by the Irish Brigade, was replaced by General Ambrose Burnside, much to the dismay of soldiers who feared an uncertain future. As desertions increased, the army imposed harsh discipline for those caught fleeing.

In December, Burnside planned an attack on Fredericksburg, Virginia, despite the Confederates' strong defensive position. The Irish Brigade crossed the Rappahannock River and prepared for battle, with Meagher insisting they wear sprigs of green to distinguish themselves. The battle was disastrous for the Union. The Irish Brigade charged Marye’s Heights, suffering immense casualties as they faced relentless Confederate fire.

Meagher, struggling with his injuries and emotions, watched as half his brigade was cut down. He was inconsolable, weeping for the loss of his men. Union forces retreated, with nearly 13,000 casualties compared to the Confederates' 5,000. Following the battle, Meagher organized a "Death Feast" to honor the fallen. During the banquet, he acknowledged the bravery of his men.