At Fredericksburg southern forces would greatly diminish the ranks
of the Irish Brigade. Of the over sixteen hundred troops that advanced
on the heights on December 13th, only 256 men would be able to take to
the field on the following day—but their daring and valor would not go
unnoticed by their foes. In a letter to his fiancée, Gen. George Pickett
said this about the actions of his celebrated adversary, "Your
soldier's heart almost stood still as he watched those sons of Erin
fearlessly rush to their death. The brilliant assault on Marye's Heights
of their Irish Brigade was beyond description. Why, my darling, we
forgot they were fighting us and cheer after cheer at their fearlessness
went up all along our lines." And by more than one historic account of
the battle, Robert E. Lee awarded the moniker of “The Fighting 69th” to
the brigade as a result of their resolve and tenacity during the
engagement.
In reality though, the brigade at this point in the war consisted of
more than just the men of New York’s much lauded 69th, which had already
established a reputation as an effective fighting force in part because
of their cohesive rear guard action during the Union Army’s mostly
mudded and disorderly retreat after the drubbing at The First Battle of
Bull Run. The unit now included these other volunteer infantry
regiments: the 63rd and 88th, also from New York, the 28th Massachusetts
and the 116th Pennsylvania. And under the battle cry of “faugh a
ballagh”, meaning “clear the way”, the Irish Brigade would distinguish
itself on the battlefield until war’s end.
A rather romanticized read of history in some circles might bring one to
conclude that without the presence of the Irish in the Army of the
Potomac the outcome of the war may have been very different. The fact of
the matter is that on both sides of the conflict Irish immigrants only
accounted for an estimated three percent of able bodied combatants. So
why the storied recognition of their service above other groups that had
sacrificed and gave as much for the Union’s cause?
For one, the idea of an active unit built around any particular
ethnicity was somewhat in conflict with the Federal Government’s point
of view. But since so many of the Irish were sympathetic to the notion
of southern secession, likening it to their own efforts to gain
Ireland’s independence from Great Britain—it was thought that allowing
them to form their own regiments, along with the promise of enlistment
bonuses, extra rations and Catholic chaplains would keep the North’s
largest immigrant population in the Union’s fold. Mr. Lincoln understood
that it was far better to have those that had suffered through famine,
poverty, prejudice and the policies of an overbearing government
fighting for you—rather than against you. Furthermore, the presence of
battle hardened regiments filled with this plucky lot still harboring a
bit of a grudge against the Brits might also deter England from
intervening on behalf of the Confederacy.
Through four years of bloodshed and brutality the rebel yell was
countered with an exuberant “faugh a ballagh”—as the Irish Brigade
cleared the way at the “Bloody Lane” at Antietam, the “Sunken Road” at
Fredericksburg, and the “Wheatfield” at Gettysburg. So it is only
fitting that we remember and pay tribute to those Irish that fought and
fell during America’s Civil War. And while visiting Harpers Ferry, West
Virginia, I strongly suggest a stop at that very pleasurable historic
taproom and eatery named in honor of that first fallen son of Erin.
There at Private Quinn’s Pub, one can properly raise a glass of an
excellent local craft beer to the fighting Irish, and all those that
stood their ground—so that others could stand their round!
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