Damian Shiels's Blog, page 48

Looking into the Face of a Dying Irish Soldier

Around late April or early May of 1865 a photographer in Harewood Hospital, Washington D.C. exposed a photograph of a wounded Union soldier. The man, who still wore the beard he favoured on campaign, had been shot through the left shoulder during the fighting around Petersburg. His name was John Ruddy, an Irish farmer and sometime laborer who had been in the army for less than a month when he was hit. The images of Ruddy are testament to the realities of combat in the American Civil War. The effect of wounds such as these could also be long-lasting; the damage caused by the Minié ball that shattered Ruddy’s arm in 1865 would eventually kill him- three years later. (1)

Photograph of John Ruddy taken at Harewood Hospital following his wounding at the South Side Railroad on 2nd April 1865 (National Museum of Health and Medicine)

John Ruddy lived in Albany’s First Ward, making his home at 20 Clinton Street. He lived there with his wife Ann; she had also been born in Ireland and was already once widowed, having been married to Hugh Quinn with whom she had two sons. John and Ann married at St. John’s Catholic Church, Albany on the 6th October 1857. A daughter, Alice, followed on 5th November 1859. The 1860 Census records the family under the name ‘Rhody’. John, at that time working as a laborer, is listed with Ann, her two boys Bernard (10) and Thomas (8), and Alice (2). (2)

Photograph of John Ruddy taken following his operation at Harewood Hospital in 1865 (National Museum of Health and Medicine)

John enlisted in the Union army on 7th March 1865, perhaps motivated by economic factors and the large bounty then available for signing up. In his early thirties, he was a man of above average height, described as being a 6 foot tall former farmer with a light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He became a Private in Company A of the 63rd New York Infantry, Irish Brigade, and joined the regiment for the latter stages of the Petersburg Campaign. He was with the 63rd when it was ordered forward as part of the general Union assault of 2nd April 1865. The attack, which ultimately led to the capture of Petersburg and fall of Richmond, required the 63rd New York to advance against the South Side Railroad and capture it. Captain William Terwilliger, who commanded the regiment that day, describing their movements:

At 1 a.m. April 2 moved to left some three miles to join Sheridan’s cavalry. At 7 a.m. resumed the march, moving to the right to White Oak road, where we formed line of battle and moved upon the enemy’s works, finding them evacuated; continuing the march by the flank two miles and a half, reformed line of battle, and participated with the brigade in three charges upon the enemy’s defenses of the South Side Railroad. The losses in this engagement were, 1 commissioned officer killed, 1 commissioned officer and 6 enlisted men wounded, and 2 enlisted men missing in action. (3)

Surgeons and Hospital Stewards at Harewood Hospital, Washington D.C. (Library of Congress)

One of the six enlisted men wounded was John Ruddy. During one of the charges a rebel bullet had struck him in the left shoulder, completely shattering the head of his humerus before passing through his body an exiting his back through the scapula. He was quickly taken to Harewood Hospital in Washington D.C. where an operation removed a portion of his humerus but saved his arm, an achievement that was recorded photographically. He remained at Harewood until he was discharged from the service on 30th July, 1865. (4)

A General view of Harewood Hospital in Washington D.C. where John Ruddy was treated (Library of Congress)

John returned home to Albany, having seemingly come through his brush with death. Although he kept his arm, it was completely useless and he was forced to rely on a modest pension. Given the extent of his disability he decided to seek an increase; he was even able to produce one of the photographs of his wound taken in Harewood, an image that remains part of his pension file to this day. (5)

The image of John Ruddy that he provided when seeking an increase in his pension (Fold3)

Little did John realise that the bullet that struck him in the closing days of the war would ultimately prove fatal. It transpired that the ball had also passed through the upper part of his left lung on its passage through his body. As the months passed he began a long deterioration in health, which his doctor described as the ‘wasting away of his system’. On the 3rd June 1868 John Ruddy died, widowing his wife Ann for the second time and leaving behind an eight-year-old daughter. The photos of him taken in 1865, with what would prove to be his mortal wound, offer a rare opportunity to look into the face of one of the thousands of Irish emigrants who died in the American Civil War. (6)

John Ruddy, like many other Irish emigrants, was illiterate. Here is his mark on one of his pension applications (Fold3)

* Special thanks to Brendan Hamilton for his assistance in tracking down the source for the John Ruddy images.

(1) Widow’s Pension File; (2) Ibid., 1860 Federal Census; (3) Widow’s Pension File, Official Records: 728; (4) Widow’s Pension File; (5) Ibid.; (6) Ibid.;

References

1860 Us Federal Census

John Ruddy Civil War Widow’s Pension File WC117333

New York Adjutant-General 1901. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the Year 1901.

Official Records of the War of Rebellion Series 1, Volume 46 (Part 1). Report of Capt. William H. Terwilliger, Sixty-third New York Infantry. 

National Museum of Health and Medicine Flickr Page

www.fold3.com

Filed under: 63rd New York, Battle of Petersburg, Irish Brigade, New York Tagged: 63rd New York Infantry, Albany Irish, CIvil War Medical Photographs, Harewood Hospital, Irish American Civil War, Petersburg Campaign, South Side Railroad

Mapping Death in the American Civil War

I have been experimenting recently with different ways of visualizing the impact of the American Civil War. I am interested in how we can combine data recorded in the 19th century with some of the new digital tools available, in an effort to find new ways of engaging with this history and potentially reveal further insights into the war’s consequences and cost. Taking the 63rd New York Infantry of the Irish Brigade as a Case Study, I have been examining ways to visualize a regiment’s experience of the conflict.

Using the roster information of the 63rd from the New York Adjutant General’s report, I first exported the information on each man into a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. It is my intention in the long-term to use more sophisticated database tools, but in these early stages I was keen to find an easy to use program that converted the roster into interrogatable data. The rosters record 1,528 men as having served in the 63rd, with details that include information on aspects such as age at enlistment, date of enlistment as well as aspects such as desertion, wounding, death and discharge.

How then to map this information? For example, is it possible to visualize where the men of the 63rd New York encountered risk of injury and death? The rosters of the 63rd record instances of woundings or death in the regiment a total of 578 times. On 546 occasions this information is accompanied by location information. I decided to marry this data with latitude and longitude coordinates and place it in Google Fusion Tables. Unfortunately WordPress does not currently support embedding Fusion Table maps, so instead I have included some screenshots and supplied links to the full maps on the Google Fusion site.

The first map shows the different locations on the United States east coast where men of the 63rd New York were wounded or died. Some of these locations are battlefields, some the sites of hospitals, while others are Prisoner of War camps. To see the full version click here.

Screenshot of Google Fusion Table for 63rd New York, showing locations where members of the regiment died and were wounded between 1861 and 1865

A detailed view of the area of Virginia, Maryland and around Washington D.C. highlights costly battlefields for the 63rd, such as Antietam, Fredericksburg and The Wilderness, as well as the fighting further south associated with engagements of the Seven Days and at Cold Harbor and Petersburg. Important rear echelon areas such as Alexandria, Washington and Baltimore are also revealed.

Screenshot of Google Fusion Table for 63rd New York, detail of locations in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. where members of the regiment died or were wounded

Although this mapping technique shows the different locations where men were wounded or died, it does not reveal the intensity of their experience at different locations. Using Google Fusion’s Heat Map function, areas where higher numbers of men died or were wounded are scaled by size and light intensity. The Heat Map scale moves from green to red, with the latter colour representing sites with the highest numbers of casualties. Looking at a satellite view of the eastern seaboard the parts of Virginia traversed by the Army of the Potomac during the war are immediately apparent; the green spots in North Carolina and Georgia showing deaths at Salisbury and Andersonville. To see the full version click here.

Screenshot of Google Fusion Table Heat Map, showing locations where members of the 63rd New York died or were wounded between 1861 and 1865, highlighting the intensity of losses in different locations

The regiment’s ordeal at Antietam on 17th September 1862 was far and away their worst experience of the war, when it sustained 202 casualties (183 of whom are recorded in the roster). Many men who were wounded here later died at Frederick, Maryland. A closer view of the Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and southern Pennsylvania area clearly illustrates just how intense the 63rd’s losses were at Antietam, which is an intense red. Gettysburg is faintly visible across the state line in Pennsylvania, as are the battlefields which proved costliest for the regiment- Fredericksburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and around Petersburg. The many who survived long enough to be removed from the field but who subsequently died are represented by the concentrations in cities such as Frederick, Washington D.C. and Alexandria.

Screenshot of Google Fusion Table Heat Map, showing detail of Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and southern Pennsylvania, and highlighting the major battles (notably Antietam) where the 63rd New York suffered significant casualties

I have also mapped the locations where men from the 63rd New York were discharged as a result of wounds and disability, which you can view here. Many other types of data can be mapped in a similar fashion. There are numerous refinements to be carried out in my visualization efforts, but they do offer interesting potential for examining different aspects of the Irish experience of the conflict. Visualizations of data relating to the war and it’s consequences are being used to an ever greater degree; the University of Richmond’s excellent Visualizing Emancipation site is one fine example. When used correctly they can be powerful educational tools- hopefully in the future I will be able to bring you many more that are tailored to the Irish experience.

References

New York Adjutant-General 1901. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the Year 1901.

Filed under: 63rd New York, Irish Brigade, Research Tagged: 63rd New York Infantry, Adjutant General Reports, American Civil War Casualties, Data Visualization, Digital Humanities, Google Fusion Tables, Irish American Civil War, Mapping the Civil War

How ‘Irish’ was Phil Sheridan?

I have had the good fortune to speak about the Irish in the American Civil War in many different parts of Ireland. When it comes to question-time, there is one topic that is almost always guaranteed to come up- General Phil Sheridan. This is unsurprising given his leading role as one of the key players in the conflict. Questions usually revolve around where Little Phil was born, but are there more interesting aspects of Sheridan’s ‘Irishness’ to explore?

Lieutenant-General Phil Sheridan (Library of Congress)

There has been much debate about Sheridan’s birthplace, with historians divided over the issue. Sheridan himself claimed to have been born in Albany, while others have placed his birthplace at the family residence of Killenkere, Co. Cavan, or aboard the boat that took the Sheridan family to the United States. It seems unlikely that this question will ever be definitively answered. However, I think a focus on the nativity of Sheridan masks a more interesting question- how ‘Irish’ did he consider himself to be?

Regardless of Phil Sheridan’s birthplace, he was undoubtedly of Irish stock. But how much did he associate with the country of his family’s emigration, and what were his thoughts about Ireland and Irish-America? The majority of biographies I have read on Sheridan fail to address this question or to examine his place in Irish-America. Undoubtedly the loss of some of Sheridan’s personal papers in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire has hindered opportunities to examine this aspect of Sheridan’s life, but it does appear that Phil Sheridan regarded himself (and wanted to be regarded) as unambiguously American. This was in an era when many Irish-Americans had no difficulty in expressing a dual allegiance both to the cause of the United States and Ireland, even when they had been born in America. Examples of this include New York born James A. Mulligan, who led ‘Mulligan’s Irish Brigade’, and Peter Welsh of the 28th Massachusetts, who although born on Prince Edward Island imbued his letters with such a sense of ‘Irishness’ that he is sometimes erroneously referred to as Irish-born.

Phil Sheridan appears to have had little interest in portraying himself as an Irish-American. There may have been many reasons for this, such as an attempt to avoid nativist prejudice, or the lack of a political need to identify closely with the Irish community (as he was a career soldier rather than a politician). In his Personal Memoirs, published in 1888, he deals with his Irish ancestry in a single paragraph and elects not to make significant further reference to his ‘Irishness’. This is despite the fact that it must have been a feature of his childhood- for example he was taught by ‘an old time Irish master’ in his village school in Ohio. In later life, Sheridan visited Europe in 1870-1, where he observed the Franco-Prussian war before taking an opportunity to visit England, Scotland and, for the first time, Ireland. His description of his time in the land of his ancestry is dealt with in his memoirs with a single sentence: ‘My journeys through these countries [England, Ireland and Scotland] were full of pleasure and instruction, but as nothing I saw or did was markedly different from what has been so often described by others, I will save the reader this part of my experience.’ (1)

When Sheridan was in Ireland in 1871 he carried out an interview with a Dublin based correspondent of the New York Herald. Sheridan, who was staying in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel, was asked about Ireland:

Correspondent: This, I presume, is your first visit to Ireland?

General: My first visit.

And before I could ask another question the General, turning to the window, which looked out on Stephen’s Green,- reputed to be the largest square in the word- said, “What a beautiful country.” And I must say, that in my heart I fully endorsed his words. The Green, at this season, looks peculiarly beautiful. It is encircled with a row of hawthorns, and interspersed with chestnuts, and as both at this time are putting on their coat of green, and bursting into red and white blossoms, its appearance was most striking and beautiful.

Correspondent: Ireland, General, I believe, is the land of your forefathers?

General: It is; but my family emigrated so long ago that I am unable to say whether it belonged to the north or south. It strikes me it came from Westmeath.

Correspondent: That is almost in the centre, General, and, although there is great poverty in that district, a magnificent county it is.

…Correspondent: Have you seen much of Ireland?

General: Well, yes, a good deal. I have been to Punchestown, and got a good wetting. Both days were fearfully wet. This is a damp climate, I think, and I see that it is raining to-day also. Then, I’ve been to the north of Ireland for a short time, which appears to me the most nourishing part of the country.

Correspondent: Belfast is a fine city.

General: A flourishing city; there’s wealth there, and I was greatly pleased with it. It reminded me of an American city. The people are very active, steady and industrious, and I’m sure they’ll make great progress. On the whole, I formed a very favorable impression of Ireland and the Irish people. (2)

The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, c.1900. Sheridan stayed in one of the rooms facing Stephen’s Green during his visit. Ulysses S. Grant also stayed here on his trip to Ireland (Library of Congress)

It seems almost unbelievable that Sheridan would have been unaware when he gave this interview that his parents were from Cavan rather than Westmeath. If the correspondent reported the dialogue correctly, it suggests that Sheridan at this stage of his life was either ignorant of the particulars of his family heritage, or wanted to downplay any significance that heritage had for him to an American audience. While in the Shelbourne, Sheridan was also approached by a delegation of Irish nationalists who wished to meet with him. He refused, on the basis that he felt that he was on semi-official business for the United States and such a meeting could be misconstrued. The refusal was met among the Fenian movement in America with anger and they sought a meeting with Sheridan upon his return to the United States. The General reassured them that no slight had been intended and that he was sympathetic to the Fenian cause. Although willing to voice his general support, Sheridan clearly had no intention of becoming closely identified with the nationalist movement. (3)

Phil Sheridan is a fascinating individual and his interaction with his Irish heritage is a subject worthy of attention. He steered clear of overt declarations or actions that could have been construed as associating him too strongly with the Irish-American community; this is in stark contrast to the actions of many other leading figures of Irish ancestry in the United States. His priority was to first and foremost be seen as an American. What are your thoughts on Sheridan and his ‘Irishness’? I would be keen to hear from readers- are you aware of any sources that shed further light on Sheridan or his family’s interactions with the Irish-American community?

(1) Sheridan 1888, Vol.1: 1, Sheridan 1888, Vo. 2: 452-3; (2) New York Herald 12th May 1871; (3) Ibid.; New York Irish-American 20th May 1871;

References

Sheridan, Philip, 1888. Personal Memoirs of P.H. Sheridan. General United States Army. Volume 1

Sheridan, Philip, 1888. Personal Memoirs of P.H. Sheridan. General United States Army. Volume 2

New York Herald 12th May 1871. Gen. Sheridan’s Visit to Ireland

New York Irish-American 20th May 1871. “Phil Sheridan” in Ireland

Filed under: Cavan, Discussion and Debate Tagged: Cavan American Civil War, Civil War Cavalry, Irish America, Irish American Civil War, Little Phil, New York Herald, New York Irish-American, Phil Sheridan

Bowld Soldier Boys: The Return of Irish Brigade Veterans to New York, January 1864

150 years ago, as 1864 dawned, the veteran volunteers of the Irish Brigade came home to New York. These men had come through some of the toughest battles of the war but had taken the decision to carry on the fight. Some were motivated by a desire to see the conflict out, while others were taking the opportunity of a financial bounty and thirty days leave- a chance to visit their loved ones and friends. For some it would be their last January. 

Officers of the 63rd New York Infantry with their Colors. This image was likely taken in late 1863 or early 1864 (Library of Congress)

The Irish American reported on the return of the veterans. The first to arrive were the men of the 63rd New York, who came back to the city on 2nd January:

On Saturday, of last week, the remnant of the 63rd Regiment, N.Y. Vols., Irish Brigade, reached this city under command of Col. R.C. Bentley, whose officers are Captains Touhey, Boyle and Brady, Adjutant McDonald, Surgeon Reynolds, and Lieutenants Lee and Chambers. Of the returned, one hundred men are reported as having re-volunteered for the next three years or the war; and besides these, as a nucleus for re-entering on active service, a Company, of over fifty men, has been left in the field on duty with the Army of the Potomac, under command of Captain Boyle.

On Monday the remnant of the 69th reached home, numbering some 75 men, under command of the gallant little Captain Moroney and his excellent assistants, Adjutant J.J. Smith, Lieuts., O’Neill, Mulhall, Brennan, Marser, Quarter Master Sullivan and Surgeon Purcell and were welcomed by Col. Nugent and Capt. McGee.

The 88th regiment (Mrs. General Meagher’s own regiment), may, it is said, be hourly expected, under command of Captain Ryder, of Co. B.

The regiments having re-volunteered for the war were sent home to recruit and reorganize, which their officers expect speedily to accomplish. Colonel Bentley has informed us that, from the success of preliminary steps taken by him throughout the State, he hopes to be very soon again filled up; and from the general popularity of the officers of the entire command, it is hoped an equal success will reward the recruiting officers throughout. (1)

David Power Conyngham related that on their arrival in the city ‘the sparse and grimy columns were escorted by a company or two of the Sixty-ninth militia, and the immediate relatives of the members.’ On Saturday 16th January at Irving Hall, past and present officers of the Brigade held a banquet for the veteran volunteers and disabled soldiers of the regiments. The men first assembled at the City Hall around noon, before marching up Broadway behind a military band and eventually into the banqueting room. Those veterans who had lost limbs and were unable to walk waited for the others in Irving Hall. Around 200 privates were seated at five tables extending down the length of the hall, while the NCOs occupied the top table under the stage, where a band entertained the diners. The flags of the Brigade, both old and new, adorned the walls and a military trophy with the name ‘Gettysburgh’ inscribed on it was placed in the centre of the Ladies’ Gallery. Many of the women in attendance wore ‘mourning weeds’, signifying their attachment to one the Brigade’s dead. Mr. Harrison, the proprietor of Irving Hall, served the dinner which was washed down with ale, cider and whiskey-punch. (2)

Irving Hall where the Irish Brigade Veterans held their Banquet in January 1864 (New York Public Library Record ID: 1788347)

When the meal had progressed sufficiently Sergeant-Major O’Driscoll, who was presiding over the banquet, called in the officers of the Brigade led by it’s former commander, Thomas Francis Meagher. Meagher addressed the men, and his speech was followed by a series of toasts and comments from other officers. Colonel Patrick Kelly of the 88th proposed remembrance of:

‘Our Dead Comrades- Officers and soldiers of the Irish Brigade- Their memory shall remain for life as green in our souls as the emerald flag, under which, doing battle for the United States, they fought and fell.’

This was followed by the playing of a dirge, after which Colonel Nugent of the 69th came forward, promising:

‘No negotiations, no compromises, no truce, no peace, but war to the last dollar and the last man, until every rebel flag be struck between the St. Lawrence and the Gulf, and swept everywhere, the world over, from land and sea.’

More toasts followed, including special mention for the Excelsior Brigade, before Barney Williams sang ‘The Bowld Soldier Boy.’ The Fenian leader John O’Mahony then spoke to the assembled audience, and everyone stood while a dirge was played in memory of the recently deceased General Michael Corcoran. The evening concluded with toasts to the health of Father Corby, the American Press, ‘Private Myles O’Reilly’ and a humorous speech by Captain Gosson. (3)

After the banquet the men returned to their furloughs and their final few days before returning to the war. Over 100 men of the 63rd New York Infantry had re-enlisted as Veteran Volunteers in December 1863. Despite their outward commitment, at least 13 of them chose to desert at the end of their leave period rather than return to the front. For those who did go back some of the hardest fighting of the war lay ahead, as the Irish Brigade went through the meat grinder of the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns. Some would not make it- at least 12 of the men of the 63rd who occupied Irving Hall in January 1864 died, falling in battles such as the Wilderness or in prisons like Libby and Andersonville. By the close of 1864 the Irish Brigade would be unrecognisable, as the horrors of war seemed to drag on and on with no end in sight.

(1) New York Irish-American 9th January 1864; (2) Conyngham 1867:435, New York Times 15th January 1864, New York Irish-American 23rd January 1864; (3) New York Irish-American 23rd January 1864;

References

New York Irish-American 9th January 1864. Return of the Irish Brigade

New York Irish-American 15th January 1864. The Irish Brigade. Banquet to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates

New York Times 15th January 1864. Banquet to the Re-Enlisted Veterans and Disabled Soldiers of the Irish Brigade

Conyngham, David Power 1867. The Irish Brigade and its Campaigns

New York Public Library Digital Collection Record ID: 1788347

Filed under: 63rd New York, 69th New York, 88th New York, Irish Brigade, New York Tagged: 63rd New York, 69th New York, 88th New York, Civil War Bounty, Irish American Civil War, Irish Brigade, New York Irish, Veteran Volunteers

The Long Arm of War: The Impact of the American Civil War On A Dublin City Family

We have a tendency to view the American Civil War as a conflict that impacted only the United States and only people who lived there. This was not always true. The long arm of war could be felt with violent effect across oceans and continents. Some of those who had their lives changed utterly by the struggle between blue and gray had never even set foot on American soil. Such was the case with Maria Ridgway, who spent the vast majority of her life living in the city of Dublin- thousands of miles from the seat of the ‘War of 1861.’ 

Maria McDonald was born in Athlone around the year 1840, the daughter of Edward McDonald, a soldier in the British Army. When she was still a child her family moved to Dublin where they were stationed at Beggar’s Bush Barracks in the city. It was here that a young Maria first met Corporal George Ridgway of the 30th Regiment of Foot. Born in Shropshire, England, George was a career soldier. The couple hit it off and were married in St. Peter’s Church of Ireland parish church, Aungier Street, Dublin on 30th February 1859. (1)

St. Peter’s Church, Aungier Street, Dublin. George and Maria were married here in 1859 (Wikipedia)

The couple did not have to wait long for their first child. Maria Honora was born on the 22nd November 1859; a son Joseph George followed on the 3rd March 1862. Both children were baptised as Roman Catholics in St. James’ Parish Church, Dublin. By the time of their son’s birth George’s term of enlistment in the British Army was up. Rather than re-enlist, he decided to seek new opportunities. The war then raging across the Atlantic seemed to offer promising prospects for someone of George’s expertise and presented a potential way for the family to improve their fortunes. Baby Joseph was not yet 6 months old when George left Dublin for New York.Travelling via Liverpool, his ship, the ‘Edinburgh’, landed in the United States on 17th September 1862. (2)

Men of the 1st US Cavalry in 1864 (Library of Congress)

George did not enlist straight away; perhaps he was looking explore his options before fixing on a return to a military life. He eventually decided on a career in the 1st United States Cavalry, enlisting on 24th February 1863. Mustering in as a Private in Company L, he headed to Virginia, embarking on a path that he no doubt hoped would bring economic security for him and his young family. That June, Maria received a letter through the U.S. Consul in Dublin:

Sanitary Commission

Washington D.C. U.S.A.

June 25th 1863

Mrs. Maria Ridgway

Dublin, Ireland

Madam,

It has become my mournful duty to inform you of the decease [sic.] of your husband George Ridgway U.S. Cavalry 1st Regt. Co. L. He was brought to this hospital from hospital at Aquia Creek very sick of chronic diarrhea on the 15th instant and died on the 19th inst. Was extremely feeble able to say but little. His last words were of you and his children. Tell my wife I die believing in the Lord Jesus. I hope the Lord will be a husband to her. Give my love to my wife and children. He had good care. Died in one of our best hospitals. Religious services were performed by the Chaplain in a grave in the hospital ground. At his burial an escort followed the body which was buried in the National Cemetery provided for soldiers and his graves [sic.] is carefully preserved having an inscribed and numbered head-board so that it can be identified at any future day. May God in his love and mercy minister to you and your children large consolations in Christ Jesus giving you beauty as ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaveness. Please accept my very sincere condolence in Christ.

Joseph M. Driver

Chaplain Columbian Hospital

Washington D.C. U.S.A. (3)

The Columbian Hospital where George Ridgway died in 1863 (Library of Congress)

George’s American military career had lasted less than four months. He was buried at what is now the US Soldier’s and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery where his grave can still be seen. Maria was still only in her early twenties. Now a widow, she applied and received a U.S. military pension. It started in 1865 at $8 a month, a sum she collected from her home in Goldenbridge, Dublin. This was later increased to take account of her daughter and son, with the additional monies to be paid until they reached the age of 16. The young woman and her children had never been to the United States, and most likely had never journeyed outside Ireland. Despite this, their entire lives had been turned upside down by the American Civil War. The conflict and her husband’s part in it would continue to be a central element of Maria’s life for decades to come. (4)

Copy of Letter to Maria Ridgway informing her of her husband’s death, 1863 (Fold3)

As the years passed and Maria grew older she continued to receive a U.S. pension and rely on the income it provided. Then, in 1893, a change to the pension system meant that her income stream suddenly came under threat. She was now required to show that her husband had been a naturalised citizen of the United States at the time of his death, something that was virtually impossible for Maria to demonstrate. If she failed to do so her pension might be terminated. Maria decided to embark on a letter writing campaign, first addressing the U.S. Pension Agent:

To the U.S. Pension Agent

Most Honourable Sir,

This humble petition of Maria Ridgway, widow of George Ridgway Pvt. U.S. Cavalry who is interred in the Soldiers burying ground in Washington D.C. with an inscribed and numbered headboard, the Reverend Joshua M. Driver Chaplain to the U.S. Soldiers kindly sent me and my children my husbands dying words and where I could see his grave at any future time. Not having received my pension voucher No. 57226 to sign for the next quarter 4th September I have taken the liberty in addressing you and I knowing how good the Government has been to me all these years, in giving me means to live since the death of my husband who died fighting for them. I am sure so good a Government would not leave the widows of their soldiers dying in a Workhouse. I am now old and unable to earn my bread, with bad eyes and in a very delicate state of health, hoping the U.S. Government would kindly take my case into their kind consideration and grant me for the short time I expect to be in the world what would keep me from the Workhouse. By so doing I shall always think myself as duty bound to pray for my kind benefactors. Sir I have the honour to remain your most humble and obedient servant,

Maria Ridgway

163 Gt. Britain Street [now Parnell St.]

or U.S. Consul

Great Brunswick St.

Dublin. (5)

Just in case this letter did not work, Maria also took the precaution of writing directly to the President of the United States, Grover Cleveland:

To the President of the United States

Most Honourable Sir,

The humble petition of Maria Ridgway widow of George Ridgway who was a private in the 1 U.S. Cavalry and fought under the American Stars and Stripes for the American cause he is buried in the Soldiers burying ground Washington D.C. I his widow and two children was granted a pension on Certificate 57226, Act July 14- 1862 and in March 19-1886 through the goodness of the American Government at which time I think you were President [Cleveland had been serving his first term as President in 1886] I got my increase to 12 dollars per month. Now through an Act of Congress July 1-1893, I am deprived of any means of support in my old age when I am feeble and not able to do anything for myself through rheumatism. Most Honourable Sir through your goodness of heart, should you take my declining years into your kind consideration and grant me a little to keep an American Widow from dying in a Workhouse, and my two orphans shall always think it our duty to pray for you. I have the honour to be Sir your most faithful servant,

Maria Ridgway

c/o Mrs. Alford [her daughter's married name]

6 Florinda Place, North Circular Road,

Dublin

5th March 1894. (6)

Copy of letter from Maria Ridgway to the President of the United States (Fold3)

In other correspondence relating to the suspension of her pension, Maria argued that she did not know if her husband George had been a naturalized citizen of the United States. She explained that in 1863 ‘he wrote to me and said if he got safe through the war America was to be our home, but God had it otherwise.’ Maria then claimed that prior to her husband emigrating in 1862 he had already spent 11 years in the United States, at which time he may well have become a citizen. She enlisted the help of her local priest, Father Bernard Emmett O’Mahony, who wrote to the American authorities on her behalf, asking: ‘Is there any hope that this harsh if not unjust statute will be repealed?’ Maria’s determined efforts eventually paid off, and her pension was reinstated on 4th March 1895. (7)

Despite Maria’s concerns that she may not have had long left to live in the 1890s, she survived well into the 20th century. In 1911 she was still living at 163 Great Britain Street with her son Joseph, who had become a hairdresser, his wife Elizabeth and their eight children. Her daughter Maria had married Cattle Dealer John Alford and they and their nine children were living on Henrietta Street- Maria was now grandmother to a total of 17. (8)

Maria Ridgway’s health finally began to fail in December 1918, with things taking a turn for the worse the following March. She passed away on the afternoon of 8th July 1919 at the home of her daughter, in No.2 Synnott Place, Dublin. The official cause of death was cancer of the liver. Her entire effects, which consisted of  ‘a few pieces of old furniture and old clothes’ were left to her daughter. The American Civil War widow’s funeral mass was held at St. Joseph’s Church on Berkeley Road before her remains were laid to rest in St. Bridget’s Section of Prospect Cemetery, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin. In April 1920, almost 57 years after Private George Ridgway’s death in Washington D.C., the U.S. Government made its final pension payment to the Dublin family, when it contributed towards the expenses of Maria’s funeral. (9)

Farrell’s undertakers receipt relating to the funeral of Maria Ridgway (Fold3)

(1) George Ridgway Widow’s Pension File; (2) Ibid.; New York Passenger Lists; (3) George Ridgway Widow Pension File; (4) Ibid., Find A Grave Memorial; (5) Ibid.; (6) Ibid.; (7) Ibid.; (8) 1911 Census of Ireland; (9) George Ridgway Widow’s Pension File.

References

George Ridgway Widow’s Pension File WC57226

George Ridgway Find A Grave Memorial

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

1911 Census of Ireland

Fold3.com

Filed under: Dublin, Irish in the American Civil War, Pensioners in Ireland, Research Tagged: 1st U.S. Cavalry, Aquia Creek, Beggars Bush Barracks, Columbian Hospital, Glasnevin Cemetery, Irish American Civil War, Pensioners on the Roll, United States Army

‘Our Orphan Children Will Not Soon Forget Him’: The Death of General Michael Corcoran

150 years ago, on the evening of Tuesday 22nd December, 1863, a stunned Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Reed prepared to send a message that promised to send shockwaves through New York City. The commander of the 69th New York National Guard Artillery dictated the following telegram to be immediately communicated to the press:

FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE , Tuesday, Dec. 22.

To the Associated Press:

Gen. Michael Corcoran died at half-past eight this evening, from injuries received from a fall from his horse. 

Thos. M. Reed,

Lieut.-Col. Com’g. 69th Reg., Corcoran Irish Legion. (1)

Brigadier-General Michael Corcoran (Library of Congress)

Michael Corcoran was perhaps the most highly regarded Irishman in New York. A dedicated Fenian, he had been Colonel of the 69th New York State Militia and had achieved notoriety when he refused to parade his men on the occasion of the Prince of Wales’ visit to the city in 1860. His imprisonment following his capture at Bull Run, when he was held under threat of retaliatory execution by the Confederacy, led to him becoming a national hero. His eventual release and triumphant return to New York in 1862 solidified his status, and as a newly minted Brigadier-General he raised a new Union brigade, Corcoran’s Irish Legion, which had a strong Fenian membership. Now, at the age of just 36, the darling of New York’s Irish community was dead. The news was received with the ‘utmost incredulity’ by all who knew him. How did it happen? The Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo native had not died at the head of his troops fighting the Rebels, or given his life heroically in the cause of Ireland. Instead, his death was caused by an accidental fall from a horse. (2)

One of the most detailed accounts of the incident was carried in the New York Irish-American, who blamed the General’s death on an attack of apoplexy. It reported that on the morning of the December 22nd Corcoran had been feeling somewhat unwell, but decided to proceed with the days duties nonetheless. Thomas Francis Meagher, the former commander of the Irish Brigade, had been visiting the Irish Legion for a few days and Corcoran decided to accompany him to Fairfax Station, where Meagher was taking a train to Washington. Meagher was travelling to the capital to meet a group of ladies, including his wife and Corcoran’s mother-in-law, and bring them back with him to spend Christmas with the Legion at Fairfax Court-House. Corcoran set off for the train with Meagher and a small group of officers; he bid his wife farewell, telling her that he would be back for dinner in the afternoon. (3)

Officers of the 69th New York State Militia pose beside one of the guns in Fort Corcoran prior to the Battle of Bull Run in 1861. Michael Corcoran is at extreme left (Library of Congress)

With Meagher seen safely to the train, Corcoran and his party rode on to Sangster’s Station to call on the Legion’s 155th New York Infantry. Here the General left orders regarding the regiment’s dispositions and defences, before turning for home. At this point one of his party, Lieutenant Edmond Connolly, noted that the General’s horse had thrown a shoe. Meagher had left his horse with them, and so Corcoran decided to ride his friend’s mount for the rest of the journey. After travelling only a few yards Corcoran turned to Connolly to tell him how magnificent the horse was, adding: ‘I understand that he is a fast horse when put to it, for he won a race on St. Patrick’s Day at Falmouth; and so let us have a bit of a race and test him.’ Meagher’s grey, Jack Hinton, had won a race during the famous St. Patrick’s Day 1863 celebrations while being ridden by Captain Gosson of the Irish Brigade- it is likely it was this horse that Corcoran was riding that day. His decision to test out the animal’s capabilities would prove a fateful one. (4)

Corcoran and his party broke into a gallop, with the General taking the lead. He appeared to lose control of the animal, an occurrence perhaps influenced by the old-fashioned English saddle that Meagher had on the horse, which provided less support than Corcoran was accustomed to. The horse charged forward, and the General waved at his companions to fall back, presumably in the hope of calming his mount. Disappearing into a dip in the road the party briefly lost sight of their commander. At about this time Corcoran’s horse apparently lunged to the left and the General was spilled to the ground. By the time his men came up the Sligo native was apparently experiencing violent convulsions. The time was a little after four o’clock; the commander of the Irish Legion was carried back to his quarters at the W.P. Gunnell House in Fairfax where he died some four hours later, having never regained consciousness. (5)

The W.P. Gunnell House, Fairfax, Virginia, where Brigadier-General Michael Corcoran died (Photograph Dave Sullivan)

Thomas Francis Meagher returned to find his friend dead. He later described the scene:

‘There, in that very room which I had occupied for several days as his guest…he lay cold and white in death, with the hands which were once so warm in their grasp, and so lavish in their gifts crossed upon his breast, with a crucifix surrounded by lights standing at his head, and the good, dear old priest [Father Paul Gillen], who loved him only as a father can love a son, kneeling, praying, and weeping at the feet of the dead soldier.’ (6)

The men of Corcoran’s Legion, who idolized their General, were given a final opportunity to see him. Meagher continues:

‘One by one, as the sun went down, and the last rays, reflected from those mountains that had been the witness of his first trial under fire, fell upon that pale and tranquil face, the soldiers of the Irish Legion moved in mournful procession around the death-bed, and, as they took their last look at him, I saw many a big heart heave and swell until tears gushed from many an eye and ran down the rough cheek of the roughest veteran.’ (7)

General Setting of the New Marker to Michael Corcoran in Fairfax, Virginia (Photograph Dave Sullivan)

Brigadier-General Michael Corcoran’s remains were taken to New York where they lay in state at the City Hall prior to his burial at Calvary Cemetery. To read more about the funeral service see a previous post here. His loss was keenly felt by the Irish across America, even by some with Confederate sympathies. One Irish Clergyman in Virginia wrote the following letter about his death:

‘…Permit me to sympathize with you in the death of our mutual friend and distinguished countryman, General Michael Corcoran. Though I differed with him on the great subject that now convulses this once happy land, though I could not endorse his acts as a General of the United States Army, still I loved him as an Irishman and a Catholic. I respected him for his devotion to the dear old land of our nativity; and in death I have not forgotten him for obedience to his Mother, the Holy Catholic Church.

I announced his death to my people on Sunday last; I spoke of him as a Christian soldier, and begged them to join their prayers with mine, while I offered the holy Mass for the repose of his soul. I can never forget the visits he paid me during his stay near this city. I needed not his star; I thought not of his rank in the army; but as the Irishman and the Catholic he was always at home with the Priest, and as such always got the “cead failtha” from me.

Our orphan children will not soon forget him: they will pray for him when, perhaps, he is not remembered by the busy world without. Their humble prayer will ascend to the throne of God for mercy on the soul of the generous soldier, who, amid the din and strife of the war, did not forget them in their hour of need…’ (8)

The Marker to Brigadier-General Michael Corcoran in Fairfax, Virginia (Photograph Dave Sullivan)

Michael Corcoran is today remembered by the largest American Civil War memorial in Ireland, in Ballymote, Co. Sligo. On the 19th October 2013 the City of Fairfax unveiled a historical marker dedicated to Corcoran at the site where he died. Michael Corcoran and his Irish Legion have spent much of history in the shadow of Thomas Francis Meagher and the Irish Brigade. Somewhat surprisingly he has never been the subject of a detailed biography, and his Legion have never been the focus of a published brigade history. Important work by historians such as Christopher M. Garcia is helping to redress this imbalance and hopefully will lead to further insights into this important man and his brigade in the future. (9)

* This post would not have been possible without the efforts of Dave Sullivan. Dave originally alerted me to the unveiling of the Corcoran Marker, took the time to visit the site and photograph both it and the Gunnell House for the post and also provided invaluable source material, particularly the Alexandria Gazette account of the accident.

The Memorial to Brigadier-General Michael Corcoran in Ballymote, Co. Sligo. This is the closest village to Carrowkeel where Corcoran was born on 21st September 1827

(1) New York Times 23rd December 1863;  (2) New York Irish American 2nd January 1864; (3) Ibid.; (4) New York Irish American 2nd January 1864, Conyngham 1867: 373-379; (5) New York Irish American 2nd January 1864, Alexandria Gazette 1st January 1864; (6) Cavanagh (ed.) 1892: 357; (7) Ibid.; (8) New York Irish American 9th January 1864; (9) Fairfax City Patch 18th October 2013;

References & Further Reading

Alexandria Gazette 1st January 1864. Death of Gen. Corcoran

Fairfax City Patch 18th October 2013. New Historical Marker in Honor of Soldier To Be Unveiled in Oldtown Saturday

New York Times 23rd December 1863. Death of Gen. Corcoran.; He is Killed by a Fall From His Horse

New York Irish-American 2nd January 1864. Death of Brigadier General Michael Corcoran. Arrival of His Remains in New York

New York Irish-American 9th January 1864. General Corcoran. A Noble Tribute

Cavanagh, Michael (ed.) 1892. Memoirs of Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher

Conyngham, David Power 1867. The Irish Brigade and its Campaigns

Michael Corcoran Find A Grave Memorial

Filed under: Corcoran's Irish Legion, Michael Corcoran, New York, Sligo Tagged: Corcoran's Irish Legion, Fairfax Court House, Fenian Brotherhood, Irish American Civil War, Irish Brigade, Michael Corcoran, New York Irish-American, Thomas Francis Meagher

U.S. Military Pensioners in 19th Century Ireland: A Listing and Appeal

I have been spending an increasing amount of time looking at the records of U.S. military pensioners who lived in Ireland. Of the c. 170,000 Irish who fought in the American Civil War, only a relative handful ever returned to the country of their birth. The 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll records a total of 220 people who were receiving money in Ireland as a result of services rendered to the United States military. Some were veterans, but the majority were widows, dependent mothers and dependent fathers. There is something remarkable about the image of men who had lost limbs in great battles such as Chancellorsville returning to live out their lives in rural Ireland, travelling to their local Post Office each month to collect their pension, or elderly parents depending on their children’s sacrifice across the Atlantic for support.

Civil War Pensioner O.D. Kinsman in 1920, who Worked in the Pension Bureau (Library of Congress)

Not all of the pensions on the 1883 Roll relate to the Civil War- some of them were given for service before or after that conflict. I have spent a considerable amount of time attempting to identify the name of the associated veteran (where the recipient of the pension was not the soldier or sailor) and the unit in which they served. The table below is based on this work, which derives the names of the pensioners and the reason for the pension from the 1883 Roll. Of course this list does not represent all of the pensions being received in 19th century Ireland for service to the United States. Confederate veterans are not included, and many Union veterans and veterans of conflicts such as the Plains Wars had either not returned to Ireland by 1883 or were not claiming pensions at that point.

I have already delved into the extraordinary personal stories of many of those listed below and I have many more to explore. It is my intention to attempt to develop these stories into book format. However, I am keen to include others, not on this list, who may have been receiving a U.S. military pension for 19th century service or were U.S. military veterans who had returned to Ireland. As a result I want to appeal to readers- if you are aware of anyone who you think might fit this bill I would be very eager to hear from you, and about the pensioner/veteran in question. In the meantime I will be placing the below list on the Resources section of the site in the coming days where it will be available for future reference.

Pensioner Name
Veteran Name
Unit
Reason for Pension


Allen, Catherine
Allen, Michael
10th Tennessee Infantry
Widow


Bane, Bridget
Bane, Patrick
10th Kentucky Infantry
Widow


Baxter, Christiana
Baxter, Robert
11th New York Infantry
Widow


Beatty, Thomas
Beatty, Thomas
4th New York Heavy Artillery
Loss of Left Leg


Beaty, Michael
Beaty, Michael
149th New York Infantry
Loss of Right Leg


Bennet, Alice
Bennett, John
4th New York Heavy Artillery
Widow


Boyle, Hugh
Boyle, Hugh
16th United States Infantry
Disability to Lungs


Brady, Peter
Brady, Peter
3rd United States Artillery
Paralysis to Right Side


Bransfield, John J.
Bransfield, John J.
U.S.S. Brooklyn
Navy


Brien, Eliza
Brien, John J.
69th New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Brooks, Richard
Brooks, Richard
72nd New York Infantry
Loss of Right Thumb


Brown, Mary A.
Brown, John J.
73rd New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Brush, Susan
Brush, Crane
Hospital Steward U.S.A.
Widow


Buckley, Timothy
Buckley, Timothy
?
Wound Left Ankle and Hand


Buird, Michael
Baird, Michael
161st New York Infantry
Total Loss of Sight


Burns, Bridget
Burns, John
116th Pennsylvania Infantry
Dependent Mother


Burns, Mary
Burns, Owen C.
13th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Widow


Butler, Mary (Walshe)
Butler, James
12th New York Cavalry
Widow


Byrne, Andrew J.
Byrne, Andrew J.
42nd New York Infantry
Wound to Left Arm


Byrne, Martin
Byrne, Martin
4th United States Infantry
Wound to Chin


Cain, James
Cain, James
10th Veteran Reserve Corps
Wound to Left Shoulder


Cannavan, Mary
Canavan, Thomas
5th United States Cavalry
Dependent Mother


Cannon, Ann
Cannon, James
U.S.S. Oneida
Widow


Carey, Mary
Carey, Stephen
2nd Delaware Infantry
Widow


Carins, Ann
Cairns, Colin
2nd New Hampshire Infantry
Widow


Carlin, Anna
?
?
Widow


Chestnut, Richard
Chestnut, Richard
3rd Wisconsin Cavalry
Paralysis to Right Side


Church, George
Church, George
17th New York Infantry
Loss of Left Arm


Clancy, Bernard
Clancy, Bernard
1st United States Artillery
Disability Lungs and Heart


Clark, Margaret
Clark, Edward
30th Massachusetts Infantry
Dependent Mother


Cleary, Honora (Browne)
Cleary, Francis M.
10th United States Infantry
Widow


Cochburn, William
Cockburn, William
2nd New Jersey Cavalry
Loss of Left Leg


Cochran, Sarah J.
Cochran, Richard
63rd Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow


Collins, Peter
Collins, Peter
U.S.S. Worcester
Disability to Lungs


Connelly, Margaret
Conneely, John
10th Tennessee Infantry
Widow


Conner, Ellen
?
?
Dependent Mother


Connolly, Patrick
Connolly, Patrick
70th New York Infantry
Loss of Left Foot


Connor, Bridget
Connor, Patrick
2nd New York Heavy Artillery
Widow


Connor, Patrick
Connor, Patrick
21st United States Infantry
Wound to Left Arm, Disability Brain


Connor, William
Connor, William
6th New York Heavy Artillery
Loss of Left Arm


Corrigan, Philip
Corrigan, Philip
16th United States Infantry
Wound to Left Leg


Costello, Eliza
Costello, James
69th Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow


Costello, Mary
Costello, Kyran
6th United States Cavalry
Dependent Mother


Courtney, Mary
Courtney, John C.
7th Missouri Infanftry
Dependent Mother


Coyne, Ellen
Coyne, Michael
7th United States Infantry
Widow


Coyne, John
Coyne, John
104th Illinois Infantry
Wound to Right Knee and Disability Lungs


Cranston, Ellen
Cranston, William C.
63rd New York Infantry
Widow


Crawford, James
Crawford, James
U.S.S. Saugus and U.S.S. Powhatan
Navy


Crowe, Sarah (McDonagh)
Crow, John
155th New York Infantry
Widow


Crowley, Catherine
Crowley, Jeremiah
88th New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Crowley, Patrick
Crowley, Dennis
23rd United States Infantry
Dependent Father


Cruise, Mary
?
?
Dependent Mother


Cuniff, James
Cuniff, James
35th New Jersey Infantry
Loss of Left Leg


Cunningham, Phaley
Cunningham, Phaley
83rd Ohio Infantry
Loss of Left Arm


Curran, Margaret
Curran, Thomas
5th Indiana Cavalry
Widow


Daily, William
Daily, William
18th United States Infantry
Paralysis


Daly, Mary
Daly, John (Alias John Ryan)
51st New York Infantry
Widow


Delany, Annie
Delany, Patrick
61st Ohio Infantry
Widow


Devine, Owen
Devine, Owen
37th New York Infantry
Varicose Veins Left Leg


Donnelly, John A.
Donnelly, John A.
3rd New York Cavalry
Disability


Donohoe, Bridget
Donohoe, John
1st United States Artillery
Dependent Mother


Dooley, Mathew
Dooley, Mathew
2nd New York Heavy Artillery
Wound to Right Leg


Doran, Ellen
?
?
Widow


Dorn, Mary T.
Dorin, Lawrence J.
U.S.S. Powhatan
Widow


Dowd, Joseph
Dowd, Joseph
?
Wound to Left Leg


Dowdy, James
Dowd, James (Alias James Dowdy)
6th United States Infantry
Wound to Left Hand


Dowling, Catherine
Dowling, Dennis
15th Connecticut Infantry
Widow


Dowling, Simon
Dowling, Simon
164th New York Infantry
Injury to Abdomen


Dreak, Ellen
Dreak, David
3rd United States Infantry
Dependent Mother


Druitt, Edward alias John Moran
Druitt, Edward (Alias John Moran)
12th New Jersey Infantry
Wound Left Hand and Lower Jaw


Duffy, Thomas
Duffy, Thomas (Alias Thomas Ryan)
2nd New Jersey Cavalry
Loss of Right Arm


Durick, Timothy
Durick, Jeremiah
88th New York Infantry
Dependent Father


Edgeworth, Annie
Edgeworth, Robert L.
7th United States Infantry
Dependent Mother


Farrell, Anne
Farrell, John
173rd New York Infantry
Widow


Flynn, James
Flynn, James
30th United States Infantry
Asthma


Flynn, Mary
Flynn, Patrick
11th? Kansas Cavalry
Widow


Forrester, Patrick
Forrester, Patrick
99th Pennsylvaniva Infantry
Loss of Left Leg


Fox, Eliza
Fox, John
7th Massachusetts Infantry
Widow


Fry, Sarah
Fry, Robert
8th Indiana Infantry
Widow


Gallagher, Mary
Gallagher, Peter
5th United States Infantry
Widow


Galvin, Catherine
Galvin, Willian
11th United States Infantry
Dependent Mother


Gartland, Ann
Gartland, Patrick
5th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Dependent Mother


Gavin, Catherine
Gavin, Cornelius
52nd New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Gilroy, Patrick
Gilroy, Patrick
77th New York Infantry
Dependent Father


Gosselin, Alice M.
Gosselin, Francis J.
7th United States Cavalry
Widow


Graney, Eliza
Graney, Charles
9th Massachusetts Infantry
Dependent Mother


Grogan, Henry
Grogan, Henry
5th New York Heavy Artillery
Wound to Left Shoulder


Groogan, Mary
Groogan, Bernard
90th Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow


Guiltinane, Catherine
Guiltinane, Michael
16th New York Heavy Artillery
Widow


Hanlon, Francis
?
?
Dependent Father


Harrington, Mary
Harrington, Owen
30th Indiana Infantry
Dependent Mother


Harvey, James
Harvey, James
59th New York Infantry
Wound to Head


Hasler, Nellie
Hasler, Jacob
53rd Kentucky Infantry
Widow


Hayde, William
Hayde, William
Heavy Artillery
Paralyisis of Left Hand


Hazlett, Mary J.
?
?
Widow


Henry, Catherine
Henry, Mathew
72nd New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Herks, James
Herks, James
24th Massachusetts Infantry
Wound to Left Arm


Hickey, Michael
Hickey, Michael
14th United States Infantry
Disability Lungs and Heart


Hoare, David
?
1st United States Infantry
Disability to Lungs and c.


Horan, Mary
Horan, Dennis
8th United States Cavalry
Dependent Mother


Houston, Archie
Houston, Archie
66th Ohio Infantry
Diarhorrea and c.


Humphrey, David H.
Humphrey, David H.
2nd New York Heavy Artillery
Wound Left Hand


Hunter, Frederick
Hunter, Frederick
66th New York Infantry
Rheumatism


Hurd, Kate
Hurd, Charles H.
U.S.S. Itasca
Widow


Johnston, Sarah (Acres?)
Johnston, Charles
139th New York Infantry
Widow


Jones, Margaret
?
?
Widow


Jordan, Mary A.
Jordan, Charles H.
69th New York Infantry
Widow


Kean, John
Kean, Simon
15th New Jersey Infantry
Dependent Father


Keane, Edward
Keane, Edward
1st United States Engineers
Disability to Lungs and c.


Keefe, Peter
Keefe, Peter
U.S. Brig Perry
Exempt Navy


Keily [Kelly], Jane (McAllister)
Kelley, Daniel
141st New York Infantry
Widow


Keily, William
Keily, William
22nd United States Infantry
Fractured Right Leg


Kelly, Margaret
?
?
Dependent Mother


Kelly, Mary A.
Kelly, John
U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba
Widow


Kelly, Thomas
Kelly, Thomas
69th New York Infantry
Loss of Left Arm


Kennedy, Mary
Kennedy, Michael
32nd New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Kennedy, Mary
Kennedy, John
146th New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Kennelly, Mary
Kennelly, Maurice
24th United States Infantry
Dependent Mother


Kenny, Sarah
Kenny, Felix
4th United States Cavalry
Widow


King, Richard
King, Richard
7th Maine Infantry
Wound to Left Leg


Kinney, Bridget
Kenney, Michael
42nd New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Kinney, Michael
Kinney, Michael
?
Loss of Right Leg


Larkin, Catherine
?
?
Widow


Lawler, Michael
Lawler, Michael
22nd Massachusetts Infantry
Injury to Abdomen


Leonard, Patrick
Leonard, Patrick
75th New York Infantry
Injury to Left Side and Injury to Abdomen


Loughland, William
Laughlan, William
74th New York Infantry
Wound to Right Shoulder


Mack, Maurice
Mack, Maurice
?
Wound to Left Leg and ulcers


Maloney, Ellen
Maloney, James
15th Wisconsin Infantry
Widow


Martin, Eliza
Martin, Samuel
113th New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


Martin, Ellen (Baker)
Martin, Patrick
182nd New York Infantry
Widow


McAuley, Patrick
McAuley, Patrick
3rd United States Artillery
Disability of Abdominal Viscera


McCabe, Catherine
McCabe, Michael
170th New York Infantry
Widow


McCann, Patrick
McCann, Patrick
145th Pennsylvania Infantry
Loss of Left Arm


McCarthy, Catherine
McCarthy, Thomas
U.S.S. Housatonic
Widow


McCarthy, Daniel
McCarthy, Daniel
?
Rheumatism


McCausland, Mary
McCausland, William
U.S.S. Yantic
Widow


McCloskey, Frances
?
?
Dependent Mother


McConneghy, Alice
McConneghy, William J.
U.S.S. Albatross
Dependent Mother


McDermott, Edward
McDermott, Edward
8th United States Cavalry
Injury to Right Side


McDermott, Margaret
McDermott, George
7th United States Cavalry
Dependent Mother


McDermott, Patrick
McDermott, Patrick
U.S.S. Omaha
Navy


McDonnell, Maria
?
5th New York Artillery
Widow


McElroy, Henry
McElroy, Henry
34th Massachsetts Infantry
Wound left Leg


McGarity, Bridget
McGarity, Francis
88th New York Infantry
Widow


McGlynn, John
McGlynn, John
11th Massachusetts Infantry
Loss of Right Arm


McGrath, Catherine
McGrath, John (Alias John Brown)
179th New York Infantry
Dependent Mother


McGrath, Henry
McGrath, Henry
96th Pennsylvania Infantry
Rheumatism


McGready, Edward
McGready, Edward
?
Loss of Finger in Left Hand


McGrory, Bridget
McGrory, John Jr.
82nd Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow


McHugh, Annie
McHugh, Joseph
69th Pennylvania Infantry
Dependent Mother


McKenna, Mary A.
?
?
Widow


McKinney, John
McKenny, John
5th Connecticut Infantry
Loss of Right Arm


McLaughlin, John
McLaughlin, John
88th Illinois Infantry
Injury to Abdomen


McMahon, Peter
McMahon, Peter
2nd United States Cavalry
Wound to Left Leg


McNale, Mary (McHale)
McHale, Matthew
6th Missouri Infantry
Dependent Mother


McNamara, Bridget
McNamara, Patrick
1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery
Widow


McNaull, Mathew
McNaul, Mathew
U.S.S. Suwanee
Exempt Navy


Mitchell, Catherine A.
Mitchell, Benjamin
1st New York Cavalry
Widow


Moon, Ann
Moon, William
20th Wisconsin Infantry
Widow


Mooney, Esther
?
?
Widow


Mooney, John
Mooney, John
U.S.S. Saugus
Navy


Morris, Patrick
Morris, Patrick
7th Michigan Infantry
Wound to Head


Mulberry, John
Mulberry, John
145th Pennsylvania Infantry
Loss of Right Arm


Murphy, Patrick
Murphy, Patrick
36th New York Infantry
Wound to Left Wrist


Murray, Barbah
Murray, John D.
99th New York Infantry
Widow


Neary, Mary
Neary, Nicholas (Alias Edward Neary)
9th New Jersey Infantry
Widow


Nolan, Ann
Nolan, Peter
Artillery Detail
Dependent Mother


Noonan, John
Noonan, John
88th New York Infantry
Wound to Right Shoulder


O’Brien, Honora
O’Brien, Patrick
U.S.S. Clifton and Mississippi
Dependent Mother


O’Brien, Hugh
O’Brien, Hugh
170th New York Infantry
Loss of Left Leg


O’Brien, William
O’Brien, William
?
Disability to Eyes


O’Connor, Ann
O’Connor, Michael
5th New York Infantry
Widow


O’Leary, John
O’Leary, John
8th United States Infantry
Loss of Left Leg


O’Maley, Bridget
O’Maley, John
53rd Illinois Infantry
Dependent Mother


O’Mara, Alice
O’Mara, Peter (Alias Peter Morrow)
2nd Wisconsin Infantry
Dependent Mother


O’Neill, Dennis
O’Neill, Dennis
10th United States Infantry
Injury to Right Eye


O’Shaughnesey, Edward
O’Shuaghnessey, Edward
69th New York Infantry
Wound to Right Arm


Owens, Mary
?
?
Widow


Path, Alvin
Path, Alvin
?
Rheumatism


Pelein, Eliza
Pelein, Alexander
25th Iowa Infantry
Widow


Pight, John
Pigot, John
42nd New York Infantry
Wound to Right Thigh


Quigley, Bridget
Quigley, Patrick
51st New York Infantry
Widow


Reardon, Catherine (McGuigan)
Reardon, Thomas
107th New York Infantry
Widow


Riddle, James
Riddle, James
8th United States Infantry
Disability of Abdominal Viscera


Ridgway, Maria (McDonald)
Ridgway, George
1st United States Cavalry
Widow


Rignay, Bryan
Rignay, Brian
13th United States Infantry
Disability


Riley, James
Riley, James
4th United States Cavalry
Injury to Head


Russell, Fannie
Russell, Patrick
3rd New Jersey Infantry
Dependent Mother


Ruth, Moses
Ruth, Moses
?
Strain in Back


Ryan, Mary
Ryan, Patrick
5th Rhode Island Infantry
Widow


Ryan, Mary
?
?
Dependent Mother


Seaver, Michael
?
?
Dependent Father


Sheehan, Jane (McClintock)
Sheehan, Michael
150th Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow


Sowery, Ellen M.
Sowery, Louis
42nd New York Infantry
Widow


Stafford, Jasper
Stafford, Jasper
170th New York Infantry
Loss of Right Arm


Stewart, Mary (Johnston)
Stewart, James
19th Wisconsin Infanftry
Widow


Strawbridge, Margaret
Strawbridge, John
69th New York Infantry
Widow


Sulivan, Cornelius
Sullivan, Cornelius
69th New York Infantry
Wound to Left Leg and Paralysis


Sullivan, Bridget
?
?
Widow


Sullivan, Jeremiah
Sullivan, Jeremiah
69th New York Infantry
Wound to Left Foot


Sullivan, Mary
Sullivan, Michael
69th New York Infantry
Widow


Sullivan, Thomas
Sullivan, Thomas
?
Wound to Left Foot


Tierney, Edward
Tierney, John
U.S.S. Huron
Dependent Father


Tinan, John
Finan, Patrick
U.S.S. Wabash
Dependent Father


Toomey, Mary
Toomey, Robert
176th New York Infantry
Widow


Torrens, Isabella
Torrens, Joseph
78th New York Infantry
Widow


Voss, William
Voss, William
?
Disability Heart


Walls, Bridget (Crilly)
Walls, John
116th Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow


Walsh, Ellen
Walsh, Patrick
22nd Illinois Infantry
Widow


Ward, Ellen
?
?
Widow


Waters, William
Walters, William
52nd Illinois Infantry
Wound to Head


Webb, Abby
Webb, Thomas Jr.
59th Massachusetts Infanftry
Dependent Mother


Welsh, John
Welsh, John
5th United States Cavalry
Loss of part of Finger


Whelan, Maria
Wheelan, Patrick
1st New York Infantry
Widow


Whelan, Mary
Whelan, Dennis
82nd Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow


White, Ann
White, John
7th Wisconsin Infantry
Dependent Mother


White, Mary
White, Edward
4th U.nited States Cavalry
Widow


Wilson, Archibald
Wilsdn, Archibald
25th New York Cavalry
Varicose Veins Left Leg


Wilson, Louis
Wilson, Louis
17th New York Infantry
Loss of Right Thigh


Wilson, Margaret
Wilson, Edward
29th Pennsylvania Infantry
Widow

Table 1. Complete table of Pensioners in Ireland from ‘List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883′ with names of veterans and units added where known.

References 

Government Printing Office 1883. List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883. Volume 5

Filed under: General, Irish in the American Civil War, Research Tagged: 1883 Pensioners on the Roll, American Civil War and Ireland, Ireland American Civil War, Irish American Civil War, Irish Military Pensions, Irish Veterans, Pensioners on the Roll, United States Veterans

Dependent Father: How one Irish Brigade Soldier’s Service Helped an Elderly Man in Rural Tipperary

Each month for much of the 1880s the octogenarian Timothy Durick travelled from his home in Lackamore, Castletownarra, Co. Tipperary to the nearby town of Nenagh. He made the journey to visit the Post Office and collect his pension, which was worth $8 U.S. Dollars. In order to secure the pension the elderly man had made a long journey across the Atlantic; the service which earned it had been that of his son, Jeremiah- a soldier of the Irish Brigade who’s story came to an end on the bloodiest day in American history. (1)

The Irish Brigade Monument at Antietam (Andrew Bossi- Wikimedia Commons)

Timothy Durick had been born around the year 1801. He married Mary Hogan in 1827 and the couple went on to have five children together. The dangers of childbirth were everpresent in this period, and Mary did not long survive the birth of their fifth child- Timothy became a widower at sometime during the early 1840s. The family were poor and there were few prospects in Ireland for the children. Timothy and Mary’s son Jeremiah had been born around 1835, and by the mid-1850s had decided that his future lay in the United States. (2)

As was so often the case with Irish emigrants, when Jeremiah went to America he chose to join people whom he already knew and who were originally from the Nenagh area. He settled in the town of West Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont, where he boarded with John Barrett, who had known him since he was a boy and had attended his mother’s funeral. There Jeremiah worked in the marble quarries, making sure to send his father in Ireland money whenever he could. (3)

Marble Mills in West Rutland, Vermont as they appeared c. 1915 (Wikipedia)

With the outbreak of the war, Jeremiah, who had found work sporadic in Vermont, decided to enlist in army. The regiment he chose was the 88th New York Infantry, one of the units of the Irish Brigade. He mustered in as a Private in Company C on 28th September 1861, aged 26 years. A steady wage seems to have been one of Jeremiah’s key motivating factors in joining up, and his father back in Nenagh remained in his thoughts- at one point he sent $30 of his pay to Ireland via his brother John. (4)

Jeremiah served with the Brigade through the Peninsula before marching onto the field at Antietam on 17th September 1862. Captain William O’Grady of the 88th later described that regiments part in the action:

‘We forded the creek, by General Meagher’s orders, taking off our shoes (those who could, many were barefoot, and some, like the writer, were so footsore that they had not been able to take off their shoes, or what remained of them, for a week), to wring out their socks, so as not to incumber the men in active movements, and every man was required to fill his canteen…The bullets were whistling over us as we hurried past the general in fours, and at the double-quick formed right into line behind a fence. We were ordered to lie down while volunteers tore down the fence…Then, up on our feet, we charged. The Bloody Lane was witness of the efficacy of buck-and-ball at close quarters. We cleared that and away beyond…When our ammunition was exhausted, Caldwell’s Brigade relieved us, the companies breaking into fours for the passage as if on parade…By some misunderstanding, part of the Sixty-third New York with their colors were massed on our right for a few minutes, during which our two right companies, C and F, were simply slaughtered, suffering a third of the entire casualties of the regiment. (5)

Jeremiah Durick was one of the unfortunate members of Company C caught in this exposed position. He was killed on the field, one of 35 men of the regiment who lost their lives as a result of Antietam. Another 67 were wounded as the 88th New York lost, according to Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Kelly, ‘one-third of our men.’ (6)

Confederate Dead in the Bloody Lane, Antietam, the Target of the Irish Brigade Attack (Library of Congress)

In April 1867 Jeremiah’s father Timothy, now 66-years-old, sought to secure a pension based on his son’s service. His previous efforts in this regard had been unsuccessful, and so  he made the journey across the Atlantic to Vermont to press his claim. Old friends from Nenagh who lived in Vermont, 40-year-old John Barrett (with whom Jeremiah had boarded) and 50-year-old John Gleason, gave evidence that Timothy had received upwards of $100 a year in financial support from his son. They also revealed that Timothy was very poor, had no property of any kind except his personal clothing and had no income or means of support except what he earned by manual labour. Timothy was reported to be in poor health and was unable to earn a living due to physical disability. A Dr. Backer Haynes in the town of Rutland also provided a statement to say he had examined Timothy, and found that he suffered from long-standing hypertrophy of the heart which had caused rheumatism in the back, right arm and right shoulder. These ailments rendered him ‘entirely incapable of earning a subsistence by manual labor’ and had done so for at least five or six years. Timothy’s pension application was approved in March 1868. (7)

An Extract of the Statements Provided by John Barrett and John Gleason for Timothy Durick (John Barrett could sign his name, John Gleason was illiterate so made his mark- Image via Fold3)

Timothy remained in Vermont for some time after securing his pension, living in Castleton. In November 1868 he sought to have the pension back-dated to the time of his son’s death in 1862, although it is unclear if he was successful. Timothy eventually made the journey back to his home in Tipperary and by 1883 was collecting his pension from Nenagh Post Office. Despite his ailments he lived well into his 80s, eventually passing away near Nenagh in 1887 at the age of 86. His son’s service, which had ended in Maryland on America’s bloodiest day, helped to provide vital financial assistance for an elderly man living out his final years a world away, in rural Co. Tipperary. (8)

Timothy Durick’s Mark from his November 1868 Application (Image via Fold3)

(1) Griffiths Valuation, Pensioners on the Roll:640; (2) Jeremiah Durick Widow’s Pension File; (3) Ibid. (4) Adjutant General Report: 42; Jeremiah Durick Wodow’s Pension File; (5) O’Grady 1902; (6) Phisterer 1912, Official Records: 298; (7) Jeremiah Durick Widow’s Pension File; (8) Ibid., Civil Registrations;

References & Further Reading

Government Printing Office 1883. List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883. Volume 5

Ireland Civil Registration Deaths Index, 1864-1958; Nenagh Registration District

Ireland Griffith’s Valuation, 1848-1864; Owney and Arra, Co. Tipperary

Jeremiah Durick Widow’s Pension File WC109831

New York Adjutant-General 1893. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York, Volume 31

Official Records of the War of Rebellion Series 1, Volume 19 (Part 1). Report of Lieut. Col. Patrick Kelly, Eighty-eighth New York Infantry, of the battle of Antietam

O’Grady, William 1902. ‘Historical Sketch of the 88th New York’ in New York Monuments Commission, Final Report on the Battlefield of Gettysburg.

Phisterer, Frederick 1912. New York in the War of the Rebellion

www.fold3.com

New York State Military Museum

Civil War Trust Battle of Antietam Page

Antietam National Battlefield Park

Filed under: 88th New York, Irish Brigade, Tipperary, Vermont Tagged: Battle of Antietam, Co. Tipperary, Irish American Civil War, Irish Military Pensions, Nenagh, Nenagh History, Pensioners on the Roll, Widow's Pension Files

How To Find American Civil War Veterans from Irish Counties: A Case Study of Mathew Dooley, Roscrea

I receive regular requests from around Ireland to provide information on men from specific parts of the country who served during the American Civil War. Pinning veterans down to a locality of origin is a difficult challenge, but it is often possible to reveal some of their stories. Having recently conducted  research on one fascinating Roscrea man- Private Mathew Dooley- I decided to take the opportunity to share some of the techniques I employ to find out more about men like him. In Mathew’s case, this is a story which was intrinsically linked throughout his life to the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

Pension Index Card of Mathew Dooley (Fold3)

I have had the occasion (and indeed privilege) this year to give a large number of talks about the Irish in the American Civil War in different parts of Ireland. I always try to give these presentations a local focus, highlighting those from the area who were caught up in the conflict. While it is usually possible to provide information on Generals and Officers, it is generally much more difficult to trace enlisted men back to the exact location of their birth. There are many reasons for this, among them the poor state of records from this period in Ireland, the lack of information on origins gathered at immigration ports, and the tendency for birth data to be recorded only as ‘Ireland’ in contemporary U.S. military records. As a result, despite the fact that we know thousands of men from each county in Ireland served between 1861 and 1865, we often know the precise localities of only a few dozen of them.

Given these difficulties, there are a couple of sources I tend to return to when I hope to find people from specific areas. One is the ‘Information Wanted’ advertisements of the New-York Irish American and Boston Pilot, which often reveal exactly where the subject of the advertisement was from. The ‘Information Wanted’ ads from the Irish American have been published in book form and are also accessible through subscription to the GenealogyBank site here. The ads from the Pilot are freely available through the database at Boston College here. Another resource is the List of Pensioners on the Roll, taken in 1883, which records the location of men, women and children who were receiving U.S. Military Pensions at that time. You can access this either through Ancestry or for free through archive.org. The Roll reveals that a number of individuals were having pensions delivered to local post offices in Ireland, and so it can be used as an an indicator of where they lived, and in the majority of cases where they were originally from. In advance of a recent talk for the Roscrea Heritage Society I decided to see was anyone in that Co. Tipperary town collecting a military pension in 1883. It transpired that there was- Mathew Dooley, Pension Certificate No. 135,213, who was in receipt of $3.00 per month for a wound he had sustained to his right leg. Short of ordering Dooley’s Pension File for additional information (with the associated cost), what more is there to be found out about Dooley? (1)

Men of Company K, 2nd New York Heavy Artillery at Fort C.F. Smith (Library of Congress)

I tend to use Fold3 and Ancestry as a means of tracking men like this. Having Mathew’s Pension Certificate Number means it is possible to source his Pension Index Card (Fold3), which stated that he served as a Private in Company G of the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery. He had enlisted on 11th October 1861 and was discharged on October 14th 1864. His card also indicates that he passed away on 2nd June 1917, in Washington D.C. A review of the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery’s history (on a site such as the NPS Soldiers and Sailors Database) reveals that aside from it’s role in the Washington defences it was engaged at Second Bull Run and during the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns, mustering out on 29th September 1865. If you want to find out more about the specific actions of regiments like this and reports relating to them, the best free resource are the digitized Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, which are available for free via Cornell University. The roster of regiment, available along will those of every New York unit through the New York State Military Museum here, provides additional information on Mathew, which is as follows:

Dooley Matthew.- Age, 20 years. Enlisted, October 11, 1861, at New York City; mustered in as private, Co. G, October 15, 1861, to serve three years; discharged, October 14, 1864. (2)

The most important revelation here is Mathew’s age. Armed now with an approximate birth date and known death date, it is possible to see what other documents there are relating to him. An 18-year-old man named Mathew Dooley arrived in New York on 11th April 1861 aboard the Cultivator which had sailed from Liverpool (Ancestry). Although we can’t be certain this is the same man, it seems likely that it is, indicating that when the Roscrea native enlisted he had only been in the country for a few months. Having made a life in the United States, Mathew decided to return to Roscrea sometime after the war’s end. The major question is why he chose to go back to Ireland, and having returned why did he subsequently return to the United States? The answers ultimately reveal much about the many struggles he endured in the years following the war. (3)

Officers of Companies K and L, 2nd New York Heavy Artillery at Fort C.F. Smith (Library of Congress)

Mathew Dooley’s name occurs again and again in the records of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (Ancestry). These homes were designed to give men who had served a refuge and somewhere to live. Although they were run according to military doctrine, veterans applied to enter and could apply to leave whenever they wished. The different entries for Mathew reveal much about both his service and his life in general. He is described as being 5 feet 9 inches in height, with a fair complexion, light coloured eyes and light hair. It was also noted he was unmarried, was a Catholic and could read and write. We further discover that the gunshot wound he had received to his right foot had occurred at the Battle of the Wilderness on 7th May 1864, and that he had left his regiment in 1864 from its position in front of Petersburg following the expiration of his term of service. After the war he had worked as a plumber in New York, but by 1877 had made the decision to enter one of the Homes. It was a pattern that would continue for the rest of his life- Mathew was admitted and re-admitted to different Homes around the United States a total of 21 times, spanning 39 years. He was last discharged only a few months prior to his death in 1917. (4)

Branch

Admitted

Discharged

Southern (Hampton, Virginia)

13th October 1877

1st March 1878

Eastern (Togus, Maine)

29th April 1887

16th March 1889

Central (Dayton, Ohio)

19th October 1892

12th January 1893

Central (Dayton, Ohio)

10th October 1899

26th February 1900

North-Western (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

26th October 1900

11th October 1901

Danville (Danville, Illinois)

14th January 1902

25th June 1903

North-Western (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

24th October 1903

27th April 1904

Mountain (Johnson City, Tennessee)

28th November 1904

17th May 1905

Central (Dayton, Ohio)

24th July 1906

3rd October 1906

Marion (Marion, Indiana)

13th October 1908

24th February 1909

Central (Dayton, Ohio)

1st September 1910

24th May 1911

Mountain (Johnson City, Tennessee)

22nd September 1911

13th February 1912

Danville (Danville, Illinois)

29th December 1912

28th March 1913

Eastern (Togus, Maine)

27th September 1913

20th January 1914

Western (Leavenworth, Kansas)

15th April 1914

18th June 1914

Southern (Hampton, Virginia)

15th August 1914

1st October 1914

Danville (Danville, Illinois)

27th December 1914

24th March 1915

Central (Dayton, Ohio)

15th July 1915

18th September 1915

Mountain (Johnson City, Tennessee)

25th January 1916

4th April 1916

North-Western (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

27th June 1916

19th September 1916

Southern (Hampton, Virginia)

4th October 1916

13th January 1917

Table 1. Admission and Discharge Records for Mathew Dooley at National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

Mathew’s time in the National Homes did not always go smoothly- at one point he was dishonorably discharged for ‘continued disobedience of orders and general bad conduct.’ It may have been this that led him to return to Ireland, sometime after his discharge from the Southern Branch of the Home in March 1878. While in the Home he had recorded his next as kin as his sister Johanna in Roscrea, and he must have hoped that he could put his difficulties behind him with the help of his family in Co. Tipperary. For whatever reason, be they personal or financial, Mathew spent only a few years in Roscrea before once again heading to the United States, and the support that the National Homes had to offer. He was readmitted on 29th April 1887 to the Eastern Branch. (5)

Eastern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (Library of Congress)

By the time of his return to America, at least some of Mathew’s family were making their home there; over the years he recorded as next of kin a sister Mrs. Julia Casey living in New York, and niece, Mrs. Ellen Gillen, who resided at 214 Little 12th Street in Manhattan. He got into trouble again for his conduct at the Home in 1893, but overall the majority of his discharges were voluntarily, no doubt as he sought to make his way successfully in different parts of the United States. However, as the years passed Mathew was beset by a variety of illnesses and disabilities that made him more and more reliant on the National Homes. Aside from his old gunshot wound, he was variously recorded as suffering from Chronic Bronchitis, Sciatica, Prostatic Hypertrophy, Cardiac Hypertrophy, Hemorrhoids, Arteriosclerosis, Chronic Rheumatism and difficulties with his eyes. (6)

The above sources are but a small selection of those that I generally use when attempting to discover more about Irish emigrants in the war- there are many others worth examining, for example the wealth of digitized newspapers freely available through the Library of Congress Chronicling America website or the wealth of online memoirs available at archive.org. Mathew Dooley’s story is also a demonstration of what can be revealed about one Irish soldier’s experience through the resources that are now being made available online. These resources offer us the potential to take a man like Mathew Dooley beyond a mere entry in a list of pensioners, revealing something more about his life and experiences.

Camp of the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery and 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Belle Plains, Virginia, 16th May 1864- 9 days after Mathew Dooley was wounded at The Wilderness (Library of Congress)

(1) Pensioners on the Roll 1883: 640; (2) Mathew Dooley Pension Index Card, New York Adjutant-General 1893: 621; (3) New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; (4) U.S. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers 1866-1938; (5) Ibid; (6) Ibid;

References & Further Reading

www.ancestry.com

www.fold3.com

www.genealogybank.com

www.archive.org

Chronicling America at the Library of Congress

National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database

New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center

Official Records of the War of the Rebellion at Cornell University

Government Printing Office 1883. List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883. Volume 5

Mathew Dooley Pension Index Card Certificate No. 135,213

New York Adjutant General. Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York for the Year 1893

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

U.S. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers 1866-1938 (Togus, Johnson City, Danville, Marion, Leavenworth, Bath)

Filed under: New York, Research, Tipperary Tagged: American Civil War Veterans, Co. Tipperary, GenealogyBank, Irish American Civil War, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Roscrea, Roscrea Veterans, Tipperary American Civil War

An Infographic of Irish Involvement in the American Civil War

As part of the teaching process with Masters students in University College Cork’s Digital Arts and Humanities Programme I have been exploring the world of infographics and their potential to communicate information in an attractive and easy to digest manner. For those of us without substantial graphic design or software skills there are a number of sites which attempt to facilitate the creation of infographics based on pre-existing templates. One such site is Easel.ly, which formed part of a tutorial delivered by Paul O’Shea and I earlier this week. In preparation for this I decided last weekend to experiment with Easel.ly, with specific reference to communicating information regarding Irish participation in the American Civil War. I am a fan of using visuals to communicate historic information and there have been some previous posts that have explored this, such as Scarred Men: The Disfigurements of New York Irishmen, 1863 and Visualising the Demographics of Death: 82 Men of the 9th Massachusetts. My easel.ly effort is somewhat basic and could do with honing, but I wanted to take a handful of the facts and figures regarding Irish involvement and put them in a format that might draw attention to the sheer scale of the war’s impact on the Irish diaspora, something that in particular needs to be better understood and examined in Ireland. Despite its crude nature I felt that as I had created it for the class, I may as well share it on the blog!

An Infographic of Irish Involvement in American Civil War

Filed under: Digital Arts and Humanities, Irish in the American Civil War Tagged: Digital Arts & Humanities, Easel.ly, Infographics, Irish American Civil War, Irish Diaspora, Irish emigration, Irish History, University College Cork