1. The Irish Brigade in the Civil War
Brendan Helms

2. Thesis
Through their own nationalistic pride, and devotion to the union cause, the Irish Brigade helped break down the barriers put up by ethnic segregation. Their service proved to the American people that Irish immigrants, and all immigrants to come, had a valuable role to play in building America’s future.

3. Questions
Did common soldiers in the Irish Brigade believe they were being deliberately sent to their death in the midst of battle due to their ethnicity?
Was any of this belief based on class , or religious views or was it strictly ethnic?
Was their different opinions depending on rank?
Why did they remain loyal despite discrimination?
How did their service prove the thesis?

4. History 1861: 69th New York fights at Bull Run under Michael Corcoran
1861: 88th and 63rd New York join to form the “Irish Brigade” under Gen. Thomas F. Meagher
1862: Peninsula Campaign with McClellan, fight at Seven Pines and Malvern Hill
1862: 28th Massachusetts and 116th Pennsylvania join
1862: Battle of Antietam
1862: Battle of Fredericksburg
1863: Battle of Chancellorsville
1863: Battle of Gettysburg
: Consolidated
1864: Overland Campaign
1865: Appomattox

5. Gen. Thomas F. Meagher “Young Ireland” revolt 1848 Tasmania exile
Escaped to United States in 1852
1861: First Bull Run
1861: Formed Irish Brigade, promoted to general
1862: Battle of Fredericksburg
1863: Battle of Chancellorsville
1863: Resigned command

6. Pvt. William Dwyer Private in the 63rd New York Volunteer Infantry
”Dear Mother we thought surely that our brigade was going home to New York that time but we were kept back and would not be let go in account of we being Irish. In the three old Regts we have only 250 for duty when we ought to have 3000 men for duty so we thought when we were so small that we would be sent home to fill up but who ever lives after the next battle can go home because it is little will be left of us.” – Letters of William Dwyer, Jan 23rd Fredericksburg VA, 1863

7. Pvt. John Doherty Private, 63rd New York Volunteers
The we[a]ther was very hot and we were almost smothered with dust but the cheerful spirit of the Irish Brigade made the road seem short, the funny joke and merry laugh of the men at all times whether on the battlefield, on the march or in camp makes the Brigade the envy of the rest of the army– the[y] would go along in silence looking sad while the Irish men would be laughing and singing.– Doherty Letters

8. Sgt. Peter Welsh 1862: Joined 28th Massachusetts
1862: Battle of Antietam
1862: Promoted to Corporal
1862: Battle of Fredericksburg
1863: Battle of Chancellorsville
1863: Battle of Gettysburg
1863: Draft Riots
1863: Promoted to sergeant
1864: Battle of the Wilderness
1864: Battle of Spotsylvania
1864: Wounded at Spotsylvania
1864: Dies May 28th 1864

9. Conclusions

10. Sources Secondary Sources: Transcribed Source:
Boyle, Frank A. A Party of Mad Fellows: The Story of the Irish Regiments in the Army of the Potomac. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1996.
Bruce, Susannah Ural. The Harp and the Eagle: Irish-American Volunteers and the Union Army, New York: New York Univ. Press, 2006.
Burton, William L. Melting Pot Soldiers: The Union's Ethnic Regiments. New York: Fordham University Press,
Craughwell, Thomas J. "Remembering Ireland and Fighting for the Union." The American Spectator, August 2011, Accessed April 20, JSTOR.
Tucker, Phillip Thomas. "God Help The Irish!" The History of the Irish Brigade. Abilene, TX: McWhiney Foundation Press, 2007.
Young, Patrick. "Recruiting the Irish Brigade, Creating the Irish American." Long Island Wins. May 25, Accessed April 23, irish-american/.
Transcribed Source:
Welsh, Peter, and Lawrence Frederick. Kohl. Irish Green and Union Blue: The Civil War Letters of Peter Welsh, Color Sergeant, 28th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. New York: Fordham University Press, 1986.

11. Sources (ctd) Primary Sources:
Bentley, Richard C., Col. Report of Lieut. Col. Richard C. Bentley, Sixty-third New York Infantry. Report. Falmouth,
Condon, Patrick J., Capt. Report of Capt. Patrick J. Condon, Sixty-third New York Infantry. Report. Falmouth, 1862.
Kelly, Patrick, Col. Report of Col. Patrick Kelly, Eighty-eighth New York Infantry. Report. Falmouth, 1862.
"Report of Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Meagher, U.S. Army, Commanding Second Brigade." Francis Thomas Meagher, Gen. to Winfield Scott Hancock. December 20, Federal Camp, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
"Report of Capt. Denis F. Burke, Eighty-eighth New York Infantry." Denis F. Burke to Lieut. W.S. Bailey. August 3, Federal Camp, Morrisville, Virginia.
"Report of Col. Richard Byrnes, Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Infantry." Letter from Richard Byrnes, Col. December 21, Falmouth, Virginia.
"Report of Colonel Patrick Kelly, 88th New York Infantry, Commanding Second Brigade (The Irish Brigade), First Division, Second Corps on Operations at Gettysburg:." Patrick Kelly, Col. to Maj. John Hancock. August 9, Morrisville, Virginia.
"Report of Maj. St. Clair A. Mulholland, One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry." St. Clair A. Mulholland, Maj. to Capt. Theo W. Greig. July 17, Federal Camp, Sandy Hook, Maryland.
"Dear Mother." William Dwyer, Co. to Mother of William Dwyer. January 23, Federal Camp, Falmouth, Virginia.
"My Dear Mother." William Dwyer, Co. to Mother of William Dwyer. January 26, Federal Camp, Falmouth, Virginia.

12. Picture Links
Title:
Meagher: success/thomas-francis-meagher-put-the-fight-in-civil-wars-irish-brigade/
Memorial Image:
Doherty slide: Regiment-Civil-War-Flag_p_212.html
Peter Welsh: irish-brigade /