|
The Minstrel Boys |
|
Articles |
|
Recreating the role of the Irish in the American Civil War 1861-65 |
|
The five regiments (116th Pennsylvania, 63rd New York, 28th Massachusetts, 88th New York and 69th New York), of the Irish brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher formed in line of battle that afternoon in December 1862 at the bottom of Marye's Heights just outside the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Little did they know that they would be marching into history. They did know the danger that lay in front of them for they had seen what had happened to the brigades who had gone in before them. Meagher himself was suffering from an infected knee and General Hancock (commander of II Corps) had ordered all field and staff officers to make the attack on foot so he would go as far as he could. There they stood with colours flying in the breeze but only one was carrying the green flag that day (28th Mass.) emblazoned with the gold harp, shamrocks, and the motto 'Faugh a Ballagh' (Clear the Way), as the other regimental colours had been sent home to New York for replacement. However there was no shortage of Ireland's national colour that day.
"Green box-wood was culled in a garden near-by and Meagher placed a sprig in his Irish cap. Every officer and man followed his example, and soon great bunches of the fragrant shrub adorned the caps of everyone. Wreaths were made and hung upon the tattered flags, and the national colour of the Emerald Isle blended in fair harmony with the red white and blue of the Republic" (Mulholland, 116th Pennsylvania).
"Fix Bayonets!" was the order," the clink, clink, clink, of the cold steel sounding along the line made one's blood run cold" . (McCarter, My Life in the Irish Brigade). Then 'Right shoulder shift, arms! Battalion forward, guide centre, March!" and each man stepped out. They were in the open going down a gentle slope for about 200 yards towards a canal. The Confederate artillery now concentrated on them. a single shell hit the line of the 88th killing or wounding 18 men. Another exploded over the 116th Colonel Dennis Heenan fell, and it also took the head off Sergeant John Marley, leaving his body in a kneeling position supported by his musket. The advance was slowed as they struggled over the canal; they reformed and dressed the line under the slight shelter of the slope, which gave them cover from the Confederate fire. The last across was General Meagher being carried by two slightly wounded privates. He ordered that the 63rd and 116th change positions as the inexperienced 116th would be less exposed. Meagher then went over to the left flank and peered over the slope. To the front was a ploughed field and about 150 yards in front of that again was General Zook's brigade advancing on the Confederate line. General Meagher then gave the order "Irish Brigade, Advance!" From here he could not go on, for the next order would be, "At the double-quick, March!" As the brigade advanced Meagher made his way down to the town and his horse.
Into the storm of metal they went. The 63rd nearly ran over another regiment lying on the ground. they then had to split in two to get round an abandoned earthwork, just as Major Joseph O'Neil was hit. Captain Patrick Joesph Condon had to go over to the left as it was veering away from the rest of the line. All this time men were going down all along the line. At this point Lieutenant Colonel St. Clair A. Mulholland, from Lisburn Co. Down, of the 116th was hit and from the spot were he lay saw the later stages.
"The hills rained fire and the men advanced with heads bowed as when walking against a hailstorm. Still through the deadly shower the ever-thinning lines pressed on. The plain over which they had passed was thickly spotted with the men of the Second Corps, dead in twos and threes and in groups. Regiments and companies had their third and fourth commander, and the colors were borne to the front by the third or fourth gallant soul who had raised them. The gaps in lines had become so large and numerous that continued efforts had to be made to close them, and the command " guide centre" was frequently heard." (Mulholland, 116th Pennsylvania)
As they crossed the three fence lines which ran across the field Colonel Robert Nugent, another Co. Down man from Kilkeel, of the 69th was hit followed shortly by his second in command Major James Cavanagh. Of the regimental commanders only Colonel Patrick Kelly of the 88th and Colonel Richard Byrnes of the 28th were left standing to lead the charge, and try they did. Beyond the fences was the Confederate line, behind a low stonewall stood men of General Thomas R. R. Cobbs Georgia Brigade. In the centre was the 24th Georgia commanded by Colonel Robert McMillan a native of County Antrim. Many of the regiments of the regiments in this brigade counted a fair number of Irish in their ranks. As the range came down to about 70 yards the Confederates could see through the smoke that it was the Irish Brigade coming at them. The word spread along the line, "Oh, God what a pity! Here comes Meagher's fellows!" (McCarter, My Life in the Irish Brigade). But this did not deter them from their duty. The order rang out, "Ready, Aim Fire!". The rattle of musketry ran along the line. The fence rail splintered in all directions, the men of the Irish Brigade went down left right and centre. Still they moved forward. Some struggled forward with the Colours but most of the colour guards were now down. At about just over 30 yards what remained of the Brigade halted and commenced firing at the Confederates. It was here that Private William McCarter, a Derry man, received his most serious wound.
"I had discharged six or seven shots. I don't know which, up to three times the ranks of Cobb's brigade right in our front behind the stone wall. I was getting ready to fire again, had taken the cartridge out of my cartridge box, bitten the end off it, inserted it into the muzzle of my musket, when a bullet struck me in the uplifted arm, close up in the shoulder. The limb dropped powerless at my side. I knew something serious had happened to me. But at the moment did not realise that a Rebel bullet had hit me, inflicting a very serious wound. At first I thought that the man in the rear immediately behind me in the second line or one of the men in the front or first line by my side had accidentally struck my elbow with the butt end of a musket. For my feelings then were exactly like those produced by being suddenly hit that way or by knocking my elbow a hard blow against a brick or stonewall. But in a very few more seconds, I discovered what was the matter. I actually was shot but in what particular spot, I was yet in ignorance. A stream of warm blood now came rushing down the inside and outside sleeve of my uniform, then down the side of my pants into my right foot shoe until it overflowed. Next, dizziness in the head and partial loss of sight came over me accompanied by violent pain in the wounded part. Then growing very faint and weak from loss of blood, I fell flat on my face on the ground with my musket, which I clutched, with my left hand by my side. My comrades now stood over me and near me, still in line... (McCarter, My Life in the Irish Brigade).
The Brigade could go no further the majority of the officers had been killed or wounded. It was now obvious to Kelly and Byrnes that it was over, the Brigade could not go on. The order was passed along the line to fall back. Those that could make their way back down towards the town did so; many wounded would remain on the field until nightfall. They had done all that flesh and blood could do but to no avail against the storm of metal that faced them. Of the total of 1,200 men that started out, 545 were casualties, a rate of 45% (higher than the Light Brigade at Balaklava). Of the five regimental commanders three were wounded. Maybe the last word can be left to the correspondent of the London Times who watched the battle from the Confederate lines.
"Never at Fontenoy, Albuera, or at Waterloo was more undaunted courage displayed by the sons of Erin. The bodies which lie in dense masses within 40 yards of Col. Walton's guns are best evidence what manner of men they were who pressed on to death with the dauntlessness of a race which has gained glory on a thousand battlefields, and never more richly deserved it than at the foot of Marye's Heights on the 13th December 1862" (The Times, 13th Jan. 1863, Union Defeat at Fredsricksberg).
Bibliography
Boyle Frank A.A Party of Mad Fellows. Morningside 1996 Conyngham David P. The Irish Brigade and its Campaigns. McSorley & Co. 1867 McCarter William. My Life in the Irish Brigade. Savas 1996 Welsh Peter. Irish Green & Union Blue. Fordham 1986 Mulholland St. Clair 116th Pennsylvania Fordham 1988
|
|
The Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg 13th December 1862 by Cameron W. Robinson
'The whole race...is madly fond of war: high-spirited and quick to battle and on whatever pretext you stir them up, you will have them face danger; even if they have nothing on their side but their own strength and courage' (Strabo,1st Century BC) |