Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-11-23

Col. James 4. 4nligaA
Col. James A. Mulligan was born
in the city OF Utica, New York, in the
year 1929, and is consequently in his
32d year. Ills parents were the natives
ofIreland. Ills mother, after the death
of his father, which took place when he
was a child, removed to Chicago, where
she has resided with her son for the
past twenty-three years. She married
q respectable Irish American in Chica-
go, named Michael Lantry, who has
watched with fathers solicitude the
expanding mind Of the bravo young
soldier. He was educated at the Cath
olic College of North Chicago, under
the superintendent of the Rev. Mr..
Kinsellar, now of New York City. lie
is strict member of the Catholic
Church. In 1852, 1853 and 1854 he
read law in the office of Isaac N. Ar
mold, Congressman from the Chicago
District. For q short time he edited
the Western Tablet, semi-religious
weekly newspaper. In 1856 he was
admitted an attorney y-at-law in Chicago.
At the time he held the position of
Second Lieutenant in the Chicago
Shields Guards, one of the companies
attached to the Irish Brigade now in
Missouri, aud which has done so we'll
at Lexington.
In the winter Of 1857 Senator Fitch,
of Indiana, rendered him clerkship in
the Department of the Interior. He
accepted the position and spent the
winter at Washington and corrcsponded
with the Utica Telegraph over the nom
de pl,tme of "Santa." After his return
from Washington he was elected Cap
tain of the Shields Guards. On the
news arriving of the bombardment OF
Fort Sumter, he threw his soul into the
national cause. Tho Irish American
companies held a meeting, of which he
was Chairman. Shortly afterwards
he went to Washington, with a letter
written by the late Senator Douglas, on
his dcath-bed, to the President, tender
ing a regiment to be called the Irish
Brigade" lie was elected Colonel,
and Immediately went to work with a
will. The course of the bri gade up to
the battle Of Lexington is well known
it has nobly, bravely and honorably
done its duty.
Colonel Mulligan is worthy of all
praise. a purer, abetter man does not
live in the State Of Illinois. Since he
was able to tell the difference between
ale and water glass of spirituous OF
malt liquor has notpassed his lips. lie
is a rigid temperance man, although he
is jocund and whole-souled to a fault.
He is six feet three inches in hight,
with a wiry, elastic frame, large, lus'
trous hazel eye-an open frank Celtic
face, stamped with bushy profusion OF
hair tinctured with gray. Honorable
in all relations-respcctcd by all--he
has won his way by untiring industry
and unquestionable courage. On tho
26th day of October, 1850, ne was mar
ried to Miss Marian Nugent, by the Ro-
man Catholic Bishop Of Chicago.
A fine scholar, good speaker, q
brilliant writer, promising lawyer,
was he when the banner of the Union
was insulted. Now he is-long may
no continue so-one OF the brave de-
Tenders Of the Union. In one Of his
last letters received by the gentleman
above alluded to, he says:
"If l die, if | fall in defense Of our
laws and Constitution, let my example
be followed by every man who loves
the fame and renown Of the fathers who
made US great and honored people,"