Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-28
General Meagher.
aEvIEw OF HIs MILITARY CAREER.


The retirement Of this officer from the army
will be received with regret by all who are ac
qusinted with his sterling worth as gentleman,
eod dis bravery, devotion and ability as sol-
dier. Through his personal influence and e&
e,tiors the Irish Brigade Of New York was
raised INN edistely after the frat Bull Run
battle. Il then consisted of four regiments of
infantry and two batteries of artillery, and mum
bered more than five thousand men, of the best
fighting m lterial the country has produced At
the head of this force, General Meagher took
the field 10 person, and at its head has Femaindd
leading his heroic followers through oil the
bloody battles Of Eastern Virginia and Mary
land, leaving portions of his mon on every ft ID,
and 10 every engagement earning distinguished
honors, not less for himself than bis command
The brigade was peculiarly an Irish ofganiz.-
tion. All its etaff officers as well as tho,e of
the field and line, and also, nearly every private
in the ranks, were Irishmen. There was na-
tional pride excited In the raising Of the brig
ade, which has been foslered In the perpetuatiSn
of its existence. Ittook the iieldpurely TO fight
90 American soldiers for the preservation of the
American Government; but the desire 6hs
manifested to exhibit the devotion Of adopted
given them an asylum. .'..-a ~ .
WHY THE BRIGADE WAS NOT UNITED TO ANY
OTHER.
With this object in view its commander aud
officers desired to retain Its national character,
and have not therefore been willing to consoli-
date 1t with other brlgadess or. to incorporate
with Il regiments, or parts OF regiments NOT
| Irish In their character. 10 the severe battles
through which II has passed, its ranks have been
rapidly thinning, until, at the present time, the
| AL ~ Ia khun Ro,,. huo ~
men--not half OF one regiment. lts batteriea
we're detached long ago, when BY general orders,
bIgades of infantry were not allowed artillery,
GEN, MEAoHER's FLEA TO THE GOVERNMENT.
From time to time Gen. Meagher has pleaded
| for permission to withdraw this fragment Of
brigade from the field and take 1t to New York,
and there recruit It's ranks. Bat this permission
has been steadily withheld, and no opportunity,
has been given FOR recruiting, until at last the
organisation has become 30 small as to DO but
burlesqus on a brigade. General Meaghsr
had too much sclf-fe:pect and honor to continre
70 receive the honors and emoluments of
brigade commander while commanding merely
battalion adapted to the commend OF major.
It Is for this reasca solely that he rendered his
resignation. The fragments Of the regiments
composing the brigade are about to be consoli
dated into one regiment.
L HIS FAREwELL TO HIa TROOPS.
Last evening Gen. Meagher assembled bis
little command aud took his leave OF them. The
occasion was one of much Interest,". and will
certainly long be remembered by every member
of the organization all OF whom, without a
single exception, are devotedly attached to their
old commander. The brigade was formed Ia
hollow square, the General and his stan IN the
center, with Brigadier Gen. Caldwell and other
visitors. Inc band OF the foufteentn Connec'
ticut was also present, and furnished some
most appropriate music iOr sne occasion.