The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-05-15
The Irish Brigade.
UsADoCAnTEus Ip,su r

| .ApstS anil Ho, lhI6A DklSApE /
Hancock Division, Couch's Corps,
Army OF the Potomac, May 8, 1863. J
MAJ or John Hancock, Assistant Adip,an
General:
| beg most respectfully TO tender to 70,
through the properauthorities, my era
ton as Brigsdier>General, commandins
what was once known as the Irish Brigade
The brigade no longer exists. The ass.u!
on the snemy's works on the 18th Of De
cember last. reduced it 10 something les,
than minimum regimen, Of infaufrv.-
For several week. it remained in tLis ess
hausted condition.
Brave fs.lows from the convalesc.u,
camp and from sick beds a; home. gtsdu.
ally reinforced this handful of devoted
men. Neverthlsss, i. failed to reach Che
strength or proportions Of anything liks a
fail regiment. These facts represented
as clearly and forcibly as was in nv pow
eF 20 do In memorial to the Seeretary Of
War, Ia which memorial PRAYED tLa. a
brigade which had rendered such service
and incurred such distressing losses should
be temporarily relieved from duty in Tie
field, SO as 's give i, tins and Opportunity
IN some measures 10 renew itself
The memorial was in vain. II never
even was ACKNOWLEDGED. TIE depression
caused By this ungene-ous al j nconsider
ate trsa.men, Of galan. remnant Of 8
brigade that hal never once failed 70 do
It's duty most literally and heroicslIy al
most untitled ne to remain in command
irue, however, 10 those who had been
true 10 me-true to position which
coH8idered sacred under the circumsatn
ces-l remained with what was left Of my
brigade; and though feeling that it vas
10 sacrifice rather .haa to a victory that
we are going, | accompanied them ana
LED them through all the operations re
CURED Of !nem s.. Scots Mills and
Characteristic, beyond lie Rsppahan
mock.
4 Nero handful, MY command did lis
duty stthoss positions with fidelity and
resolution which won for it the al mira
ton OF the army 1t voull Ia nv great,
est happiness, as it would surely ts nv
highest honor, to remain in the compsn-
louShip and Charge Of such men bat 10
do so any longer would be to parpetua,e
public deception, IN which the hard won
honor5 Of good soldiers. ard in Them the
military reputation of brave Old lace.
would inevitably be involved and CONS
promised. cannot be party to this
wrong. Ny heart, ny conscience, rnY
pride, all that is truthful, manfui, sincere
AID just within ne forbid it.
la tenderng my resignation however.
as the Brigaajsr General in command OF
this poor vsstage and relic Of the Irish
Brigade, beg sincerely TO assure you
that sny services, in any capacity that csn
prove uaoiul, are freely a: the sum moas
and disposition Of the United S;atss.-
That government, and the cause, and the
liberty, the noble memories, and the "a
'"-s II represents, alo eulitled uuQueStlop
ably and efuivocally to the life of ever
citizen who has sworn ailegi snce to il,
aud partsken OF its grand protection.
But while | offer nv own life 70 s1s
tain this glorious good Government, feel
i. 10 be my tgst duty TO do nothing tia:
sill wsntonly imporiI tie lives Of he's,
or, what would be still more greyious and
irteparable. inI'ct SORROW aid humiliation
upon race who, having lost almost
everything else, fiud in their character
for courage and loyalty sn Invaluable gjh,
which ], for one, will not be go vain or
selfish as TO endsnger. | have the honor
70 tie, most respectfully and truly, YOURS,
THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGNER,
Brig. Gen. Commanding