The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-10-21
Biographical sketch of Brevet Major
General Meagher.

UeheTal NAeaBhers
Thomas Francis Meagher was born on the
Sd of August, 1925. at Waterford-one of
the oldest and most renowned cities of
Ireland. His father was the senior member
of great commercial firm, in the New
foundland trade, and L. F. Meagher is often
claimed to be one of the oldest
representatives of the "Codfsh aristocracy."
His grandfather and father had no less than
seven ships engaged in that trade.
At eleven years of age he was sent to the
Jesuit College, Clongoes' Wood, County
Kildare, Ireland. For FIVE years he remained
there, and then went to Stonyhurst College,
the celebrated seminary of the English
Jesuits in Lancashire, within forty-fve miles
of Liverpool. Here he devoted hin.Jslfsto
the routine of studies prescribed, and made
himself popular by his hearty Identification
with the adventures of his fellow students.
He was, in word, a favorite with them !;
but was as wild as he was brilliant. At the
close of the collegiate course at Stonyhurst,
he carried of, Notwithstanding his wildness,
the silver medal for rhetoric, and was
acknowledged as the foremost orator of that
school Of rhetoric and eloquence.
He left Stonyhurst at an eventful moment
so far as his native country was concerned.
His disposition and tastes were to be an Off
Ger in the British army. Some of the best
men from Ireland were in that army, as for
instance, Wellington, Harding, Cough, Sale
and many others. ltwas a question between
him and the liberty of his country. His
father was at this time Mayor Of Waterford.
O'Connell had raised what was recognized
as the flag of Irish nationality, and Thomas
Francis Meagher, finging aside his prospects
as an officer in the British service, boldly
and irrevocably threw himself into the ranks
and fortunes of the cause of Irish nation
ality-as it was magniieently presented tc
him by the eloquence of that great Irish
patriot. The poetry and earnest action OF
the movement was embodied in what wa:
then called g s'Young Ireland "-the intel
lectual party which proceeded not so much
upon the historic wrongs that had beer
inflicted upon Ireland, as from a thorougl
conviction thai its faculties and resources
Were such as could make it a great and inde
pendent nation. Thomas Francis Meaghe
identified himself with this party, and accep
| ted the fortunes of it.
| In the abortive attempt of lS4S, he there
fore exposed himself to the power of tn
British Government; and, after feeble ant
futile efforts among the mountains of Tip
perary, he was arrested and transported TO
life, (never again to see his native land
which sentence still holds good. Coming t
America as he did, with an honest and chiv
alrous renunciasion of his parole, he arrive
in New York on the evening of the 9th Q
June, 1852. immediately lpon his arriva
oitI5ens OF al parties, crcsas tada Itada hrshfs
from the highest to The lowest. The Commo
Council of New York presented him with
most complimentary address, and invite
him to public procession and the hospita
tiles oe the city. This he respectfully df
clined in most eloquent letter, alleging 6
his principal reason for doing so, that th
comrades who had shared the dangers an
misfortunes of the attempt to free mis- natl,
land were still in captivity, and that it woul
be unworthy of him, while they were IN exil
to accept any ovation.
} For the first three years Of his residen'
in the United States, he devoted himself
lecturing Oh various subjects of public inte
| est, visiting, on the invitation Of the iteral
societies Of those places, all the great citi
r of the Union. He was thus enabled to b
D come personally acquainted with the lea
, ing citizens and most distinguished me
i. not only of New York, but of Philadelphi
e Boston, Baltimore, St. Louis, Richmond 81
- Petersburg, Va, Wilmingto tol, N. c., Mobil
S New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Vicksbur
: Natchez. etc., etc. At Baton Rouge, he W
d the guest of the Governor of Louisiana, 81
at Jackson he enjoyed the hospitality Of t
e Governor of Mississippi. In these plac
e and in several others, he was voted t
! Legislative Halls 20 speak N, and was pu
y licly entertained.
It Early in 1856, General Meagher start
the Irish Ne,cs, weekly paper devoted
is the illustration of Irish interests, and ad'
'r eating the broad principles of citizensh
from which he has never swerved; but,
NJ sirous Of having more active field for
,f exercise of his talents, he resigned the e
1T torship, and with it, the ownership, of
te Nesrs, early in 1858, and betook himself
o, Central America, which he extensively
III plored, and the results of his Observable
lie in which appeared in the most charm
s. and brilliant illustrated articles, at differ
Mt times, in HGrper's Monthly Magazine.
1t was Immediately on his return from
IN last visit to Central America that the :
MT occasioned by the rebellion of the So
wv broke out. Though warmly attached to
w South from personal associations of the 4
cordial character, and strongly repugn
yn to coercive measures against section of
country in which he had formed many
re dial friendships, and which he greatly
.or mired, he saw and felt that it was ais d
Ir. to sustain the authority of the United Sta
ng and upon mature deliberation, he de
rt- mined to support it in the field.
to The famous Irish regiment of New Y
nd the old 69th, under the command Of the
ad General Michael Corcoran, having proeee
ers TO the seat of war, he undertook TO rel
Is, company for it, and, early in May, !
lso ioined it. He left New York for Washin!
, of at the head of as splendid a body of yc
Irishmen as the Union army of that
civ could boast of. In the disastrous battl
tdee BULBS Run, ON the 2lst Of the July fol
ms. ing, he participated, with the gallant {
ere in the perils and glories which ais regir
ers encountered and won on that day.
,ar A few days after that battle, the regiI