The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-16
THE MEMORABLE 18TH OF APRIL.
Distinguished Irish Officers in
Europe and America.
WELLINGTON, ODosSELL, JACKSON, HAcNAHOy.
Services of the New York Sixty-Ninth and
Massachusetts Ninth Regiments
THE FAMOUS IRISH BRIGADE.

BosToS, April Is, 1877.
General Benjamin +. Butler whose public career Ia
probably varied than that OF any other man in
the country made his debut lecturer IN the Bos-
Ton Theatre this evening, before audience of nearly
three thousand people. Tho chosen subject ''The
Irish Soldier In War and Peace and the occasion which
brought about the eifuson was to raise funds IN aid
OF the family Of the late Colonel B. II. Finan, OF the
Ninth Massachusetts, regiment. The audience was, Of
course largely composed OF the Irish element but still
there were present many prominent native clizens,
including among those the platform several State
and city officials Ahor having been formally intro
duced to the audience by Mr. p A. Collins the General
proceeded with his lecture follows:-
MEMORABLE DAY.
Remembering what memorable events happened on
shs fifteenth day OF April sixteen years ago. men,
Drabe anniversary, 1t Is well for to be here. On
that day Major Anderson and his brave soldiers
marched out OF Fort Sumter, with the honors OF war,
II is true yield up to a public enemy u fortress Of
the United Statos, the first surrendered without
trcachery to armed foe On this day President Lin
coin issued his proclamation calling for 75 900 to
suppress armed combination and to cause all laws
to be faithfully executed repossess the FORTS places
and property which had been seized from the Union.
At this call the people Of every State in tho Union flew
TO arms sustain oppose the government On this
day the Mayor Of New York issued proclamation
calling upon the people of New York. retrospective OF
all other considerations and prejudlces, to unite in
obedience 70 the laws the support Of public peace
and the preservation Of order and the protection OF
property" On this day the Mayor. addressing the
cizens Of Philadelphia declared that 'by the grace
of Almighty God, treason shall never RAISE
its head have ioothold In Philade-
phia" On this day the Council OF the city Of
Boston, energetic and practical. took measures
To for tha of tha
volunteers who should enlist for tho Their
example was initiated by the city OF Lawrence, which
appropriated S. 900 for the benefit of the families OF
those who enlisted to defend the counrys flag and by
the city Of Lowell, which appropriated $1,000 for tho
same purpose On this day Governor Yates, of I'LL
nois-the loyal West responding to the Eas-ssued q
proclamation converting the Legislature to provide
enrolling and equipping troops 10 save the Union.
Nor was the enthusiasm OF that hour attempted to
DO confined to governmental and municipal bodies
alone 1t permeated all ranks and conditions Of lfe
penetrating even the marts OF trade and commerce
and banking. AS they could be called together
The representatives Of the Boston banks subscribed
600 900, being ten per OF their capital to DO
ioaned the Commonwealth to aid in the suppression
oil the rebellion The General then alluded TO tho
prayer OF the New York East Methodist Conference
that day, and the response made 10 IL by every
patriotic heart
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL FrNAN
The General here passed to pay eloquent tribute
TO the late Colonel Finan, preacng the same with
brei biographical sketch Of tho acceased concluding
with this cuiogy Of his sodier:-No better
more brilliant, effective illustration of the typo
OF Irish soldier can be found than have already
in tho military services OF deceased friend.
I'm pursuing this theme propose only to edit and
produce o lecture upon this topic, In which Colonel
F.nan was ENGAGED during the last months
Mt htu tfo ehn andS rr xuht
have been furnished. speak to you,
therefore, as he, living, would have spoken.
that shall portray but the Innings OF his hand
and the products OF his thought. From variety Of
not 10 defence Of his own SOIL. but in foreign lands
has the vaor and conduct Of the Irish soldier been
hloaed, his loyalty TO Inc country o. bis adoption
tempt OF death with which he did battle for the flag Of
his adoption, been most frequently and honorably
mentioned
THE IRISH SOLDIER IN EUROPE.
ON tho field OF Fontenoy Louis OF France, in behalf
Of his nation publicly thanked Irish Brigade
preservation Of the French army. the Held made
their commander, Count Laly, General OF France.
We are told II recoun TO George
OF England how the Irishnen fought on that glorious
day against him the king bitterly the penal laws
OF Great Britain which had deprived him Of such sub
jec,s such soldiers The Ronccvalles Pass, where
fe before the opposing lance, the harnessed chsvalry
OF SPAIN saw no better troops, Drawer men or truer
knights that the young legons OF Ireland who 80 often
by their vaor decided the fate OF the of
Ferdinand and Isabella. And in later times have but
ofSpal, TO bring flush to the check and light to
the eye OF every and daughter dear old Erin.
OF the Irish soldier and the skin OF tho Irish general
saved the armies OF Britain but true Irshman Will
contemplate with joy or satisfaction the victories OF
England, even when won by Irish valor, until the
heavy hand Of her oppression Is lifted from the Irish
nation and England does uIl justice to Ireland.
glowing reference was then made 10 the fact that
che Duke OF Wellington Of Irish birth, and to the
OF Wolf the Plains oil Abraham against the
French under Montcalm and the assault upon Quebec
MONTGOMERY.
The records OF the armies OF tho Revolution glitter
all over with the gallant exploits OF Irish soldiers who
with the fathers OF Republic LARD the very ounda-
ot liberties, and whose deeds and loyal
duct shone out conspcuousy IN the very darkest days
OF the Revolutionary contest need give the names
SULLIVAN, STARK, MSxn AND M'cLARY,
from New England alone 10 call TO mind but examples
In referring to Andrew Jackson, tho hero Of Now
Orleans as OF Irish descent the speaker said he was
the only instance where solder OF Irish exrnc-
tion has been called as civil chief to conduct great
republic In the nour OF It's greatest CIVIC perls when
q nation calls for
A single strong hand
IN. p.atsn. i.nd
Who rule and dare not lie
For AZ such may be named Marshol Maurice Patrick
NacMahon. President OF the French Republic
IRISH SOLDIERS DURING =.
Coming down 10 tho late civil war tho General
spoke OF Corcoran Moagher, Lalor, sweeney, Muir
ney, Doherty and Muiiigan, Birney, Shields,
Logan, Geary and sheridan. who fought TO nam
saiu mo government CieUurne, mcbfue MAhohcs
Shields ana Carroll, who fought Tor the 'siost
cause" All and each were pcuous Tor gaantry OF
conduct and brave Deeds equal loyalty to the dag
whose cause he had espoused Their names Will live
In history, song and story and neither 'Gael nor
Saxon" has cause TO be other than proud to hail each
and all as c,untrymen and compccrs
Wnno these Names great anu iiustrious, will
maintain so large place In the history OF country
We must not forget that many-nay, most OF them
won their laurcs lending troops made up OF officers
aud men Of tho same race with themselves organized
into distinctive bodies. known in army as the
irish regiments and brgades and that much OF their
success and honor are due 10 the fact they
commanded wcro SO well fitted by nationality, aptness
for discipline, capabty of taking OF themselves
elasticity OF temperament, capacity Tor endurance,
carccssncss OF Danger hecdlcssness OF scfsscriucc
and courage in battle, that they became the finest
soldiers the world ever saw.
Our own Ninth regiment was thus quickly enlisted
followed by the Twenty.eghth Massachusetts Con-
NipIl al