The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-09-06
CATHOLICS IN The WARS.
They Were Identified With the
American Army From the
Very Beginning:
THEIR BRAVERY AND LOYAL TY'.
Thsv Fought for Freedom, and Poured
Out Their Blood for Columbia
Welfare. .E5.s.


Out Their Blood for Oolnmbia's
Welfare. .E5.s.
Rev. Peter Cooney. e. s. g, Of Notre
Dame. Ind. an ex chaplain IN the
United States army and who Is prepar-
ing valuable treatise on the American
wars and who were. the soldiers who
fought them, says: A representative Of
the Continental Congress was examined
before a committee Of the House Of
Commons in England. Among other
questions he was asked: ''Of what n ~
tionalities was ashington' 8 army COM
posed2" and he answered: Taking the
names OF Washington's army. should
judge that at least one-half was Irish.
one-half of the remainder was composed
of native Americans, and the rest was
made up of French and other nation
alities.' He further stated THAT about
one.third of the officers of Washington's
army were Irish. These facts are re-
corded on the register Of the House Of
Commons. Nearly all these Irish were
Catholics. driven from their homes on
account Of the persecution Of England.
These Irish fought from the beginning
of the revolutiony war and compelled
the surrender of Burgoyne in l778. This
was the turning point of the war OF in
dependence. Burgovne's surrender
caused France to recognize the inde-
pendence of the United States, and then
she,sent aid, men and money-to COM
plete American independence. ..
The population Of the United States
atthe breaking out Of the late war Id
1861 was 81 .4s3 ,322. Eleven states re-
belled--wlth . population in round
numbers OF 12,000. 600 The northern
and loyal states had q population of:
about 80 600, ,OOO The Catholic !populas.
tion OF these same northern states was
at least 5000. .O0O-the Catholic popula.
ton now Of the same states is about
9.OO0, 900. Now 4 ,000. 900 Catholics was
one fifth Of the population at che com
of the war. The great re.
viewer, DR.. q. A. Brownson (vol. II, p.
23O), and others who have studied the
SUBJECT. declare that 1.-The proportion of
the Catholics in the army was more
than double the proportion which Cath
olics bore to the whole population.
Therefore, at least tW0-ffths Of the
United States army were Catholics.
During the war there were enlisted in
the army 1883 .523 men. Two flfths of
that number would be about 675, 400
men-all Catholics OF various national.
tiles. the majority being Irish. Cover
nor Morton declared to President Lin
Q ,ln on February 3. 1852, that "there
were Catholics Ia every regiment Of ID-
diana troops" This was said by the
governor in his request Of the President
to appoint the writer Gather Cooney)
chaplain at large for the Indiana
troops IN the field. Lincoln reDlied on
the same paper. LET the appointment
within requested be considered as made.
to take. date from the passage of law
now before Congress authorizing me to
make such appointment. Signed A.
February 8, 1892" The act Of
Congress was passed, and the appoint.
ment was made. During tle war 500. 900
we're killed in battle or died Of their
fally as great number died
Of sickness or exposure, There were
[ ,O34, ,O64 men mustered out at the end
of the war. There are between 500 900
and 90O. 900 ex-s0ldiers now living; 3OO.-
100 OF these belong to the Grand Army
of the Republic. In the face OF this
record no one can denY that Catholics
were among the most loyal subjects Of
the government-from its very founda-
lion -and none will deny that they were
the first to proclaim religious liberty in
;he colony of Maryland. a valuable
feature to note was the philosophical
review OF the causes leading up to the
war, the gist OF which was about as fol
lows:
It was private judgment, as applied to
;he constitution Of the United States Of
America, that was the main cause Of
The late war against the Union. Slavery
vas only the occasion. The South
Wished to preserve slavery, and, instead
II seeking q rem sly for their alleged
through the proper channels
n Congress- and in the courts Of law.
hey followed their private Judgment,
8Lich told them that secession was per-
nitted By the constitution of the United
,tates. a moments u election will
how that their private jnd cement told
;hem q lie i and bronght the terrible
lcoalrge Or sJhs war lpon Then. EYen
he artIcles of cont lich d
,eded th6 eonsta % lslly - d1eclaEl
III. q =. q ~ 4 E tll1