The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-07-21

occupation Of those doughty fellows who
were expected TO hew q way through liv.
ing breastworks straight from the Poto-
mac and the Big Sandy TO the Gulf. But
it h the fortune Of war that all cannot be
great To the majority the bubble reputa-
ton breaks and Is gone before eager hands
can toss Il In the air to be seen Of all men.
Those who built great hopes on the Sixty.
ninth New York volunteers, however, never
had eause 70 regret their enthusiasm.
The Sixty-ninth volunteers sprang from
that old Sixty-nlnth militia, which fell into
diAgrace for refusing TO parade at the
Prince Of Wales reception In 1858 Irish 70
the backbone in their hatred Of England,
but not less 70 In their love for their
adopted country, when Lincoln called for
militia troops In April, 1851, they asked to
be purged Of contempt for characterization
In order that they might march to the de
fense Of Washington. On April 20 the
charges against their colonel, Michael
Corcoran. were dismissed. and three days
later the regiment with OVERLOOKING ranks
started for the capital. The order for
transportation called for loo men, but
over I,e0O were borne on the rolls, and the
display they made marching down Broad
way was unique even for those days. The
city was carried away with excitement,
and their line Of march was almost car
peted with bouquets 1ung at them from
windows, balconies, paVements and even
hOuAetOpA. The column was headed by a
banner drawn BY four horses. bearing the
motto: 'Sixty-ninthl Remember Fon-
tenoy."
Soon after the regiment reached Virginia
Il was Joined by a company Of boy ZOuaves,
known a. the "MeagheF Guards" and led
By the famous Irish patriot, Thomas Fran
els Meagher. The Sixty.nlnth made a
spirited charge At Bull Run-the men Inn
petuOuHly stripping Cd their knapSacks In
order TO have free swing, and came out
colonel killed. and loss altogether Of l92.
The killed outright were IS, the second
highest In the battle. Capt. Meagher led
the regiment home, and was the hero Of
the hour. His Zouave company. IN bright
red uniform, had been conspicuous ut Bull
Run, and one Of his men, John ID. Keefe,
had brought Oh the green Gag after the
nrst bearer had been shot down. Keefe
was himself wounded while defending the
banner. After his musket had been torn
from his hands be shot down two aSsail.
ants with revolver and made another one
prisoner.
After Bull Run the floOdgates Of eulogy
and adulation were Again opened, and the
new Sixty-ninth, formed from a nucleus Of
the militia regiment, took the field handi
capped with a reputation that only the
hereest heat Of battle could bring TO a
proper temper. It was the current notion
that that three commands had done the
execution at Bull Run-the Black Horse
cavalry and the Louisiana Tigers on the
southern side and the Irish Sixty-ninth on
the northern. Meagher became colonel Of
the regiment, and IN accepting its services
for three years the war department sug-
gested the formation Of a brigade composed
entirely Of freshmen. The Idea spread like
wildhre; recruiting began In New York,
Massachusetts,, Pennsylvania and the west,
and In few weeks the Sixty-ninth vOlun-