The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-05-05
W. M E M DRIES.

WAR M E MORIES.
Cont nued from First Page.
Irishman, but because am an American
citizen, faithful to the oath voluntarily
took upon myself when sought the pro-
lection Of the flag of the United States;
it's enemies shall be my enemies!" These
were noble words and shall be remem-
bered today. In the summer of 1862 he
was exchanged, and public receptions OK
tended to him in New York, Bottom and
other cities. He was appointed brig
adler general by President Lincoln, and
raised the ''Corcoran Legion" with which
he proceeded to Virginia, served in the
skirmishes and engagements that took
place in the vicinity Of Norfolk, on the
River Trent, and the Blackwater.
Afterward he joined the Army of the
Potomac, and while riding with his staff
over low, swampy ground, through
which ran ditch, his horse stumbled
and he was thrown to the ground and
sustained injuries which resulted in death
within a few bours afterward. His death
caused great regret among all classes of
citizens. His loss, indeed, was a national
one, for the country was deprived of the
services of q brave and able officer, whose
name and fame were sufficient to rally
thousands of Irish-Americans in defense
of the Union he loved with all his heart
and soul. The Legion survived him, but
many of his comrades died while bravely
leading their regiments in the battle
front in the campaigns that followed.
After Bull Run the order came to break
camp and return to New York to be mus
tered out. In few hours the regiment
was in Washington, on it's way home.
The night of the Oath of July the men
slept in the White House grounds. Next
day, at noon, they were started by train
f Baltimore. In that city they were
cheered by the multitudes that lined the
sidewalks for their gallant action in the
battle-a mark of sympathy extended to
no other corps, for the city was in state
of siege. At Philadelphia they were
speeded on their way by the entire pop
nlace. 1t had been expected that the
Sixty-ninth would arrive in New York
on the same day, B6t it was not until
the morning Of the 9th that the regi-
ment was lande d at the Battery, having
taken the steamer at AmboY.
On the 18th Of November, 1861, the
new sixty-ninth left New York for Wash
ington as the first regiment of the Irish
Brigade. Col. Robert Nugent com.
manded. The regiment went into camp
near Georgetown. Other Irish regiments
followed, and on Fec. 3, 1862, the Senate
of the United States confirmed the ap-
pointment of Thos. F Meagher as Brig
adler General, and the record of the
Irish Brigade was begun. The two Nc
Mahon brothers were brave soldiers Of
the Sixty ninth--Col. James P. Mcmahon
and Brevet- Major General Martin I. Nc
Mahon, now United States Marshal of
New York. Many other brilliant names
of but smaller lustre shed courage over
the brigade. ......
During the time that the Sixty-ninth
fought it lost over 600 men--killed and
permanently disabled. The losses in the
Sixty-third and Eighty eighth regiments
were equally heavy. The regiment was
mustered out in 1866, what there was left
of it, 1t Is safe to say that of the Sixty
ninth regiment that marched down
Broadway 100 strong thirty-three years
ago, the odd 100 are not alive today. The
veteran organization numbers $50 men,
or thereabouts. After the conclusion of
the great struggle the Sixty-ninth reor-
ganized, and though some time ago re-
duced to ba talion,it is now stated that
it will resume it's position as a regiment
within the next six weeks. Since 1861
the regiment has been commanded by
Col. Baeley, Gen. NJ. Z. Mcmahon, and
since Nov. %, 1867, by Col. (now General)
James Cavanagh.
Gen George B. Mcclellan, under whom
the Sixty ninth fought for good portion
of the time, paid splendid tribute to it's
m smbers after the war. The occasion
was the presentation to Col. Cavanagh
of the "Tipperary flag" In so doing,
Gen. Mcclellan said:
THE Sixty-ninth was the first Irish
regiment to muster for the field when
the Union was imperilled, and it was