The Irish standard., 1894-05-05
where they threw up earthworks and
named the fortification Fort Corcoran.
The regiment numbered about 1900

1ublu0u tu0 lOIGlllchtlOu GOIG NOECOf6u
The regiment numbered about l,5O(
il men,.
1 On the 18th of July the regiment wa,
ordered to move, and the men were des
tined to see big fireworks at Bull Run
/ That was fearful baptism, but the Six
| ty.ninth stayed rs long as the latest
The story of Bull Run has never been
] written in full. The Sixty-ninth march
! ed off that field in perfect order anc
formed square around Gems. Mcdowell
and Sherman, which those gallant Gen.
erals were glad to occupy. The regimen,
lost it's commander and other officers ior
time, they being taken prisoners OF
killed. The Sixty ninth went into the
fight at Bull Run over 1900 strong. One
sixth of that number was reckoned
among the killed, wounded and missing
when the regiment was mustered in
Fort Corcoran on the day after the &C.
tion.
Col. John W. Mahan, himself a brave
oficer-the man who brought the "Irish
Ninth Massachusetts home from the
war-thus narrates the story:
"When the Sixty-ninth crossed Bull
Run they formed long and well-aligned
line, advanced quickly and in good or
der toward the enemy's left. They re-
ceived q heavy fire of musketry and ar
tillery the moment they came within
range. and in the first volley several ct
the members of the regiment were shot
down-thst sturdy soldier, Major Flag
gerty, was killed, and Capt Thomas
Francis Meagher, who was mounted, had
his horse disabled. This was answered
by wild cheer and charge-the ene-
my staggered back before the impetuos-
I ity displayed, but for some reason halt
was ordered, and the regiment under a
heavy fire, remained upon the ground
they had taken until change in the
order of attack had been made, when
again they advanced, delivering steady
fire OF musketry as they gradually forced
back the Confederate line. 1t was a
very sultry, oppressive day, and the msn
had dlvested themselves Of their KNAPP
sacks 80 as togo into the fight untram-
melled. Some Of the newspapers Of that
day published the statemen that many
Of the regiment stripped to the waist
with savage determination, rushed upon
the foe,' ETC., etc. This, it is perhaps
needless to say, is untrue. the men Of
the Sixty. ninth exhibited valor, they
performed their duty, they obeye orders,
they needed not the deadly fire they ell
countered, but fought as soldiers
fight, without savageness, without ha
tired, without any feeling other than the
chlvalrous one that animates the heart
and strel gthens the arm of the Christian
soldier who is ready to yield up his life
for the faith that Is within him.
Col. Corcoran was cool, and his orders
were given with the same distinctness
and precision as if On parade. He cheer
ed his men on, when the order was given
to advance, but held them in check
when it became necessary, owing to
want of support on his hanks, to halt;
and, sfterward, when he found his regi-
ment in q position that could not be held
without reinforcements, and when these
failed to come, with aheavy heart he
gave the order to retreat. In good order
the men fell back, recrossed the Run and
endeavored to stem the tide.
In the confusion that ensued, rush Of
fugitives to rear, the wild terror that
seized upon the teamsters and caused
them to detach the horses and mules
from their wagons and drive at headlong
speed through the ranks of the Goth, it
soon became impossible to preserve any
formation orders were drowned in the
hoarse shouts OF drivers and the below
ing of mules; hundreds of panic stricken
mon rushed "pell-mell" through the line
| that was formed and re. formed in vain
endeavor to check the disorder, and the
members Of the regiment, at last: were
swept ''this way and that" became inex-
tricably mixed up with other bodies, the
colonel found himself with two officers
and handful Of men separated from the
balance of the regiment, and made one
more desperate effort to rally the hosts
pressing toward the rear, but was sur
rounded by the enemy, and, with one
captain, one lieutenant and thirty seven
men, was taken prisoner.
He was conveyed to Libby Prison,
Richmond, whore he was confined for
| nearly year, and for several months in
Ia damp cellar, having been selected as q
hostage for execution in the event of the
Federal Government hanging the officers
Of the so-called privateer Florida, they
having been declared pirates by our an.
thorit1ee.
His conduct in prison was manly and
dignifed; he refused luxury sent to him
by countrymen Of bic residing IN Rich
mond, saying: aI would not take . cup
Of cold water, as favor, It my fellow