The Irish standard., 1897-09-04

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alone in the Army of the Potomac, over
5000 Catholic soldiers. not to mention
odd numbers in every regiment in the
army. A full page of history, in all jus
tice, should be given to such Il respect
able body of Christian soldiers-unique
in character, unique in faith, unique in
nationality; but ever brave and true i'll
support CT their adopted country.
The brigade known as the Irish Bri-
gade," composed largely Of recruits
from New York city, under the COM
mand of Gen. Meagher, had the greatest
number of Catholic chapains. This
brigade had, Of course its history. When
President Lincoln called for $4,000 vol
unteers, the call was responded to
promptly The general impression at
the time was that the disturbance at
the South would not last long. and the
volunteers were engaged for 80 days
only. Under this call the SiXty-ninth
New York infantry. a militia regiment
which so distinguished itself at the first
battle of Bull Run, in July, 1861. offered
its services which were accepted, anu
the regiment, accompanied by Capt (at-
terward Brig.-Gen) r. +. Meagher and
Zouaves, all under the command of Col.
Michael Corcoran, went to the front"
At this first Bull Run battle. the Sixty
ninth New York fought desperately; bur
the gallant Col. Corc0ran WAS captured
with several of his command. and was
carried off to Richmond, where he was
kept prisoner for - months Rev. Thos.
+. Mooney, of New York, went out as
the chaplain of the Sixty ninth, but was
obliged in a short time to return home
to attend to very important duties as
signed him by his ordinary, Most Rev
Archbishop Hughes. The soldiers, at the
presidents call! had enlisted for 80 days
only: and before the memorable battle
of tha first Bull Run, which took place
july 81 1861. the term having expired
in the case of several regiments. on the
10th, many militia regiments from Mas
slchusetts. Connecticut, Pennsylvania
and one from New York, returned home
The SiXtyninth agreed to continue.
They did so, and fought like Turks. :"
After this battle was over. the Sixty
ninth was disbanded in New York the
time having expired some time before
Here we start. We leave Col. Ccrcuran
prisoner in Richmond and the old Six
ty-nntl, with Meagher's zouaves, mus
tered out OF the service, with honor to
both officers and men,
Thomas Francis Meagher, who dis
tinguished himself at Bull Run, set
about recruiting, not a single regiment,
but brigade. In short time, with tho
help of the other efficient persons, he
organized three Irish regiments Tho
old SXty-nnth rccnistrd, ana was
joined by the Eighty eighth and Sixty
thlrd New York regiments. Each OF
these enlisted for three years, or dur
ing the war" 70 this brigade. of three
New York regiments were subsequently,
added the Twenty eighth Massachusett !
infantry, the SiXty-ninth and Oue Hun
dred and Sixteenth PENNSYLVANIA in
fantry. and iiogan's and MrNahnn's
batteries. The brigade in question was
ever after known as the Irish Brigade,
and was commanded by Gen. Thomas
Francis Meagher. The six regiments
composing this brigade had five Catholic
priests as chaplains. Rev James Dillon.
z. $. G., chaplain of the Sixty-third;
Rev. Thomas Oucllet. s. j.. chaplain of
the new SiXty-nnth. and the writer,
chaplain OF the Eighty eighth. Rev.
Father Mckee. chaplain of the Ono
Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania,
soon fell sick and resigned he was re-
placed by Rev. Father McCullum. The
latter, unable to endure the hardships
OF campaign life. also resigned, leaving
the brigade with three Catholic chap
lalns, namely, Dillon, Ouellet and Corbv.
Besides these, there were other Catholic
chaplains in the Army of the Potomac,
Paul r. Gillen. c. S. c.: Father OLA
gan, s. j.; Father Martin, OF Philadcl-
ph1a; Father c. l.. Egan. 0. p: Father
mos. Scully, OF Massachusetts, and Rev.
Doctor kilroy. These mention with
no regard to precedence, excepting a.,
they come to my mind. Most of those
mentioned in this last list remained on
ly short time in the army, Some were
taken sick, others were too old and
could not endure the fatigles and pri-
vatlons, others belonging to religious
orders were called home for special
duty. OF this number. however, Father
Paul E. Gillen, c. 8. c.. was a veteran,
Father Egan entered the service about
the last Of August. 1863 and remained
until the end of the year. Other chap
lains, known as post chaplains," rem
dered valuable services in the hospitals
encouraging the sick and wounded, and
administering the sacramento.
At the battle of Savage Station, in the
course OF the "Seven Days Fight" the
Union troops were hard pressed and
thrown into confusion, and at this point
Mcclellan ordered up Meagher's Bri.
gade, with that OF Gen. French, to re.