The Irish standard., 1897-05-29
bridge who fell in defense of the liberty

bridge who fell in defense of the liberty
Of the people.
These things are the inspiration which
the Cambridge boy and girl breathe at
every step, impelling influences to love
Of country and fearlessness in her de-
fence.
The Journal Of the Provincial con-
gress recites the loss Of property in Lex
lngton at e1,761, in Cambridge at e1,-
202, and in Concord at s274.
But when we consider these exciting
events of that memorable day and read
the stories of individual heroism, We
feel particular pride that our race was
permitted to be a factor in the great re-
suit. It would be to us matter Of sin
cere regret If Ireland, who had contrib
uted so much that was noble and SUBJ
lime to the military history Of other ma
tions, had been deprived of the oppor-
tunity to manifest her sympathy by ac-
tive participation in the Lexington
Fight" More especially as the feeling
of the people of Ireland was well known
to Britain and Britain's rulers, as is evil
dent from the records of the House of
Parliament in 1775, where it is Of record
that Governor Johnstone in the debate
at the opening of the session used these
words:
Il maintain that the sense of the best
and wisest men of the country is on
the side of the Americans; that three
to one Of the people of Ireland are on
their side; that the soldiers and sailors
feel an unwillingness to service; that
you will never find the same exertion
Of spirit in this as in other wars. I am
well Informed that the four field officers
in the four regiments now going from
Ireland have desired leave to retire or
sell OUT
Again, Mr.. George Washington Parke
Custis, the adopted son of Washington,
says that Ireland contributed men tosthe
Continental army at the rate of 100 to 1
Of any nation before the coming of the
French. Gen. Lee-Light Horse Harry
said that one-half of the Continental
army was derived from Ireland. It is
an undoubted fact that 25O soldiers
served in the Revolutionary war who
bore the Christian name of Patrick. It
is also undoubted that the rolls of the
soldiers who served at Bunker Hill con-
tafned $50 typical Irish names. Ver-
plank referred to the service of Irish
men in the Revolutionary War in these
words: 'Both in that glorious struggle
for independence and in our more recent
contest for American rights, England's
penal laws gave to America the support
Of hundreds of thousands of brave
hearts and strong arms. might re-
peat many more instances did the time
permit. Sufficient to say that the op-
portunity was accorded to Ireland's sons
to do glorious work in the first conflicA
of the Revolution" .-
Cullen says: 1.-THE Irish came into
the full light of Colonial history at Lex
ington and Concord. The cry of Paul
Revere reused them to take their share
in the defense of the common cause
Among them was Hugh Cargill, the Bal
lyshannon man. To his prompt re-
sponse Concord owed the safety of her
records"
Rev. Mr.. Maccarty is heard from in
Worcester on that eventful morning of
April 10, 1775. Lincoln's history of
Worcester states that as the minute men
were paraded on the green, under Capt.
Timothy Bigelow, fervent prayer was
offered up by Rv. Mr.. Maccarty, after
which they took up their line of march.
Another prominent name in the ac-
counts Of Lexington and Concord is DR..
Thomas Welsh, who was army surgeon
to the patriots. He it was who met brave
DR.. Joseph Warren as he rode through
Charlestown, at about 10 o'clock on the
morning Of that April day."
With the evidence of participation in
disputable, cannot we of Irish lineage
feel the glory of this day as our own
right, purchased by the self-sacri1cing
effort Of our predecessors?
And can we not, in fullest measure.
in dwelling on the great and famous
events Of April 10, 1775, exclaim with
Americas noble son, Thank God, also
am an American!"
Cullen (pp. 86-SS) gives the following
names found on the rolls of minute
men at that period:
Joseph Burke. Richard Burke, Daniel
Carey, Joseph Carey, Peter Carey, Pat
rick Carroll. Joseph Carroll. Cornelius
Cochran, Daniel Connors; James Demp-
sey, Philip Donahue, Joseph Donnell,
Andrew Dunnigan, John Farley, Michael
Farley, John Flood, William Flood,
John Foley, Matthew Gilligen, Richard
Gilpatrick, James Gleason, Daniel Grif-
fin, Joseph Griffin, John Hacket, Joseph
Hacket, John Haley, John Kelly, Pat
rick Kelly, Richard Kelly, Stephen Kel-
ly, Daniel Larry, John McCarty, Michael
Mcdonnell, Henry McGonegal, John Nc
Crab, Daniel Mcclure, Patrick McKeen,
John McMullen, John Madden, Daniel
Mahon, James Malone, John Mahoney,