The Irish standard., 1897-11-06
A SON OF "MAGHIFICEAr TIppERARY''
AND BRAVE COMMANDER Of THE
IRISH NINTH, OF MASS.
She WRITES FINE PROSE AND POETRY
FORMER IS BRILLIANT, TERSE AND
VERY NEARLY PERFECT.

Miss Louise Imogen Quincy was born
IN Boston, and is the daughter of the
late General Patrick R. Quincy, the
brave commander of the Irish Ninth
Regiment of Massachusetts. A short
time ago she wrote, by request, a sketch
of his life for the alumni number of a
magazine published at the college he
loved, where, as a young man, he stud
led. The fervor and enthusiasm of her
just estimate, her filial devotion and
championship, CLEAN in eloquent words
that crown her dead hero-father with
imperishable laurel, says writer in the
Weekly Bouquet.
General Quincy was truly a remark
able men-the best type of an Irish
American patriot. A native of Upper
ary, he came to this country with his
father when he was but seven years old:
they settled in Maine, and in a few
months were Joined by the remainder
of the family.
The Guineys, rich in faith and hone,
were poor in this worlds goods, and
young Patrick obtained employment as
"a wheel-boy" in rope factory in the
neighborhood. He found time, how
ever, between whiles, to attend the
Portland grammar school, and he de
voted all his leisure hours to improving
his mind by reading the best literature
available.
The lads great ambition during these
years of hard toll, struggle and study,
was to go to college; his hope was final
ly realized, and he entered Holy Cross
College at Worcester. His surround
ings were pleasant and genial, and he
was happy; diligent student, he i'm
proved every opportunity for acquiring
knowledge, but before his graduation
he was called home, owing to the sud
den and serious illness of his father.
Young Quincy at once returned with
sad heart to Portland, but he was
always good fighter and he bore his
disappointment with. philosophy and
resignation. After his fathers death.
he studied law between working hours,
through the kindness of Judge Walton,
and was finally admitted to the bar in
1856. He was also connected at this
period with a local paper, and a few
years later was on the regular staff of
the Boston Times.
In her sympathetic sketch, Miss
Quincy tells us that her father had a
very great, though undisciplined talent
for letters, which clung to him through
his chequered life. His little prose
sketches" she adds, "some of them
written, like Winthrop's, on the march,
are capital reading; terse, vital and
graceful"
General Quincy was never a politi-
clan, as we understand the word today,
but he took an active part in the Lin
coln-Douglas campaign, and later was
an unsuccessful candidate for congress,
not for "the sake of vulgar ambition"
but with the quixotic hope of doing
some good service for his country and
not worth her pursuit; but ones own
consciousness Of a good action done, is
the glory and satisfaction of life
When the Civil War began, Mr. Quincy
was one of the first to offer his services
All he held dear in the world, his home,
the ties of love, his future prospects,
his ambition, were sacrificed on the
altar of Freedom. He was a born
patriot, and would not allow selfish
considerations to weigh In the balance
where the Union which he loved WAS
concerned
Possessed of courage and dash with
out rashness, persistency and stead
'fastness without obstinacy, he had
clear sense of duty, an upright spirit,
and firm and determined will. There
was a tincture of enthusiasm in his
character which communicated itself 10
his whole conduct; in whatever pursuit
he engaged, he entered upon it with his
heart and soul.
Enlisting as private, Governor
Andrew, who knew men, and who had
become interested in the young Irish
lawyer some time before the war;
commissioned him as lieutenant with
the infantry regiment organized as the
Ninth Massachusetts, but recruited as
the Thirteenth
Later events proved the wisdom OF
the great war-governor's foresight and
judgment. The gallant Irishman rose
rapidly from grade to grade, led his
men more than thirty times to battle,
and as colonel and color-bearer, reached
the highest plane of heroic achievement
at the battle of Gaines Mills
BY the unassuming simplicity and
frankness Of his manners, and the unde-
Waiting honor Of his conduct, he bound
to himself the hearts OF the men of his
regiment with the strong ties Of respect