The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-01-08
gade had the privilege that day to adj


"On the left appeared the One Hun
dred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania. a
4 new regiment, it had but recently joined
the brigade; but in it's conduct, from
Boliver Heights, where it was first as
ISOLATED with the brigade, to the pres
ent moment, when it's gallantry is plac-
ed on record, it has proved itself worthy
of the cause into which it threw itself
with so much enthusiasm
"Thus formed, under the unabating
tempest and deluge CT shot the Irish
Brigade advanced against the rifle pits
and batteries CT the enemy
"The next day, a little after sunrise,
every officer and man of the brigade,
able again to take the field recrossel
to Fredericksburg, and tcck up the
same position which we had occupied
previous to the advance, prepared and
eager, Notwithstanding their exhausted
numbers and conditions, to support the
Ninth corps in the renewal of the as
sault Of the previous day. or the loo
only appeared on that ground that
morning. This remnant of the Irish
Brigade-unnerved and undeterred. still
full CT heart, still wearing the evergreen
inspired by glowing sense CT duty,
sorrcwful fer their comrades, but en-
boldened and elated by the thought thai.
they had fallen with the proud bravery
they did-this no',le little remnant
awaited the order that was once more
to preciptate them against the bat
teres of the enemy"
Gen. Hancock. in his official report CT
the battle OF Fredericksburg, thus tells
of the Irish Brigade: The strength Of
this brigade when the action was COM
menced was % officers and 1913 enlisted
men. It's less was SO commissioned Of
titers and 1855 men.
Col. Robert Nugent, severely wound
ed, commanding the SiXty-nnth, con-
Quoted his troops with his usual spirit,
and was making a final effort to adj
vance when he was shot. His regiment
had IS commissioned officers and 80
enlisted men when the attack was made
Its loss was lG officers wounded and 112
enlisted men killed and wounded This
gallant regiment was marched off tho
field by its fourth commander that day,
the three senior commanders having
been wounded.
vol ID,,t,
Eighty Eighth New York Volunteers,
was active and resoute, as he always
Is, and. with his regiment, performed
their usual good service. The Eight
eighth numbered 23 officers and 229 Gu-
listed men when the assault commenc
ed. Of which it lost ~ officers and lis
men killed and wounded
Col. Dennis Heenan. commanding
the One Hundred and Sixteenth Penn
sylvania Volunteers. was severely
wounded. His regiment suffered heavi-
ly, and, although comparatively young
In the service. behaved handsomely.
This regiment marched on the field
with II officers and $50 men, Its loss
was ~ officers and II men killed and
wounded. The fourth officer in COM
mand during the battle brought the
regiment eff the field the others heng
disabled.
"Col. Richard Byrncs. commanding
the Twenty eighth Massachusetts en-
tered the action with 16 officers and 100
men, OF whom I officers and lio men
We're killed and wounded
Major Joseph ONeil. commanding
the SiXty-third New York numbered II
officers and ll5 men. Its loss was z
officers and 81 men killed and wound
cd"
Gen. Robert Z. Lee thus adds his ,cs-
timony to the valor of the Irish soldiers
at Fredericksburg:
"ClebGrnc. on our side. Inherited the
intrepidity of his race. On !. field of
battle he shonG like IL meteor in a
clouded sky! AS dashins military
man he was all virtue; single vice
did not stain him as a warrior. His
generosity and bencvolCnca had nc
limits. The care which he took of the
fortunes of his officers and soldiers,
from the greatest to the least. was i'll
cessant. His integrity was provcrbial.
and his modesty was an equally con-
spicuous trait in his character.
"Meagher. on the federal side,
though not Clcbournes equal in mill
tary genius. rivaled him in bravery and
in the affections OF his soldiers. The
gallant stand which his bold brigade
made on the heights OF Fredericksburg
is we'll known. NEVER WE'RE MEN
so BRAVE. They ennobled their race,
by their splendid gallantry on that des-
perate occasion. Though totally routed,
they reaped harvests OF glo"y. Their
brilliant, though hopeless assaults on
our lines, excited the hearty applause Of
our officers and soldiers"
"To the Irish Brigade says Moore,
in his "Record of the Rebellion"
"commanded by Gen. Meagher, was
principally committed the desperate,
task of bursting ont of the town OF
Fredericksburg, and forming. under the
whitening fire of the confederate bat