The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-01-22

snOuiu nave the best quarters that can
be had"
Upon this suggestion Gen S. Cameron
secretary of war, issued the following
order:
Headquarters. Department Washing
ton, May 4, 1861.
The Sixty-ninth Regiment, New
York. is authorized to occupy George
town Heights and the college until fur
ther orders"
1t was at this juncture that Cen
Thomas +. Meagher joined the army
Col. Corcoran, by personal application
to President Lincoln, obtained an order
authorizing him to increase the regi.
ment's strength by 300 men, Washing.
ton was menaced, and Gen. Mcaghcl
ceeding to the front. camped with the
Sixty-ninth.
At this time there were 40 600 Fedcrals
in and around Washington. The ma.
tional capital was being put in a state
of defense by the erection Of works on
Arlington Heights. the home of Gen. Ice
In the building OF the Qualifications In
and around Washington there was one
regiment-the fighting Sixty-nlnth OF
New Tork-which nobly performed its
task. as was thus attcstcd by the war
correspondents of several New York
papers
During the progress Of the building OF
Fort Corcoran, President Lincoln and
several members of the cabinet paid the
SiXty-nnth Il visit and the president
personally complimcntcd Col. Corcoran
on the works and the appearance of hts
regiment. 1t was the intention Of Col
Coworan to name these dcfcnscs Fort
Seward in honor OF the secretary Of
state, who had shown the regiment
partment, in consideration of the clll
cheney of the Sixty-ninth and their un
ccasing physical cXcrtions. and as /
| token of respect to their colonel, insisted
that the fort they built should bear his
! name and be recognized in future opera
| tiuns as ''Furl Corcuran"
On the afternoon of May 30, 1861, tho
Stars and Stripes were unrurcd to The
breeze by Capt. James Cavanagh ("X-
! ccloncl of the SiXty-nnth, and now
major -gcncraD. Henry Wattcrson, the
editor OF the Louisville Colricr- journal
| was present ON this occasion rs a wal
! proceedings:
AS | stood and surveyed the hastily
summoned regiment 300 OF thcm-
| some in red flannel shirts with sleeves,
rolled up, exposing the grand sincws OF
| brnwny arms; some in blue Jackets
sniled with the toll OF tho trenches;
some in white flowing havcocls; some
| in cooked hats and some barehGadch. ii
was Impossible tc rcprcSS an audible
expression of admiration ut the splendid
ma. rial represented for the work or Tie
-.,.Ty vi war. Thc"" the dark bro US
I, ing from massive forelcads t.,er
flashing eyes; there pale but bleac' j:
chcckn to fear knit closely to impregnar
|'hle lips. the cratcrs of flaming an, jim
vinciblc breadth. the pride and prowese
of representative Ireland. the issue Of
that spreading Celtic seed which has
sown the world with power. stood be-
fore me
'''The troops were drawn up in a semi
circle. gradually rising within he ;llnph-
4 1,
erected batteries, the front llcs sitting
the next grade stopping and the rcal
ranks standing upon the dcrivity, as II
slopch upward toward the outer walls
were Col. Corcoran tnow GcncraD; Col.
circus audience seen from the center.
post In the ring thls ccnter-post being a
noble shaft from which the banner now
waves.
"'Ile group around this pillar OF light
were Col. Corcoran (now gcncraD; Col.
Hunter now Major-GcncraD, OF the
regular army; Capt. Meaghcr uoW
l'rigadcr-GcneraD. and John Savage
volunteer aid to Col. Corcoran."
In July 1861, Fort Corcoran" received
Il visit from Archbishop Hughes. On
this occasion the regiment was reviewed
by the distinguished Archbishop. On
the evening of the 18th of July Col
Corcoran received orders to march into
Virginia on the next day.
The first engagement of the civil wal
the first battle of Bull Run-saw the
Sixty-ninth displaying the courage and
bravery that has characterized the ra..c
the world over Their part in this battle
is thus described by an eye witness
while these brave men were ordered 10
take Il fortification that was playing
havoc with the Union army:
THE SIXTY-NINTH AT BULL RUN.
"'Thc Sixty-ninth was ordered to
charge; pitching away knapsarks and
ovcrcoats. that nothing might mprt,o
their progress. they swept on mid !; hail
storm Of grape and rife balls. Torn
and shattered by the fierce volley, they
formed again and again. charging up %
the mouths Of the cannon and at last
fell back only when commanded to do 80
by Gen. Sherman. Gen. Mcdowell rode