The Irish standard., 1899-08-12


the privilege that day to advance against
the enemy.
On the left appeared the One Hun
1red and Sixteenth Pennsylvania. A
new regiment, it had but recently joined
the brigade, but in its conduct from
Bolivar Heights, where it was first asso-
ciated with the brigade, to the present
moment, when its galantry is placed 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 OF shot, the Irish
brigade advanced against the rifle pits
and batteries of the enemy.
All day against those awful Heights
Our lines were hurled in vain;
All day our shattered ranks closed up,
But to be torn again;
Until the SUN withdrew its light,
AS if for very shame,
And night came down upon the field
To end the bloody game
The next day, little after sunrise,
every officer and man of the brigade,
able again to take the field, recrossed to
Fredericksburg and took up the same
position which we had occupied previ-
Gus to the advance, prepared and eager,
Notwithstanding their exhausted num-
bers and conditions, to support the
Ninth corps in the renewal of the as
ault OF the previous day. OF the 1,2oo
had led into action the day before $50
only appeared on that ground that
morning.
Thick lay the slain, like sheaves Of grain,
Mattered by battle-guns;
And in their caps, unwithered still,
They found the sprigs OF green.
This remnant OF the Irish brigade
nnnerved and undeterred, still full of
heart, still wearing the evergreen, in
spired by glowing sense of duty, sor-
rowful for their comrades, but embold-
ened and elated by the thought that
they had fallen with the proud bravery
they did-this noble little remnant
awaited the order that was once more to
prccipitate them against the batteries OF
the enemy.
Gen. Hancock, in his official report OF
the battle OF fredericksburg, thus tells
of the Irish brigade: The strength OF
this brigade, when the action was COM
menccd was ninety-two officers and
1898 enlisted men. Its loss was fifty
lhrce commissioned officers and 4SS
men,"
COL Robert Nugcnt, severely wound
ed, commanding the Sixty ninth, con-
Quoted his troops with his usual spirit,
and was making final effort to ad
vance when he was shot. His regiment
had nineteen commissioned officers and
ZIG enlisted men when the attack was
made Its loss was sixteen officers
wounded and I12 enlisted men killed
and wounded. This gallant regiment
was marched off the field by its fourth
commander that day, the three senior
commanders having been wounded.
Col. Patrick Kelly, commanding the
Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers,
was active and resolute, as he always is,
and, with his regiment, performed their
usual good service The Eighty eighth
numbered twenty-three officers and 22o
enlisted men when the assault COM
menced, OF which it lost twelve officers
and us men killed and wounded.
COL Dennis Heenan, commanding the
One Hundred and Sixteenth Pcnnsyl-
vallia Volunteers, was severely wound
cd. His regiment suffered heavily, and
although comparatively young in the
service, behaved handsomely. This reg
iment marched on the field with seven
teen officers and o3o men. Its loss wa
twelve officers and seventy-sevcn mel
killed and wounded. The fourth Office
III command during the battle brough
the regiment off the field, the others be
ing disabled.
Col. Richard Byrnes. commanding til
Twenty-cighth Massachusetts, cntere'
the action with sixteen officers and 40
men, OF whom seven officers and Ia
men were killed and wounded.
Major Joseph O'Neill, commanding
the Sixty third New York, numberc
seventeen officers and 145 men. Its los
wns seven officers and tllirty-seven me
killed and wounded.
Gen. Robert z. Lee thus adds his ties
timony to the valor Of the Irish soldier
at Fredericksburg:
Clerbourne, on our side, inherited th
intrepidity OF his race. On field {
battle he sione like a meteor in
clouded sky! AS dashing militar
man he was all virtue; single vice di
not stain him as warrior. His gel
erosity and benevolence had no limit
The care which he took of the fortun,
of his officers and soldiers, from II
greatest to the least, was ncessant. H
integrity was proverbial, and his mo-
esty was an equally conspicuous trait
his character