The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-07
TO THE lMPETU0Us IRISH BRIGADE
For Gallantry Displayed at the
Bull Run Retreat.
SKETCH OF Gen. THOMAS F. MEAGHER
His Life Goes Out in the Waters
OF the Missouri.

11AS Liz UO6S UuC In the waters
OF the Missouri.
One OF the most highly priced relics
OF the Civil War is the battle flag OF the
SiNty-tlird regiment, New York State
Volunteers. that hangs in the large west
parlor at the University OF Notre Dame.
This regiment, commonly known as the
Irish Brigade, and commanded by Brig
adler General Thomas Francis Mcaghcr,
was composed almost entirely OF Irish
Catholics from New York City. In the
early battles OF the war in West Virginia
and Maryland, particularly at the first
battle OF Bull Run, the regiment distin-
euslled itself by such valorous deeds
that the attention of the whole country
was called to it's brilliant work.
After the Union army was routed at
the battle OF Bull Run and the disorgan-
lied and panic-strickcn men were pour
ing along the road leading to the great
bridge that spans the Potomac at Wash
lngton, there were few regiments that
retained sufficient organization to be OF
any service in preventing the massacre
or capture Of the entire Union army en-
gagged. One Of the regiments available
Tor the purpose OF covering the retreat
was the Irish Brigade. The order was
given to ii to bring up the rear, and the
men grimly prepared themselves for one
oil the most brilliant achievements OF the
war. Removing all supcrfluous cloth
lng-in TACT, everything from the waist
up--thc bare-brcastcd soldiers faced the
onslaught OF the victorious Conlcder-
atcs, and, when their ammunition was
exhausted, grlnly received the charges
OF the enemy on their bayoncts.
For this heroic work the regiment
was presented with battle flag, which
it afterwards carried into action in every
battle Of importance fought by the
Army Of the Potomac during the Civil
War. The flag is five feet square, OF
green silk, will, harp OF gold in the
upper left-hand corner, and under the
harp the words, Irish Brigade" In
the lower lcft-hand corner is the follow
ing:
Presented by the citizens OF New
York to the Sixty-tlnird New York Vol
untcers, Brigad;cr General Thomas
Francis Mcagher, commanding. In
grateful appreciation OF their gallant
and brilliant conduct in the battlcfclds
OF Virginia and Maryland in the war to
maintain the national domain and
American Union. November, 1862"
Along the riglh-l,and margin OF the
flag, so numerous that they occupy the
entire width, arc the names OF the iol-
loving battles in which the flag was car
ricd by the standard bearer OF the rcyi-
mcnt:
Fredericksburg, Chancclorsvillc.
Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Gaines Mill,
Aliens Farm, Savage Station, White
Oak Bridge. Glendale, Malvern Hill,
Anlictam, Gettysburg, Bristoc's Sta
ton"
The flag is literally shot into ribands;
its edges are torn and scrratcd and
through the body OF the flag arc in
Vulnerable holes that show the passage
OF bullets The trophy is enclosed in a
beautiful oakcn frame with glass front,
and is an object OF curiosity and interest
to hundreds Of people who visit Notrc
Dame with the primary object OF seeing
the flag.
In the battle OF Fredericksburg the
Irish Brigade lost more men killed and
wounded, in proportion to the number
OF men engaged in battle, than any other
brigade, not only in America, but in
Europe, in a single battle, during the
last fifty years. Onc-third OF the men
who entered the battle were disabled or
killed outright.
The State OF New York put forth
great efforts to purchase this flag from
General James Brady, into whose GUS
tody it was given, but he refused, owing
to his own inclination and the desires OF
the survivors OF the regiment to present
the trophy to the Very Rev. William
Corby, chaplain OF the brigade during
the war. The devotion OF the priest to
his men and their great love for him
made possible one OF the sublimcst
scenes during the great strife. At the
battle OF Gettysburg orders were given
for the Irish Brigade to charge. Amid
the shot and shell of the. enemy, stand
ing on a large rock, target for any
y ~.