The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-03-22


Charlottesville.
At Antietam came the crowning
glory of the Irish Brigade, hut it was
purchased at fearful cost of the lives
of the brave and chivalrous men. One
regiment lost nearly so per cent, an
other over 80. The enemy seemed to
have special spite against the green
flag. Five color-bearers We're shot
down in as many minutes. AS the
last man fell even these Irishmen hes
itated to assume a task synonymous
with death. big Gleason" Captain
of the SiXty-third, six feet seven,
sprang forward and snatched it up.
In a few minutes a bullet struck the
staff, SCATTERING it to pieces. Gleeson
tore the flag from the broken staff,
wrapped it around his body, putting
his sword belt over it, and went with
it through the rest of that fight un-
touched.
But it was beyond human nature to
vi SuCH lcIIlDlC uSil-
ing. and eventually the brigade was
reduced to mere skeleton of its for
mer self. Even the brave remnant
was worn out and sickly from long
service in the field. Meaghcr did all
that man could do to aid them. He
tried hard to get them sent back to
NIL n all rs
The authorities at the War Office, al.
though President Lincoln was in deep
sympathy with him, were deaf to his
appeals. Finally, in order to relieve
himself of any responsibility in the
ill-treatment of the brigade, he was
compelled to resign his command.
Shortly after his resignation, Gen.
Mcasher formally Joined the Fenian
Brotherhood, and was specially init
N. Y, by John O'NIahony, the head
lated at his country home ut Orange
center of THE organization.
1t was thought at that time that
President Lincoln would go to war
with England for her many cowarhly
acts against this country, and Meagher
proposed. in case of rupture, to raise
body Of Irish troops for service in
Ireland. The war cloud passed over,
however, but the incident fully proved
how ready he was to carry out his
promise to risk his life once more in
another struggle for Irish liberty.
In the autumn of 1864 President
Lincoln, who always held Meagher in
the highest esteem, appointed him to
an important position in the Army of
the Tennessee. He took Gen. Stead
mans place, and for while was act
ing Major General over a force Of
$4,000 men.
1t was intended that Gen. Meagher
should accompany Gen. Sherman in
his march to the sea, but he declined.
He was opposed to the kind Of war
fare Gen. Sherman deemed 1T neces-
sary to wage, as will be seen from
the following eulogy Of his own SOL
diers of tille Irish Brigade, which he
delivered before the municipal author
tiles of New York:
I'm moments of excitement THEY
never gave way to>the excuses which
for the most part disfgure and shame
fully blot the records Of the grandest
victories, The houses, cattle, gardens,
and other properties Of insurgent fam
lilies, who had abandoned them to the
mercy of the nation, as we'll as all the
goods and chattels belonging to THE
families who stood their ground, were
respected by the men of the Irish Bri-
gade, who went out from here to fight
and put down the armed enemies Of
the Republic, and not to cast naked
and brcadlcss on the world the women
and children and aged fathers Of the
delinquent States"
General Meaghcr's military career
ended with his return from Tennes-
see, shortly after which the whole
country was plunged in GLOON by the
horrible assassination of President Lin
ident more than the officers and sol
lers of the Irish Brigade.
General Mcagher's last public ap-
pearance in New York was ut BAN
quet given in Irving Hall on the
Fourth of July, 1865. to the returned
soldiers of the Irish Brigade. A few
days thereafter President Johnson ten
deled him the sccretaryship of the
Territory of Montana, which he ac-
cepted.
1t was while fulfilling the duties Of
this position that he met his death at
Fort Benton. He arrived there about
August 1, having ridden 30 miles on
horseback in the hot sun. He spent
the afternoon in conversation and let
r-writing, and retired early to his
berth on the steamship g. A. Thomp-
son. There was no railing on the
guards opposite his state-room door, it
having been broken off in some way.
About 10 o'clock at night he went on
the guards. Here he must have
stumbled and fallen overheard. He
cried for help, but when assistance
came the pitiless Missouri, hurrying
fast to the sea, had engulfed him in
it's bosom, and buried him forever be-
meath it's waters.
So died Thomas Francis Meagher.
IIo 1x,os tho frinnd Of tho Moor nl,d