The Irish standard., 1909-05-08

return actively to the service Of the
/. Government with strength common
d surate with their reputation and the
5 cause in which they are engaged.
1.-The Brigadier General command
{ ing what is popularity known as the
Irish Brigade, asks no more for what
lis left of his brave officers and men
than that which has been conceded to
other commands exhibiting equal Ia
bors equal sacrifices and equal deci-
nation" 49,.
fhs AS said before, this letter was sent
to the Secretary of War on Feb. 10,
Y 1863, but nothing came of it. Accord
ingly. on May 8, nearly three months
. after, General Meagher rendered the
following resignation: q
So Headquarters Irish Brigade.
~, Hancocks Division.
: sv Major John Hancock:
4 II beg most respectfully to tender
Z YOU. and through you to the proper
authorities, my resignation as Briga-
der General, commanding what was
! once known as the Irish Brigade. That
: Brigade no longer exists. The assault
on the enemys works on Dec. 10 last
reduced it to something less than a
minimum regiment of infantry. For
several weeks it remained in this ex-
hausted condition. Brave fellows from
the convalescent camp and from the
sick. beds at home gradually reinforced
this handful OF devoted men. Never
theless, it failed to reach the strength
and proportions. These facts 1 repre-
scented as clearly and foroibly as it
was in my power to do In memorial
to the Secretary OF War. in which
memorial prayed that a Brigade
s. which had rendered such service and
incurred such distressing losses
should be temporarily relieved from
duty in the field. 30 as to give it time
and opportunity In some measure to
renew itself.
"Thc memorial was in vain. 1t never
was even acknowledged. The de-
preston caused by this ungenerous
= and inconsiderate treatment Of GAL
liant remnant Of u Brigade that had
: never once failed to do its duty most
literally and herolcally. almost unfit
ted me to remain in command. True,
however, to those who had been true
to me-true to a position which
had considered sacred under the cir
cumstances-1 remained with what
was left Of my, Brigade, and though
feeling that 1t was Il sacrifice rather
than to victory We were going, I ac-
companed them and led them through
all the operations required of them at
SCOTS Mills and charlottesville.
81. A mere handful, my command did
Its duty at those positions with a f.
deity and resolution which won for it
the admiration OF the army. It would
be my greatest happiness. as 1t would
surely be my greatest honor. to remain
IN the companionshp and charge of
such mon: but to do so any longer
would be to perpetuate public decep-
ton, in which the hard won honors OF
good soldiers, and in them the mill
tAry reputation Of brave old race.
would inevitably b. involved and COM
promised.
s I'm rendering my resignation. how
ever, as the Brigadier General in COM
mand of this poor vestige and relic
of the Irish Brigade. beg sincerely to
assure you that my services, in any
capacity that can prove useful are
freely at the summons and disposition
of the United States Government. That
the Government. and the cause, and
the liberty. the noble memories and
the future it represents, are entitled
Internationally and unequivocally to
the life of every citizen who has sworn
allegiance to it, ano partaken OF its
grand protection.
d But while I offer my own life to
sustain this Government, I feel It to
be my first duty to do nothing that will
NaiIoAIy AlHpeTll the lives OF others,
!, or, what would be still more srievous
and irreparable. inflict sorrow and HUI
initiation upon race who. having lost
almost everything else. finds in their
character for courage and loyalty an
Invaluable gift. which I, for one. will
/ not be SO vain as to endanger. Faith
fully yours.
3t3s. THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER,
88t . "Brigadier General Commandins."
3 AS General Meigher says in his let
ter, the memorial was In vain. Secre-
tary Stanton and the other officials in
Washington forgot the words of the
a London Times correspondent in de-
& scribing the charge Of the Irish Bril-
"A gade at the battle of F'redericksbure.
Hs ITO the Irish Brigade, commanded
by General Meagher," said the English
correspondent, was principally COM
United. the desperatc task Of hvrs+jno