The Irish standard., 1913-06-07

the Civil war is we'll known to every
student of American history his lead
ership of company of IRISH volun-
teer Zouaves; his march to Fair Oaks
through dismal swamp; his charge
to the guns of Virginia battery; his
bloody fight before Malvern Hill; and
how calamity he led his regiment
against the stone wall defenses of
Marye's Heights, and what prodigies
of valor Were performed by the Irish
Brigade, two-thirds of their officers
and men having been killed on that
awful Held OF carnage. A review in
shown by himself and his men would
require whole volume. 'Sunlce to
say. that Meagher was the worthy
representative of a people who from
the beginning Of their migration to
American shores have added lustre to
the land Of their birth and the land
of their adoption. General Lee joined
Lincoln in the highest praise for the
valor OF the Irish Union soldiers, Just
as Washington eulogized the Friendly
Sons of st. Patrick for their conduct
during an earlier crisis in the history
OF the Republic. The closing paragraph
in his farewell address to his COM
rades, the remnant OF the brigade can
not be omitted: for, like the desperate
charges he led, it reveals the hero's
true greatness Of soul: Sharing with
the humblest soldier freely and fully
all the hardships and dangers of the
battlefield-never having ordered an
advance that did not take the lead
myself thank God that l have been
spared to do justice to those whose
ieroism deserves from me a grateful
commemoration; and that l have been
preserved to bring comfort to those
who have lost fathers, husbands and
en- for noble government under the
green Nag My life has been a varied
one, and I have passed through many
dtstracting scenes. But never has the
river that flowed beside my cradle,
never have the mountains that over
looked the paths of my childhood,
yoAv hov h> ~
the curiosity and research OF maturer
days. been effaced from my memory.
AS at first-as in nature-the beautiful
and glorious picture is indelible. Not
less vivid, not less uneffaceable, will
be the recollection of my companion.
ship with the Irish Brigade in the
service Of the United States. The
graves OF many hundreds of brave
and devoted soldiers who went to
death with all the radiance and en-
thusiasm of the noblest chivalry, are
SO many guarantees and pledges that.
as long as there remains one officer
or soldier of the Irish Brigade, SO
long shall there be found for him, for
his family ana his little ones. a ,deyot-
ed friend in Thomas Francis Mea.
gher."
How much Ireland and America lost
in the death of this fearless and devot-
ed patriot! How much the people of
Montana. especially those of Irish
birth or extraction missed his genial
presence! 1t was, indeed severe
blow to the state itself, for If Mea-
CHER had lived he would have turned
the tide of Irish immigration to Mon
tana-he would havo peopled her
Gael. The warm hearted and generous
citizens Of that state gave Meagher a
hearty welcome. and they doubtless
would have extended to his fellow
countrymen the same cordial hand.
But Providence ordained other
wise, Yet when he died we have the
consolation of knowing that his battle
of life was fought-his work was done
and the race from which he sprung
and which he SO highly honored while
alive, can utter no fonder aspiration
than that of the requiem Of Faith
May he rest in peace"
LAS rolls Montana's tideless wave,
Far westward out where sinks the
sun,
1t sweeps above a nameless grave
Where sleeps Tribune bright and
brave:
A soldier whose campaigning's done
A soldier on whose conquering sword
Both Gods and men might look with
pride;