The Washington herald., 1914-03-17
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
March H. s64-T Irish Bgade Amy sf The Potomac Celebrated St.
Patrick. Day Camp, Brandy StaHea Va, with Races and
Field Sports Following Military Mass-Loyaly Of the hA Soldiers
cwritt.n expressly for The Herald,

laureate of the brigade. read original
verses
During the remainder of this spring in
camp the brigade enjoyed the heetins
hours up to their latest moment Thus
was spent q brief period Of quiet by
many q brave. exurberant spirit whose
life was soon to go out in the bloody
drama that succeeded.
Record of the Brigade.
But the men of the Irish Brigade were
not daunted by the prospect Of active
service. They had been through the
war and were tempered In its fire.
The first Irish Brigade. composed
largely of recruits from New York City.
originally enlisted for ninety days and
went to. the front. accompanied by the
then well-known political exile. Capt.
(afterward brigadier generaD T. F.
Meagher and a regiment of the Zouaves
he had raised, all being under the COM
mand of Col. Michael Corcoran.
The Sixty-ninth New York Regiment Of
the brigade stayed on after the explra-
ton of their term and fought at Bull Run
where Col. Corcoran was taken prisoner.
In August Capt Meagher. who had dis
tinguished himself In the battle. set him.
self to the task-in the absence Of the
original communicate recruit not a sin
three Irish regiments
The old Sixty-ninth re-enlisted and was
Joined By the Eighty-eig Ith and Sixty
second New York Regiments, which were
accepted for three years or duration Of
the war" To these New York regiments
were subsequently added the Twenty
eighth Massachusetts, Infantry, as well as
Hogan's and McMahon's batteries. The
brigade was ever after known as the
Ill TD-Ez. L.
Brig Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher until
after the battle of ChanceIIorsviIle. II
was in the First Division, Second Army
Corps.
When fully recruited the brigade had
in its ranks about 400 Catholics.
The brigade early distinguished itself
for impetuous. persistent fighting. II
was at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvills
and Gettysburg. taking an honored part
and losing many men.
In the winter OF 1854 many of its vet
Grams re-enlisted and spring found the
brigade with its ranks nearly as fun as
in the beginning
Though many a wild spirit was num-
bered in the Irish Brigade. the command
always was noted for its strong devo-
ton to spiritual matters
The six regiments had five Catholic
priests as chaplains: Rev James Dillon,
Ouellet, S j., OF the Sixty-ninth; Rev.
William Corby. c. S. c. of the Eighty
eighth: Rev. FIR. Mckee. of the 1I6th
Pennsylvania. who on being taken ill
was replaced by Rev. Fr. McCullam.
who also resigned on account Of his
health.
Fr- Corby was most constantly in the
brigade. The dramatic scene of his Civ
ing ahsolution to the army in the battle
OF Gettysburg has been recorded in his
tory; but the strength. announcement
and consolation which he dispensed to
thousands in confession. to hundreds in
their agony, to the many relatives Of
soldiers to whom ne wrote. and even on
the scafold. when his charitable efforts
to obtain pardon for some poor solder
had failed. are things not to be revealed
Perhaps not the least of his good works
was cheering the men in the intervals
OF inaction.
Tomorrow - sherman Succeeds
Grant I'm the West.
Copyright, 1914. Associated Literary
PreSSl