Year: 1863

HEADQUARTERS IRISH BRIGADE,


HANCoCK's DIVISION, CoUCH's CORPs,H


ARMY OF THE PoroMAC, May 8, 1868.


MAJ. John Hancock Assistant Adjutant- General:


I beg most respectfully to tender you, and
through you to the proper authorities, my re-
signation as Brigadier- General commanding of
what was once known as the Irish Brigade.
That brigade no longer exists. The assault on
on the enemy's works on the 18th December
last reduced it to something less than a mini
mum regiment of infantry. For several weeks
it remained in this exhausted condition. Brave
fellows from the cOnvalescent camp and from
the sick bed at home gradually reinforced this
handful of devoted men. Nevertheless, it fail
ed to reach the strength and proportions of
anything like an effective regiment. These
facts represented as clearly and forcibly as it
was in my power to do in memorial to the
Secretary of War; in which memorial prayed
that a brigade which had rendered such service
and incurred such distressing losses should be
temporarily relieved from duty in the field, so
as to give it time and opportunity in some
measure to renew itself.


The memorial was in vain. 1t never even
was acknowledged. The depression caused by
this ungenerous and inconsiderate treatment of
gallant remnant of a brigade that had never
once failed to do its duty most literally and
herOically, almost untitled me to remain in
command. True, however, to those who had
been true to me-true to the position which I
considered sacred under the circumstances
remained with what was left Of my brigade;
and, though feeling that it was to a sacrifice
rather than to victory we were going, ac-
companied them, and led them through all the
operations required Of them at ScOtts Mills
and Chancellorville, beyond the RappahannOck.


A mere handful, my command did its duty at
those positions with fidelity and resolution
which won for it the admiration of the army.
II ,ko,k
surely be my highest honor, to remain in the
companionship and charge of such men, but
to do so any longer would be to perpetuate
public deception in which the hard won hon.
Ors of good soldiers, and in them the military
reputation of brave old race would inevitably
be involved and compromised I cannot be a
party to this wrong. My heart, MY conscience,
and just within me, fOrbids it.


In rendering my resignation. however, as
Brigadier-General in command 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 thei Govern
ment of the United States. That the Govern
ment and the cause, and the liberty, the noble
memories, and the future it represents. are en-
titled unquestiOnably and unequivOcally to the
life of every citizen who has sworn allegiance
to it and partaken of its grand protection but
while offer my own life to sustain this good
Government, feel it to be my first duty to do
nothing that will wantonly imperil the lives of
others. or, what would be still more grievous
and irreparable, intiict sorrow and humiliation
upon race who, having lost almost everything
else find in their character for courage and
loyalty an invaluable gift, which I, for one will
not be so vain or selfish as to endanger. have
the honor to be, most respectfully and truly
THOMAS FRANCIS NEAGHER


Brigadier- General Commanding.