With the release this Friday of the major motion picture "Gods and Generals," we thought this an opportune time to review the book by author Jeff Shaara that gave rise to the film, focusing on the book's portrayals of the Irish.

Shaara's book is a "prequel" to Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize winning book "The Killer Angels," which chronicled the battle of Gettysburg, concentrating on several of the key officers from both sides. The book by Jeff Shaara, Michael's son, tells their stories from just before the start of the war through the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863.

Only one of the major characters in "Gods and Generals" is conspicuously Irish: Buster Kilrain. But Kilrain is a fictional character, and Shaara inherited him from his father's book. So, though he is a rather stereotypical . 

Irishman, the author had little leeway with him.

So we will consider the one minor character in his book who is among the most notable Irish participants in the war from either side, Thomas Francis Meagher. How accurately does Shaara portray Meagher? I'm afraid the answer is: rather poorly. He has the Waterford native in places where he was not, has things happen to him that didn't, and has him uttering words Meagher would never say, in a way he would never say them.

Library of Congress Thomas Francis Meagher in his Federal Army brigadier general's uniform.

Fiction, of course, allows for a certain poetic license, but historic fiction does, or at least should, put some restraints on that license. For example, one should certainly not put historic figures in places we know they couldn't have been.

Meagher makes his first appearance in "Gods and Generals" in a place he couldn't have been. Hancock meets him as Hancock is taking command of the 1st Division of the 2nd Corps at the battle of Antietam. The problem is that Hancock came to take command of the division at about 3 p.m., after General Israel Richardson was mortally wounded. Meagher was back behind the lines then, as he had already sustained an injury to his leg when he was knocked off his horse. Shaara's plight worsens. He has the misplaced Meagher tell Hancock that his brigade is "waitin' for a fight."

By the time Hancock came to take command of the division, the Irish Brigade had just finished what was probably as good a fight as any brigade on the field had that day, or perhaps any other day. They had been shot to pieces in the assault on "Bloody Lane." To have someone say to Hancock that the Irish Brigade was "waitin' for a fight" at 3 p.m. that day is to mischaracterize one of the most famous actions in the Brigade's history.

Shaara continues to place Meagher incorrectly at the next battle, Fredericksburg. He portrays Meagher accompanying his men on horseback as they assaulted the Confederates upon Marye's Heights. He then describes Meagher receiving a wound in the leg and falling from his horse as Hancock looks on. Meagher's earlier knee injury did prevent him from 

Photograph by Jim Wassel The Irish Brigade color guard before the filming of the assault on Marye's Heights on the set of "Gods and Generals," due to open nationwide on Friday.

continuing up the Heights on foot, and the canal at the bottom of the hill prevented Meagher from advancing with a horse. He dismounted and had to remain at the foot of the hill.

Perhaps most unfortunate though is the simple fact that Shaara has Meagher shot from his horse during a battle in which he was not wounded at all. That's an egregious failure of the writer to keep faith with the known history that buttresses the story.

An author should also not have a historical figure saying things he would never say, or speaking in a way we are sure he would not speak. I bring this up because Shaara portrays Meagher as an apparently half-educated Irishman with a thick Irish accent. Here is an example of the words Shaara has Meagher speaking to Hancock at Fredericksburg: "... I will lead me Brigade. We are a-headin' up that there hill. ...," and "I will be leadin' this here Brigade." Meagher would have never spoken that way.

Most Irish Catholic immigrants at the time were uneducated, but in "Gods and Generals," Shaara has accepted the stereotype, apparently not doing adequate research. In fact, Meagher was a highly educated man. His was among the few well-off Irish Catholic families on the island. As a result, he received a very good education in the only place available to monied Irish families, in British schools. I'm sure that Meagher would be outraged to see phrases like "me Brigade," "that there hill" or "this here Brigade" put into his mouth. There's simply no way he would have spoken in that inarticulate manner.

Those schools also made it their business to eliminate Irish accents. According to Meagher's first biographer, Michael Cavanagh, they succeeded with Meagher. Cavanagh didn't come by this information second-hand -- he was a personal friend of Meagher's. Chapter VI of Cavanagh's book is titled "In Stonyhurst [college] - Eradication of the Irish Brogue." Even a small amount of research on Meagher should have revealed that he was highly educated, was, in fact, "Meagher of the Sword," one of the great orators of his time, and did NOT have an Irish accent.

Photograph by Jim Wassel The Irish Brigade begins their assault on Marye's Heights during the filming of "Gods and Generals."

I do not believe these are unfair or nitpicking criticisms. While Meagher is a minor figure in Shaara's book, his role -- in the book and in the history portrayed -- is significant. Shaara had an obligation to research him. Meagher is a one of the major Irish figures of the war, and information on him is readily available. There are several widely published books on the Irish Brigade and Meagher. A 10-minute phone call and conversation with any number of historians could have eliminated these obvious errors.

All that said, "Gods and Generals" is an entertaining book. While it falls well-short of "The Killer Angels," most books would.

Editor's Note: The movie "Gods and Generals," based on Jeff Shaara's book, will open in theaters nationwide Friday. Next week, WGT will review the film and the accompanying soundtrack, now available from Sony Classical.

• Read more about Thomas Francis Meagher.
• Read about the Irish at the Battle of Antietam.
• Read about the Irish at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
• See more photography by Jim Wassel at the website of Sykes Regulars.

  WGT Managing Editor Joe Gannon, otherwise a researcher in a corporate library in Connecticut, has been participating in Civil War reenacting for 12 years and is currently a mainstay of the 27th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Gannon and many other members of the unit worked as extras in both "Gettysburg," based on "The Killer Angels," and "Gods and Generals."

  From the Publisher Jeff Shaara, right, explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain as the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg approaches. Shaara captures the disillusionment of both Lee and Hancock early in their careers, Lee's conflict with loyalty, Jackson's overwhelming Christian ethic and Chamberlain's total lack of experience, while illustrating how each compensated for shortcomings and failures when put to the test. The perspectives of the four men, particularly concerning the battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, make vivid the realities of war. Buy GODS AND GENERALS atAMAZON.COM . . Other Articles from TWG on the Irish in the US Civil War John Logan, “The Black Eagle of Illinois”: From Bigot to Black Rights Activist Civil War General John “Black Jack” Logan: “The Radiant Incarnation of War.” The Irish in the American Civil War Monument Origin of the Word 'Deadline' Memorial Day: Recalling Those Who Gave Their Last Full Measure Dispatches From Antietam: Irish Join Throng Marking The Battle's 14... A Union Officer, A Dublin Backmark Trans-Atlantic sleuthing finally... Building a trail to recall the Irish role in America’s bloodiest war Bust of Thomas Francis Meagher Destined for Brooklyn With Dublin Talk, Irish Gov'ment Highlights America's Civil War 'If It Had Only Been For Ireland': John C. Mitchel Dies in Carolina Soldier Jennie Hodgers: Irish Woman Fought in America's Civil War Irish Fight for Union Resounds Emma Kline: Hoop-Skirt Smuggler During the Siege of Vicksburg SRO Event Launches Irish Commemoration of America’s Civil War Those Wonderful, Intelligent Irish Genes - Thank You, Ireland Gods and Generals: 'Stonewalling' the Civil War The Stories Behind the Songs: 'Kelly's Irish Brigade' Irish in America's Civil War with Damian Shiels, Robbie Doyle, Gerr... The History Show , RTE Radio 1 American Civil War and the Contribut... A Dog’s Tale: Pat and Mike Go To War 'The Irish Volunteer' Finds His Bard: David Kincaid's new CD resurr... Color Sergeant Michael Brady: The Luckiest Irishman in America's Ci... Jews Who Fought in Famed Irish Brigade's 28th Massachusetts The Irish at Sabine Pass -- September 6-8, 1863 Confederate Hero, Dick Dowling: Miracle at Sabine Pass Grab Keneally’s Biography of an ‘American Scoundrel’ Brevet Brigadier General Peter John Sullivan The History of the Irish Brigade The Stories Behind the Songs: 'The Irish Sixty-Ninth' Memorials, Tombstones and Cenotaphs In `92, Billy Yank and Johnnie Reb March in Dublin Christmas in the Union's Irish Brigades Part 1 of 2: Early War In t... Remembering the Irish Who Fell at Fredericksburg Cleburne: Let Blacks Fight for the Confederacy St. Patrick's Day's Powerful Tug Special Report: The Irish Battle at Antietam: 140th anniversary Mary Brady: Angel of the Battlefield Tom Sweeny: He Wasn't Called "Fighting Tom" For Nothing Sheridan Rides to Lincoln's Rescue in 1864 Election Parts 1 & 2 Corcoran: From Bane to Toast of the Nation: Parts 1 through 5 Cleburne: A Confederate 'Meteor' Irish Brigade Clears Way for Governor Mario Cuomo, March 1991 LIVE Community Chat with Mike Harrington - Sunday, Sep. 8 (Sabine Pass) An Irishwoman at War (Irish Heritage Week 2020) 'The Fighting 69th' Parts 1 &  2  ‘Meagher of the Sword’ – The Civil War Legend and His Kildare Boyhood The American Civil War at Christmastime: A Community Chat with Kevi... Private Luke Quinn, USMC, Was He The First Casualty of The American... U.S. Grant's Ancestral Homestead in Tyrone The Confederate Monument Issue: Is it Pride or Prejudice? Cleburne's Incendiary Proposal: Let Blacks Fight for the Confederacy Confederate Hero, Dick Dowling: Miracle at Sabine Pass Cleburne: The Defense of Ringgold Gap Call for Tuam Town Hall to remove memorial to Irish Confederate major Disquieting Kiss: Embracing the Blue, Gray and Green Recalling the 155th New York Volunteer Infantry 'Corcoran's Irish L... 'Free and Green': Song -- and Fate -- Bring Limelight to Civil War ... Scrappy Phil Sheridan - The U.S. Army's Little Big Man Sheridan Rides to Lincoln's Rescue in 1864 Election Galvanized Yankees General Phil Kearny: 'The One-Armed Devil' Irish Dominate Medal of Honor List James J. Shields: Tyrone Native Served America Well—and Often The Stories Behind the Songs: 'Camp Song of the Chicago Irish Brigade' 'South Wind': Awakening the Silent Voices of America's Civil War "Their Stories, Our Heritage, Not Forgotten" Irish Heritage Week, 2... The Call to Arms: The Irish at 1st Bull Run, Parts 1 through 5 The Civil War and the Irish in New Orleans Father Peter Cooney, CSC: Chaplain of 35th Indiana (1st Irish) Dying Together: From Bull Run to Baghdad An Irishman In The 8th Ohio Volunteers The Confederate Monument Issue: Is It Pride or Prejudice? The Irish Sword': A Community Chat All About Dick Dowling, with Mik... The Deadliest Day: The Irish Brigade at Bloody Lane, September 17, ... 'The Fighting 69th' Makes History, Yet Again Mayo's Robert Horatio George Minty: Past Imperfect Hero Defender of the Faith: Commander Aids Pope, U.S. Army 'Born a Soldier': Myles Walter Keogh - Part 1 through 3: From Carlo... Dispatches From Antietam: Irish Join Throng Marking The Battle's 14... "Their Stories, Our Heritage, Not Forgotten" Irish Heritage Week, 2... How a 22-Year-Old Firebrand Became 'Meagher of the Sword' Father Peter Paul Cooney: Faithful Servant Honoring Father William 'Fair Catch' Corby AOH Historian: Irish vs. Black Narrative in Draft Riots a Fiction 'Undaunted Courage': The Irish at Fredericksburg The Easter Rising, America's Civil War, and 'The Minstrel Boy' U.S. Warship Comes to Queenstown, November 1863 A Confederate Chieftain 'Crosses Over The River'  'The Florence Nightingale of The Army of Northern Virginia' 'Come On Back, Boys! Give 'Em Hell, God Damn 'Em! We'll Make Coffee... Colonel Patrick Guiney: Boston's 'Good Knight' Character Assassination in 'Gods and Generals': Shaara Book Portray... Two of America's Irish Heroes In Pursuit of Lincoln's Assassin: Roscommon-Born James Rowan O'Beir... Private Willie Mitchel: An Irish Confederate Boy William 'Whack' Ryan: Martyr to Cuban Freedom Long-dead James J. Shields faces GOP in new tussle The Irish at Gettysburg The Irish Brigades'S Fifth Regiment (116th PA) The 35th Indiana: Hoosier State's '1st Irish': Part 1 & 2: Be J... Dynamite Johnny O'Brien: 'A Captain Unafraid' For Erin and America - James McKay Rorty "Their Stories, Our Heritage, Not Forgotten" Irish Heritage Week, 2... "Their Stories, Our Heritage, Not Forgotten" Irish Heritage Week, 2... The 5th New York's Daniel J. Meagher The Wolfe Tone Guard in Civil War California Irish Confederate at Gettysburg Fr. John Bannon -- 1st Missouri Brigade, C.S.A. (Irish Heritage Wee... Band of Brothers: The Day the Irish Brigade Saved the 9th Massachus... Semmes and the San Patricios: 'Dishonored and Dishonorable'? Irish Rebels and the Baltimore Riots Patrick Cleburne's Ireland "Faithful to us here, we loved him to the last.": Col. Patrick Kelly The Irish Fight for Grant at Cold Harbor The First Republican President in Ireland, Parts 1-2-3: Ulysses S. ... The Mystery of the 69th Pennsylvania's Irish Flags In Pursuit of Lincoln's Assassin: Roscommon-Born James Rowan O'Beirne (Parts 1 & 2) "Their Stories, Our Heritage, Not Forgotten" Irish Heritage Week, 2... Restored Painting Captures Return of the 69th By Liam Murphy / WG H... Band of Brothers: The Day the Irish Brigade Saved the 9th Massachus... June 3, 1864: Irish Regiments Fight for Grant at Cold Harbor How St. Patrick's Day Was Celebrated by The Irish Brigade in the Ye... Among the Irishmen at Gettysburg Confederate General's Family Saga: Anglo-Irish and Well-Respected Confederate Major General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne Special Report: The Irish Brigade Monument Unveiling General Phillip Sheridan: Short in Stature, Tall in the Saddle Copyright © 2012 GAR Media LLC. This article may not be resold, reprinted, or redistributed without prior permission from the author. Direct questions about permissions to permissions@garmedia.com.