Comment by Gerry Regan on October 29, 2013 at 4:31pm

Mary, thank you for sharing this information. Having watched the film "12 Years a Slave" last weekend, I find myself pondering the relationships between native Southerners, immigrants such as the Butler brothers, and the slaves in the South. One would think that the Irish would identify with the downtrodden blacks in the Confederacy, but that doesn't seem to be the norm. Racial relations are very complicated, it does seem to safe to say. Perhaps fellow group member David T. Gleeson could talk about that a bit having just published a new book about the Irish who served in the Confederacy.

Comment by Gerry Regan on October 29, 2013 at 4:35pm

http://thenewwildgeese.com/profiles/blogs/cleburne-the-defense-of-r...

is a great story about an Irishman who seemed to at least understand that the Confederacy had no real future as a slavocracy!

Comment by Mary arnold on October 29, 2013 at 4:55pm

Most of the Confederates had no personal connection to slavery. My great-grandfather James Butler was a "soldier of fortune" according to my grandfather who fought in 7 different conflicts in Ireland, Crimea, India and the South. For him, it was a job. Others joined out of loyalty to their state. 

One of my distant cousins was Maj. Pierce Butler who was a British officer in America before the American Revolution. He married a South Carolina woman and resigned his commission. With the proceeds, he bought plantations in South Carolina and Georgia. After the Revolution, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and later a US Senator. He was largely responsible for keeping slavery in the US after independence, not a fact I'm proud of as his cousin. His family was one of the largest slaveholders in the South. A fascinating history of 5 generations of his family can be found in a book "Major Butler's Legacy" which is online with a few segments missing. Pierce was the son of Richard Butler, 5th Baronet of Cloughgrenan in Co.Carlow, Ireland. So the legacy of his family and slavery stretched from pre-Revolution to the Civil War. 

Comment by Gerry Regan on November 7, 2013 at 6:54pm

From: CIVILWARPHILA automatic digest system <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU>
Date: November 6, 2013 12:00:29 AM EST
To: CIVILWARPHILA@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU
Subject: CIVILWARPHILA Digest - 4 Nov 2013 to 5 Nov 2013 (#2013-227)
Reply-To: Civil War History in Philadelphia <CIVILWARPHILA@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU>

There is 1 message totaling 31 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

1. 69th Irish Brigade - Grave markers Dedication on Saturday!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2013 07:35:24 -0500
From: Anthony Waskie <awaski01@TEMPLE.EDU>
Subject: 69th Irish Brigade - Grave markers Dedication on Saturday!

69th Irish Brigade - Grave markers Dedication on Saturday!

On Saturday we will again do what we do best
“ Honoring the last resting places of our lads”

This Saturday November 9th we will honor the memory
Of three more lads who fought with the 69th Pa “Irish Volunteers”
At New Cathedral Cemetery at Front and Luzerne Streets in North Philadelphia.
(near both Erie & Hunting Park Avenue) Time 11:00AM start

* Private Peter Glackin Co G Section J Range 10 Lot 39
* 1st Lt Alexander Lovett Co E Section X Row 12 Space 4 grave 3
* Private Bartholomew Hart Co H Section B Range 6 Lot 3 - W

For more than twelve years we have gathered to honor our 69th veterans
and to place stones on their graves. We have averaged about 15-20
participants and are hoping the far see more this year as a large group of descendants
of these three soldiers are flying in from as far a Florida and driving in from three surrounding states to join us.

JOIN US SATURDAY MORNING

------------------------------

End of CIVILWARPHILA Digest - 4 Nov 2013 to 5 Nov 2013 (#2013-227)
******************************************************************

Comment by Cameron William Robinson on November 9, 2013 at 3:26pm

Ger  you asked for my most memorable battlefield experience it was the 135th Anniversary of Antietam, advancing through the cornfield in the early morning  semi darkness through the  mist and only the firing and noise of the Johonny Rebs advancing towards us. On the next day the attack on the Sunken Road with the rest of the Irish Brigade and having the honour of  being one of the color guard and being killed holding the green flag! I was a guest of the 28th Mass.But I cannot finish without mentioning our trip down th the battlefield park on the 16th September and meeting you guys. The following day we managed to do the Park walk over the Cornfield 135 years to the day and the hour ( it also happened to be a Wednesday).

I have discovered a lot of great Civil War talks and lectures on U-Tube.

Heres a glass to the memory of old friends and comrades.

Cameron 

Comment by Joseph Maghe on November 9, 2013 at 9:54pm

As we approach Veterans' Day, I cannot help thinking of the sacrifice that our service men and women are making this day. I also cannot help thinking of the bravery and fears of my family members and many others through history. Thank all of you who have served us and this great country. Your devotion to duty is why I do what I do... to, in some small way, keep alive the memory and deeds of some of our warriors of the Civil War in America. May we and future generations never forget nor take our freedom for granted.McDermott%20%282%29.jpg

Comment by Gerry Regan on November 9, 2013 at 10:58pm

Joe, maybe you can give your peeps a shout-out by name here, along with their branch of service.

Comment by Gerry Regan on February 17, 2014 at 2:26pm

Just discovered this news, from CWN, 2009:

http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/articles/09/june/meagher_060907...

Comment by Gerry Regan on February 21, 2014 at 5:18pm

Please welcome Mike Kane to The Wild Geese. Mike is a leading expert on the Fenian Brotherhood and the Irish experience during America's Civil War. He's jumped right in with a post today on 'the luckiest Irishman during the Civil War."

Comment by Gerry Regan on February 22, 2014 at 10:03pm

Poignant tribute by Joe Gannon to recently deceased sculptor Ron Tunison, who created the Irish Brigade monument at Antietam National Battlefield.

Comment

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