Comment by Joseph Maghe on November 7, 2013 at 8:47pm

Burke was born April 15, 1840 in Limerick, County Cork, Ireland. He landed in the U.S. June 12, 1857. He worked in drygoods & enlisted in the 69th NYSM as a private in either late May or early June of 1861. Burke began in the 88th as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company C. He rose through the ranks to Lt. Colonel in July of 1864. He was wounded three times (Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvill, and at Petersburg in the night attack on Fort Mahone). Burke assumed command of the regiment June 14, 1863, and did so into September 1864. He married Catherine (Kate) Cecelia Clark February 8, 1864 in New York City's Church of the Nativity. He received the rank of Lt. Colonel July 20, 1864. Burke was appointed Colonel November 15, 1864 but was not mustered.He did receive Brevet Colonel rank April 9, 1865 and mustered out June 30, 1865.
John O'Mahoney swore Burke in as Colonel in the Fenian Brotherhood in 1865. He, Lt. B McDermott and Colonel Michael Kerwin (who would later marry Burke's widow) were arrested in Dublin, Ireland on suspension of habeas corpus in February 1866. He was jailed at Mountjoy Jail & Kilmainham for seven months. He was returned to the United States and became publisher of the "Emerald" & "The Irish People". He died in New York City on October 19, 1893 and is buried in Woodlawn (Calvary) Cemetery the Bronx.

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