Excerpts from James Francis Smith’s The Civil War’s Valiant Irish

The Begining

The Derry native nodded to his brigadier commander, Joshua Owen. Not expecting nor receiving a return greeting, he didn’t bother to salute. O’Kane crossed to the most distant campfire, where Duffy and Devereux joined him. His first question was a repeat of one he asked every night.

“Is that bastid Welshman drunk or sober?”

Tonight, Duffy responded. “He’s well on his way, but not there…

(First published 1/9/12) Patrick Young is a blogger for Long Island Wins, a communications and organizing campaign focused on immigrants’ needs and immigration reform in Long Island, in New York State.  In his blogs, he has written extensively on the experiences of immigrants in America, including an…

Scarsdale, N.Y. (First publish 11/9/10) -- If there was ever a man who demonstrated that one need not raise one's voice to shrillness to be heard, it was Donegal native Dan Kelly, a successful entrepreneur who spent a good part of his last few decades furthering the heritage of his people, on both sides of the Atlantic. For those efforts, and with great…

Thomas Ashe

DOMHNAIGH -- On April 28, 1916, as the rebels in Dublin were being squeezed harder and harder by the British and nearing the end of…

• Part 1: From Bane to Toast of the Nation
• Part 2: Making a Stand
• Part 3: 'Winning the death…

• Part 1: From Bane to Toast of the Nation
• Part 2: Making a Stand
• Part 3: 'Winning the death…

• Part 1: From Bane to Toast of the Nation
• Part 2: Making a Stand
• Part 3: 'Winning the death…

This five-part series on the 69th New York Irish Brigade at the 1st Battle of Bull Run is drawn from the book "The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns," by Tipperary native David P. Conyngham, published in 1866. Conyngham served during the Civil War, for a time with Meagher's Irish Brigade, and finally as a correspondent for the New York Herald. In part 4 of 5…

This five-part series on the 69th New York Irish Brigade at the 1st Battle of Bull Run is drawn from the book "The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns," by Tipperary native David P. Conyngham, published in 1866. Conyngham served during the Civil War, for a time with Meagher's Irish Brigade, and finally as a correspondent for the New York Herald. In Part 3 of 5 drawn from D.P. Conyngham's account of the 69th at Bull Run, the regiment watches first blood drawn at Blackburn's Ford.…

This five-part series on the 69th New York Irish Brigade at the 1st Battle of Bull Run is drawn from the book "The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns," by Tipperary native David P. Conyngham, published in 1866. Conyngham served during the Civil War, for a time with Meagher's Irish Brigade, and finally as a correspondent for the New York Herald. In Part 5 of 5 we hear of the Bravery of the Sixty-ninth.-Defeat of the Union forces.-Capture of Colonel Corcoran.…

This five-part series on the 69th New York Irish Brigade at the 1st Battle of Bull Run is drawn from the book "The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns," by Tipperary native David P. Conyngham, published in 1866. Conyngham served during the Civil War, for a time with Meagher's Irish Brigade, and finally as a correspondent for the New York Herald. In Part 2 of 5 drawn from D.P. Conyngham's account of the 69th at Bull Run, the 69th New York marches out of Fort Corcoran and faces a…

This five-part series on the 69th New York Irish Brigade at the 1st Battle of Bull Run is drawn from the book "The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns," by Tipperary native David P. Conyngham, published in 1866. Conyngham served during the Civil War, for a time with Meagher's Irish Brigade, and finally as a correspondent for the New York Herald. In Part 1 of 5 the 69th New York departs triumphantly for Washington and prepares for war.…

By Gerry Regan

The emblem of the Washington Artillery of the Louisiana National Guard.

NEW YORK -- More than 150 years after its founding, the 69th Infantry continues to make history, today in conjunction…