Colonel John Burke
Encyclopedia
John Timothy Burke was an officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He was court martialed for alleged cowardice at the Battle of Antietam
and dismissed from the army.
Burke was born in Dunmanway
, County Cork
, Munster
, Ireland
. He emigrated to the United States
and settled in Oswego, New York
. At the start of the war, Burke was the lieutenant colonel
of the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment "The Irish Rifles." During the Peninsula Campaign
, he was wounded in the first of the Seven Days Battles
on June 25, 1862, at Oak Grove.
By the Maryland Campaign
in September 1862, he had become the colonel
of the 63rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in "The Irish Brigade". During the fighting around the Sunken Road at Antietam General Thomas F. Meagher, commander of the Irish Brigade, was wounded. Colonel Burke assumed command of the brigade and led it from September 17-18 when Geneaner Meagher returned to command.
Burke died in Oswego at the age of 75 and was buried in the town's cemetery.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was court martialed for alleged cowardice at the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
and dismissed from the army.
Burke was born in Dunmanway
Dunmanway
Dunmanway is a town in County Cork, in the southwest of Ireland. It is the geographical centre of the region known as West Cork. It is probably best known as the birthplace of Sam Maguire, an Irish Protestant republican, for whom the trophy of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settled in Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
. At the start of the war, Burke was the lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment "The Irish Rifles." During the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
, he was wounded in the first of the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
on June 25, 1862, at Oak Grove.
By the Maryland Campaign
Maryland Campaign
The Maryland Campaign, or the Antietam Campaign is widely considered one of the major turning points of the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North was repulsed by Maj. Gen. George B...
in September 1862, he had become the colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 63rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in "The Irish Brigade". During the fighting around the Sunken Road at Antietam General Thomas F. Meagher, commander of the Irish Brigade, was wounded. Colonel Burke assumed command of the brigade and led it from September 17-18 when Geneaner Meagher returned to command.
Burke died in Oswego at the age of 75 and was buried in the town's cemetery.