Irish-Americans in the American Civil War
Encyclopedia
Due to the number of Irish immigrants to the Industrial Revolution
-era United States
, Irish-American participation in the American Civil War
was commonplace.
signers were of Irish descent and Andrew Jackson
was partially Irish), worsening conditions (under British rule) in Ireland-especially the Great Potato Famine-caused many Irish to emigrate in the mid-19th century.
An Irish immigrant, having suffered through an arduous overseas journey, would have been thrust into a terrible situation, as many were poor and unused to American customs.
Soon, however, the number of Irish-Americans in some cities grew so great that immigrant Patrick Murphy stated "New York is a grand handsome city. But you would hardly know you had left Ireland." American customs, once utterly foreign to the immigrants, became blended with traditional ones, forming a distinct Irish-American culture.
in 1861.
Many Irish-Americans formed their own units, which embraced Irish customs such as Catholic
masses and priests.
The first two casualties of the Civil War were Irish, as well.
. Irish-Americans living in the Union states often formed their own regiments, notably the 69th New York State Volunteers. The Volunteers flew a green flag with a golden harp on it, symbolizing Ireland.
Seven Union generals were Irish-born and 150,000 Irish-Americans fought for the Union during the war. At the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg
, the Union Irish Brigade charged up Marye's Heights, suffering 41.4% casualties. During the Battle of Gettysburg
in 1863, the Irish Brigade heard a Catholic mass before battling Confederate troops.
, six Confederate generals were Irish-born. Units such as the Charleston Irish Volunteers attracted Confederate Irish-Americans in South Carolina, while Irish Tennesseans could join the 10th Infantry Regiment, called "the Sons of Erin."
's grandfather.
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
-era United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Irish-American participation in 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...
was commonplace.
Pre-1861 Irish immigration
Although Irish immigration to the United States has taken place since colonial times (Six Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
signers were of Irish descent and Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
was partially Irish), worsening conditions (under British rule) in Ireland-especially the Great Potato Famine-caused many Irish to emigrate in the mid-19th century.
An Irish immigrant, having suffered through an arduous overseas journey, would have been thrust into a terrible situation, as many were poor and unused to American customs.
Soon, however, the number of Irish-Americans in some cities grew so great that immigrant Patrick Murphy stated "New York is a grand handsome city. But you would hardly know you had left Ireland." American customs, once utterly foreign to the immigrants, became blended with traditional ones, forming a distinct Irish-American culture.
The American Civil War
Most Irish-Americans had settled in the northern, anti-slavery American states and were thus called up to service when southern, slaveholding states seceded and formed the ConfederacyConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
in 1861.
Many Irish-Americans formed their own units, which embraced Irish customs such as Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
masses and priests.
The first two casualties of the Civil War were Irish, as well.
Irish service to the Union
The northern states remained loyal to the United States government, which was led by President Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. Irish-Americans living in the Union states often formed their own regiments, notably the 69th New York State Volunteers. The Volunteers flew a green flag with a golden harp on it, symbolizing Ireland.
Seven Union generals were Irish-born and 150,000 Irish-Americans fought for the Union during the war. At the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, the Union Irish Brigade charged up Marye's Heights, suffering 41.4% casualties. During the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
in 1863, the Irish Brigade heard a Catholic mass before battling Confederate troops.
Irish-Americans in Confederate service
Although significantly fewer Irish lived in the Confederate States of AmericaConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, six Confederate generals were Irish-born. Units such as the Charleston Irish Volunteers attracted Confederate Irish-Americans in South Carolina, while Irish Tennesseans could join the 10th Infantry Regiment, called "the Sons of Erin."
Results
Many Irish-Americans died in the Civil War, but the number of Irish immigrants did not stop after the Union's eventual victory. As early as the 1860s, while the war was raging, immigrants dared to cross the Atlantic. Among them was former US president Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's grandfather.