Irish in the American Civil War

Irish in the American Civil War

There are only two conflicts in Irish history which have seen close to 200,000 Irishmen in uniform. One is the First World War the other is the American Civil War. Irish-American Catholics served on both sides of the American Civil War 1861-1865 as officers, volunteers and draftees. Immigration due to the Irish Great Famine 1845 - 1852 had provided many thousands of men as potential recruits although issues of race, religion, pacifism and personal allegiance created some resistance to service. In addition very large numbers of Scots-Irish Protestants were involved in the work, especially the Confederacy.
This project aims to create a collection of profiles for the Irish soldiers of the American civil war.

On this page

1. Irish generals of the American civil war.
2. Irish Brevet Generals
3. Irish medal of honor recipients
4. Irish casualties of the Fetterman fight 1866.
5. Research tools
6. Sources

• Please add the profiles of other Irish soldiers of the American civil war to this project, to add a profile you will need to join the project first
  

Irish Generals

Ireland produced more American Civil War Generals than any other foreign country. In all 18 Irishmen acted as serving generals during the war; 12 Federal and 6 Confederate.

• William Montague Browne -born in Dublin in 1823
• Richard Busteed -born in Cavan in1821
• Patrick Roynane Clayburne - born in Killlumney co.Cork 1828
• Patrick Edward Connor - born in co Kerry in 1820
• Michael Corcoran - born 1827 in Sligo
• Joseph Finnegan - born in Clones Co. Monaghan in 1814
• William Gamble -born Co. Tyrone in 1818
• James Hagan -born in Co.Tyrone 1822
• Richard Henry Jackson - born Kinnegad co Westmeath in 1830
• Patrick Henry Jones - born co Westmeath in 1830
• James Lawlor Kiernan -Mount Bellew co Galway in 1837
• Walter Paye Lane - born in Co.Cork 1817
• Michael Kelly Lawlor - born in Co.Kildare in 1814
• Thomas Francis Meagher - born in Co. Waterford 1823
• Patrick Theodore Moore - born in co. Galway in 1821
• James Shields - born in Co.Tyrone 1810
• Thomas Alfred Smyth - born in Ballyhooly Co.Cork in 1832
• Thomas William Sweeny -born in Co.Cork 1821
  

Irish Brevet Generals

The majority of brevets were granted as a reward for gallant and meritorious conduct, and were often honorific in nature. Large numbers were awarded after the end of the war as a means of acknowledging good service.

• Timothy Patrick Andrews, born in Ireland in 1794, died on 11th March 1868 in Washington D.C., where he is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery (Section B, Lot 75).
• Joseph Cuffe Briscoe, born in Willmount, Co. Kilkenny in 1835,died on 24th May 1869 in New York, and is buried in an unmarked grave in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn (Section 189, Lot 18708).
• Joseph Walter Burke, born on 18th February 1835 in Westport, Co. Mayo, died on 7th November 1900 in Jacksonville, Alabama, where he is buried in Jacksonville Cemetery.
• James J. Byrne, born in Ireland in 1841, was killed when Apaches attacked a stage coach he was traveling in on 13th August 1880 at Fort Quitman, Texas. He is buried in Pioneers Rest Cemetery, Fort Worth, Texas.
• Charles Henry Tucky Collis, born on the 4th February 1838 in Cork,died on 11th May 1902 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
• Thomas Curley, born on 8th May 1825 in Tremaine, Co. Roscommon, died on 24th February 1904 in Madison, Wisconsin and is buried in St. Gabriel’s Cemetery, Praire du Chien, Wisconsin.
• Richard Dillon, born in Cootehill, Co. Cavan in 1832, died on 11th April 1881 in Washington D.C., and is buried in Old Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in an unmarked grave (Section C, Range 4, Lot 33).
• Arthur Charles Ducat, born on 24th February 1830 near Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, died on 29th January 1896 at Downer’s Grove, Illinois, and is buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois (Section 4, Lot 4).
• Mark Flanigan, born in Co. Antrim in 1825, died on 4th October 1886 in Detroit, Michigan, where he is buried in Elmwood Cemetery (Section D, Lot 66).
• John Hornbuckle Flynn, born on 10th March 1819 in Waterford, died on 25th December 1875 in Little Rock, Arkansas and is buried in Little Rock National Cemetery (Section 12, Grave 5
• John Hassett Gleason, born on 17th May 1838 in Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, died on 30th June 1889 in Washington D.C. and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia (Section 1, Lot 80-D).
  

Irish Medal of honor recipients

A

• Michael Aherne -born in Co.Cork
• James Allen
• Robert Anderson

B

• Augustus Barry
• David L Bass
• Terrence Begley
• William R.D Blackwood - born in Co.Wicklow
• Charles Bradley
• Felix Brannigan
• Christopher Brennan
• John Brosnan - born in Co.Kerry
• Edward Brown Jr.
• Michael E. Burk
• Thomas Burke
• James Byrnes

C

• William Campbell
• Hugh Carey
• David Casey
• Patrick Colbert
• Charles H.T Collis - born Co.Cork
• Martin Conboy
• Thomas Connor
• John Cooper - born Co.Dublin
• Thomas Corcoran - born Co.Dublin
• Thomas Cosgrove -born Co.Galway
• John Creed - born Co.Tipperary
• Thomas Cullen
• Richard Curran - born Co.Clare

D

• John C Delaney
• Timothy Donoghue
• Patrick Doody
• William Doolen
• Patrick Dougherty
• William Downey
• James Drury
• Richard D. Dunphy

E

• Edmond English

F

• Thomas T. Fallon - born Co.Galway
• Thomas Flood
• Christopher Flynn
• George W. Ford
• Nicholas Fox

G

• William Gardner
• Richard Gasson
• Patrick Ginley
• James H. Gribben

H

• James Haley - born Co.Cork
• Daniel Harrington
• John H. Havron
• Patrick Highland
• William Hinnegan
• Thomas Horan
• Samuel B. Horne
• Martin Howard
• Michael Hudson
• John Hyland
• Patrick Irwin - born Co.Clare

J

• Andrew Jones - born Co.Limerick
• William Jones

K

• John Kane
• Joseph Keele
• John Kelley
• Thomas Kelly
• John Kennedy
• John Keough
• Thomas R. Kerr

L

• Thomas Laverty - born Co.Tyrone
• Bartlett Laffey - born Co.Galway
• Hugh Logan
• John Lonergan

M

• Michael Madden
• Richard C. Mangam
• Edward S. Martin
• James Martin - born Co.Derry
• William Martin
• Peter McAdams
• Charles McAnally
• Bernard McCarren
• Michael McCormick
• Patrick H McEnroe
• Owen McCough
• John McGowan
• Thomas McGraw
• Patrick McGuire
• Alexander U. McHale
• George McKee
• Michael McKeever
• Hugh Molloy
• Patrick Monaghan
• Robert Montgomery
• Charles Moore
• John G. Morrison
• Charles W. Morton
• St. Clair A. Mullholland - born Co.Antrim
• Patrick Mullen
• Denis J.F Murphy - born Co.Cork
• John P. Murphy - born Co.Kerry
• Michael C. Murphy - born Co. Limerick
• Patrick Murphy - born Co. Waterford
• Thomas C. Murphy

N

• John J. Nolan
• Christopher Nugent - born Co.Cavan

O

• James R. O'Beirne -born Co. Roscommon
• Peter O'Brien
• Thomas O'Connell
• Timothy O'Connor
• John O'Dea
• Menomen O'Donnell

P

• George C. Platt
• Thomas Plunkett - born Co.Mayo
• John Preston

Q

• James Quinlan - born Co.Tipperary

R

• Peter Rafferty
• John Rannahan
• George Reynolds
• Thomas Riley
• James S. Roantree - born Co.Dublin
• John H. Robinson
• Thomas Robinson
• Peter J. Ryan

S

• Patrick Scanlan
• George Schutt
• William J. Sewell - born Co.Mayo
• Bernard Shields
• William Smith
• Timothy Spillane - born Co.Kerry
• Joseph Stewart
• Timothy Sullivan

T

• John M. Tobin - born Co. Waterford
• William Toomer
• George William Tyrell

U

• Emmet M. Urell - born Co. Tipperary

W

• John Walsh - born Co. Tipperary
• Richard Welch
• Thomas M Wells
• Edward Welsh
• James Welsh
• Patrick H. White
• William Williams
• Christopher W. Wilson
• Robert Wright
  

Irish casualties of the Fetterman fight of 21st December 1866

18th United States Infantry, Second Battalion -Company A

• Private Thomas Burke25-year-old, 5 foot 3 inches tall former laborer with a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair. Enlisted 21st March 1866 in Brooklyn, New York. A Co. Cork native.
• Private Patrick Shannon26-year-old, 5 foot 5 inches tall former laborer with a sandy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 25th July 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky. A Co. Roscommon native.
• Corporal Robert H. Lennon 23-year-old, 5 foot 5 3/4 inches tall soldier with a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. Enlisted 10th March 1866 in Boston, Massachusetts. A Co. Down native.

18th United States Infantry, Second Battalion - Company C

• Corporal Patrick Gallagher 27-year-old, 5 foot 7 inches tall former laborer with a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 25th July 1865 in Cleveland, Ohio. A Co. Donegal native.
• Sergeant Patrick Rooney, 24-year-old, 5 foot 7 inches tall former laborer with a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair. Enlisted 11th April 1866 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A native of Ireland.
• Private Frank P. Sullivan, 24-year-old, 5 foot 6 inches tall former laborer with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 29th March 1866 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Co. Kerry native.
• Sergeant Francis Raymond, 30-year-old, 5 foot 10 1/4 inches tall soldier with a ruddy complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. Enlisted 8th March 1866 in Washington D.C. A Co. Westmeath native.
• Private Patrick Smith , 33-year-old, 5 foot 3 1/4 inches tall former laborer with a florid complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. Enlisted 13th March 1866 in Chicago, Illinois. A Co. Clare native.
• Private Michael O'Garra, 22-year-old, 5 foot ten inches tall former carriage maker with a fair complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. Enlisted 12th April 1866 in Chicago, Illinois. A Co. Sligo native.

18th United States Infantry, Second Battalion - Company E

• Private Timothy Cullinane, 18-year-old, 5 foot 4 1/2 inches tall former laborer with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 15th March 1866 in New York. A Co. Cork native.
• Corporal John Quinn, 27-year-old, 5 foot 9 inches tall former laborer with a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 23rd January 1865 in Indianapolis, Indiana. A native of Ireland.

18th United States Infantry, Second Battalion - Company H

• Private Perry (Pierre) F. Dolan, 22-year-old, 5 foot, 6 1/2 inches tall former farmer with a fair complexion, hazel eyes and dark hair. Enlisted 10th April 1866 in St. Louis, Missouri. A native of Ireland.
• Private James Kean, 25-year-old, 5 foot, 6 1/2 inches tall former laborer with a dark complexion, black eyes and dark hair. Enlisted 13th March 1866 in New York. A Co. Clare native.
• Private Michael Kinny, nativity listed as Co. Roscommon
• Corporal Michael Sharkey, 28-year-old, 5 foot, 8 inches tall soldier with a ruddy complexion, grey eyes and auburn hair. Enlisted 29th March 1866 in Indianapolis, Indiana. A native of Ireland.

2nd United States Cavalry - Company C

• Sergeant James Baker, 22-year-old, 5 foot 11 inches tall soldier with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 7th December 1864 in New York. A native of Dublin.
• Artificer John McCarty27-year-old, 5 foot 11 1/2 inches soldier with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 9th September 1865 in Philadelphia. A native of Kerry.
• Private Patrick Clancy, 25-year-old, 5 foot, 9 inches former laborer with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 25th May 1866 in Boston. A native of Limerick.
• Private James P. Mcguire,21-year-old, 5 foot, 8 1/4 inches former engineer with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Enlisted 2nd October 1865 in New York. A native of Cavan.
  

Research tools

• Familysearch United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865
• U.S. Civil War Era Records
• US Civil War records on Ancestry.com

Sources

• The Irish in the American Civil War
• Irish Americans in the American Civil War
• Irish in the American Civil War
• Why the Irish fought for the Union