The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns (The Irish in the Civil War)

Few brigades of the Civil War can boast of a record as distinguished as that of New York's 69th, yet it has never fully received the attention warranted by its record of military excellence, distinctive reputation, and the unusual perspective its members brought to the Civil War. In fact, the 69th was engaged in nearly every major action of the eastern theater; its military reputation was well deserved and its combat casualties, which are some of the highest of the war, are testimony to the soldiers' collective bravery and patriotism. In his post as war correspondent for the New York Herald, Capt. David Power Conygham was required to be an eyewitness to the many battles on which he reported — some of the experiences he would later describe when writing the history of the Irish Brigade. Conygham's account of the Irish Brigade is one of the best — filled with vivid accounts of battle, wit and humor, and an appendix of scrupulously gathered biographical data on the men who served the unit. Booknews Novelist, historian, newspaper editor, war correspondent, and Irish revolutionary Conyngham (1840-83) sat down right after the Civil War to write his account of the colorful brigade of the Army of the Potomac in which immigrant Irish Catholics demonstrated their loyalty and contribution to the US. First published in 1869 (and reprinted several times in modern times). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) "No Civil War unit had a more colorful or distinctive history than the Irish Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. Made up of thousands of Irish immigrants from New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, it charged into battle under green flags and was served by Catholic chaplains. The brigade was created and led by Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary who had been condemned by the British for his part in the Rising of 1848. Making his way to New York after escaping from a prison colony, he established himself as one of the chief spokesman of the Irish-American community. In 1861 he led his countrymen into the Union Army. Once there, they earned a reputation for dash and courage in the most celebrated battles of the eastern theater."--BOOK JACKET. I en ny redigeret udgave udkommer det over 100 år gamle standardværk om den irske brigades indsats i den amerikanske borgerkrig, hvis forfatter var krigskorrespondent for New York Herald fra 1863 ved Potomac. Af forordet fremgår det, at bogen er en uforlignelig kilde for enhver, der søger at forstå den irske befolknings deltagelse i borgerkrigen, hvilket de biografiske data om enhedens mænd bidrager til, ligesom bogens nationale irske perspektiv med redegørelser for særlige begivenheder gør This account of New York's 69th Regiment, the "Irish Brigade", describes how they were engaged in nearly every major action of the eastern theatre of the American Civil War. Their valour is still acknowledged each St Patrick's Day, when they lead the Parade up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.