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We’ve traced some prominent Irish figures in the Civil War using the records on findmypast.
Thomas Francis Meagher was born in Ireland and was leader of the Young Irelanders in the Rebellion of 1848. You’ll find him listed twice for treason in Irish Prison Registers 1790-1924. He was transported to Australia where we found him in New South Wales and Tasmania: Settlers and Convicts 1787-1859. From there, Meagher made his way to America and fought for Union in the U.S. Civil War. He helped form the 69th New York Infantry Regiment, made up mostly of Irish immigrants and later became territorial governor of Montana. Findmypast’s US records trace Meagher’s tumultuous life in America. You’ll find him in U.S. Civil War Soldiers, New York City Marriage Notices, Irish Death Notices in American Newspapers and U.S. Veterans Gravesites.
Michael Corcoran was born in Ireland. He was commander of the 69th New York Infantry Regiment (part of the Irish Brigade). You can explore Michael’s military record in U.S. Civil War Soldiers on findmypast.
Irish-born Felix Brannigan received a Medal of Honor for his heroics in the Civil War. A total of 4 different Civil War records exist for him on findmypast because he was part of different units at different times.
One of the most decorated Irish-American’s in the war, St. Clair Augustine Mulholland received a Medal of Honor for his part in it and was later Chief of Police in Philadelphia. Three Presidents appointed him a U.S. Pension Agent too. You’ll find him in both American and Irish records on findmypast, including the 1880 US Census and the Tipperary Clans Archive
Irishman Patrick Cleburne first fought for the British Army and then for the Confederacy in the Civil War. An article titled “Major General Cleburne” from Irish Newspaper, The Dublin Evening Mail on July 12, 1864 predicts the “the beginning of total defeat of Sherman’s Army…which would soon destroy all of Georgia” and gives a brief bio of Cleburne. He was killed about 4 months later in November of 1864.
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