Faugh a Ballagh! The Remarkable Story of The Irish Brigade

Céad Míle Fáilte and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week. The hawthorn trees are in full bloom here in County Cork, creating patches of white blossoms throughout the countryside that we call the “May flower.” After a long run of sunshine, the weather has returned to being typically Irish – sunshine one minute, a shower the next – but that’s what keeps our island so beautifully green! How are things in your part of the world today?

I’m enjoying a cup of Lyons’ tea as I write, and I hope you’ll join me with whatever you fancy as we start into today’s letter. This weekend marks Memorial Day in the United States – a time when Americans honour those who gave their lives in military service. It seems fitting, then, to share a story that bridges Irish and American history in a profound way.

Earlier this month, Shaun in Maryland, USA posted the following in the Green Room:

“Good morning, Mike. You may have covered this long before, but if not, sometime you might want to write about the Irish Brigade. It was composed initially of three regiments of Irish volunteers and New York militia, with a regiment from Massachusetts. The MA regiment was later replaced by another MA regiment of Irish from the Boston area. After the Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), the core regiment became the 69th Regiment. The Irish Brigade had the 3rd most casualties in the civil war. After the Civil War, the brigade became popularly known as The Fighting 69th. To this day, the 69th is still around.”

Thank you, Shaun, for suggesting this fascinating topic that connects our two nations.

 

Ireland’s Sons on American Soil

To understand the Irish Brigade’s story, we need to step back into mid-19th century Ireland. The Great Hunger (An Gorta Mór) had driven hundreds of thousands of Irish to cross the Atlantic, seeking survival and opportunity in America. These emigrants carried with them a lasting memory of British rule and developed a fierce loyalty to their new homeland.

By 1861, when the American Civil War erupted, Irish communities had established themselves in cities across the Union, particularly in New York and Boston. When President Lincoln called for volunteers, Irish-Americans answered in droves. Some enlisted out of patriotism for their adopted country, others for steady pay, and many might have seen military service as a path to respect in a society that often greeted them with “No Irish Need Apply” signs.

While the majority of Irish immigrants fought for the Union, it’s important to note that a number also joined the Confederate ranks—particularly those who had settled in Southern states like Virginia, Louisiana, and Georgia. Their decisions were less shaped by politics and more by loyalty to their new communities. 

 

Thomas Francis Meagher: The Man Behind the Irish Brigade

At the heart of the Irish Brigade’s story stands Thomas Francis Meagher (pronounced “Marr” in these parts) – a man whose life reads like an adventure novel. Born in Waterford City to a wealthy merchant family, Meagher became a leading voice in the Young Ireland movement and advocated for Irish independence. For his revolutionary activities, he was sentenced to death by the British, later commuted to transportation to Tasmania.

After a daring escape from that penal colony, Meagher made his way to America in 1852. When civil war broke out, he raised Company K of the 69th New York State Militia, which fought at the First Battle of Bull Run. Following that engagement, Meagher received authorisation to expand his command into a full brigade of Irish regiments.

The Irish Brigade officially formed in September 1861, and consisted initially of the 63rd, 69th, and 88th New York Infantry regiments. Later, the 28th Massachusetts and 116th Pennsylvania (also heavily Irish) would join their ranks. Each regiment carried two flags into battle – the Stars and Stripes alongside a brilliant green banner bearing the golden Irish harp, shamrocks, and sunburst.

What set the brigade apart was not just their heritage but their fighting style. Meagher trained his men in European battlefield tactics, emphasising discipline and the bayonet charge. At Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, they became known for advancing in perfect order under withering fire, often while other units faltered.

Their distinctive uniform additions – a sprig of boxwood in their caps at Fredericksburg, a green shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day – became symbols of pride and remembrance. Even Confederate General Robert E. Lee acknowledged their prowess, reportedly declaring: “Ah yes, that Fighting 69th,” giving birth to their enduring nickname.

However, the brigade’s courage came at an awful cost. At Fredericksburg in December 1862, they were ordered to assault the impregnable Confederate position on Marye’s Heights. In what amounted to a suicide mission, the Irish Brigade marched across an open field, straight into Confederate artillery and rifle fire.

Of the approximately 1,200 men who began the assault, only 280 remained standing when they finally withdrew. The green regimental flags, so proudly carried into battle, were riddled with bullet holes – one reportedly struck 83 times.

By war’s end, the Irish Brigade had suffered among the highest casualty rates of any brigade in the Union Army – over 4,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. Such losses would earn them the grim distinction Shaun mentioned as having the third-highest casualties of the war.

 

Legacy: The Fighting 69th Lives On

After the Civil War, the brigade was disbanded, but the 69th New York Infantry continued as part of the New York State Militia. As Shaun pointed out, they would serve with distinction in multiple conflicts to come, continuing to earn the nickname “The Fighting 69th.”

During the Second World War, the 69th took part in the bloody Pacific campaign. More recently, elements of the unit have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, it exists as the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard.

The regiment proudly maintains its Irish heritage. Their motto remains “Faugh a Ballagh” (Clear the Way) – the battle cry that echoed across Civil War battlefields. On St. Patrick’s Day each year, they lead New York City’s parade – a tradition dating back to 1851.

As Americans observe Memorial Day this weekend, many will visit monuments bearing Irish names – O’Neill, Sullivan, Murphy, Kelly – men who fought and died for their adopted homeland. In a way, these soldiers represented the best of both worlds: Irish courage and American opportunity.

Their story reminds us of the deep connections between Ireland and America – connections forged not just in times of celebration, but in sacrifice and struggle. The Irish Brigade stands as testament to how Irish immigrants became Americans while keeping their heritage alive, a pattern repeated countless times in America’s history.

So, the next time you’re in New York City, consider visiting the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue, or the Irish Brigade Monument at Gettysburg. And if you find yourself in Waterford, Ireland, look for the statue of Thomas Francis Meagher standing proud outside the city hall – a man who truly belonged to two nations.

For those with ancestors who served in the Irish Brigade or the Fighting 69th, I’d love to hear your family stories. Do let me know in the comments section below.

That’s it for this week,

Slán for now,

Mike