CIVIL-WAR-IRISH-L Archives

Archiver > CIVIL-WAR-IRISH > 2003-04 > 1049753094


From: "Gabriel Donohoe" <>
Subject: Re: [Civil-War-Irish] Irish brigade in "Gods and Generals"
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 23:04:54 +0100
References: <23D72B691EBFD31198920000E22935D40565722A@nt009mespm.pmhkemh.health.wa.gov.au>


Eamonn McNulty wrote:

>>A chairde (friends)
Greetings from Perth, Australia.
I've been watching the discussion about the Irish at F'burg.
Unfortunately the movie hasn't got here yet but I can
tell you that there was no Confederate Irish Brigade.
I've researched this point thoroughly. I have never
heard mention of the "Abú" either.<<

Technically you're right, Eamonn. Unlike the Union Army, Confederate
regiments tended to be brigaded by State. However, a battalion of the 6th
Louisiana was informally known as "The Irish Brigade" and Ella Lonn in
"Foreigners in the Confederacy" refers to an 'Irish Brigade' ordered out of
New Orleans on Feb 15th, 1862, (p.107). Possibly these were members of Rob
Wheat's notorious "Tigers" or "Wharf Rats from New Orleans".

And a contingent of the Stonewall Brigade was known affectionately as the
"Irish Battalion".

Many other Confederate battalions and regiments had a large Irish presence
with colorful Celtic names. E.g., "Rebel Sons of Erin" (10th Tennessee),
"Alabama Rebels", "Emmett Guards", "Emerald Guards", "Shamrock Guards",
etc., etc.

An ancient Irish battle cry heard on both sides was "Faugh An Bealach!" or
"Clear the Way!"

Regards

Gabriel Donohoe

This thread: