Irish American Civil War Analysis
Corey Jean UW-Madison, 2010
Faugh A Ballagh :
Irish Immigrants in the American Civil War
Understanding an immigrant’s willingness to fight for a country he has only called home for only part of his life is easier to comprehend when you ask, “What cause is he willing to die for?” In the case of the American Civil War, the Irish immigrant’s “cause” depended completely on perspective. While two books, God Help the Irish! History of the Irish Brigade by Phillip Thomas Tucker and Irish Americans in the Confederate Army by Sean Michael O’Brien are comprehensive in their military statistics, both authors also aim to explain social, political, and cultural aspects of Irish American’s alacrity to take arms against their American and Irish brethren. The opposing mantras of both Union Irish and …show more content…
Tucker opines, “While other brigades reflected the society of their region and state, the Irish Brigade, consisting of mostly Irish Catholic immigrants but some 2nd generation Irishmen as well, reflected not only the immigrant society of America, but also the culture, pride and heritage of an ancient Celtic land on the other side of the Atlantic.” The Irish Brigade, sometimes referred to as one of the best units in military history, proved beyond a doubt that Irishmen were not inferior. They suffered tremendously high casualties, but fearlessly ran into the breach time and again. This not only proved Irish worth, but also allowed them to, in a sense, do what they always yearned for – fight the British. A popular opinion among Irish Americans was that the British hated America, it’s greatness and rising power on the world stage, and its republican liberty. England likely wanted an opportunity to recognize the Confederacy and cut down on the United States of America’s power. The Irish saw the preservation of the Union as yet another way to stick it to the
Faugh A Ballagh :
Irish Immigrants in the American Civil War
Understanding an immigrant’s willingness to fight for a country he has only called home for only part of his life is easier to comprehend when you ask, “What cause is he willing to die for?” In the case of the American Civil War, the Irish immigrant’s “cause” depended completely on perspective. While two books, God Help the Irish! History of the Irish Brigade by Phillip Thomas Tucker and Irish Americans in the Confederate Army by Sean Michael O’Brien are comprehensive in their military statistics, both authors also aim to explain social, political, and cultural aspects of Irish American’s alacrity to take arms against their American and Irish brethren. The opposing mantras of both Union Irish and …show more content…
Tucker opines, “While other brigades reflected the society of their region and state, the Irish Brigade, consisting of mostly Irish Catholic immigrants but some 2nd generation Irishmen as well, reflected not only the immigrant society of America, but also the culture, pride and heritage of an ancient Celtic land on the other side of the Atlantic.” The Irish Brigade, sometimes referred to as one of the best units in military history, proved beyond a doubt that Irishmen were not inferior. They suffered tremendously high casualties, but fearlessly ran into the breach time and again. This not only proved Irish worth, but also allowed them to, in a sense, do what they always yearned for – fight the British. A popular opinion among Irish Americans was that the British hated America, it’s greatness and rising power on the world stage, and its republican liberty. England likely wanted an opportunity to recognize the Confederacy and cut down on the United States of America’s power. The Irish saw the preservation of the Union as yet another way to stick it to the