Back to Our Past, RDS

20th October 2013

Damian Shiels (www.irishamericancivilwar.com)

Brigadier-General Thomas Alfred Smyth, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac

Private Daniel Hough, 1st US Artillery

�1.6 million Irish-born in the United States

�1 in 4 New Yorkers Irish-born

�c. 170,000 Irish serve during the conflict

�c. 150,000 serve the North, c. 20,000 the South

�20% of the Union Navy is Irish-born

�18 Irishmen become Generals

�32 Irishmen become Brevet-Generals

�146 Irishmen receive the Medal of Honor- 3 of them twice

�Death totals likely to be c. 25,000- 35,000

• Preservation of the Union/Republic

• Adventure

• Money

• Preservation of the Republic as a Refuge for Irish Emigrants

• Preservation of one of Britain’s Enemies

• Desire to be seen as ‘Doing their Bit’/Integration

• Destruction of the Aristocratic Southern Society

• Gain Military Experience for a Potential Irish Invasion

• The North was their Home

• Preservation of States Rights

• Preservation of a Small Country Oppressed by a Large Country

• Preservation of a more tolerant society for the Irish

• Preservation of the Institution of Slavery

• Adventure

• Money

• The South was their Home

90th Illinois Infantry

23rd Illinois Infantry

• Mary Sophia Hill

• Bridget Diver

• ‘Irish Biddy’

• Sara Nylund

‘Irish in the American Civil War’

www.irishamericancivilwar.com