Irish Americans in the Confederate Army

In 1861, Americans flooded to enlist for what all thought would be a short and glorious war. Anxious to prove their loyalty to their new homeland, thousands of Irish immigrants were among those who hurried to join the fight on both sides. While the efforts of the Union's legendary Irish Brigade are well documented, little has been said regarding the role Irish American soldiers played for the Confederacy. This comprehensive history explores the Irish contribution to the Confederate military effort throughout the four major combat theatres of the Civil War. Beginning with an overview of Irish Americans in the South, the book looks at the Irish immigrant experience and the character of the typical Irish Confederate soldier, detailing the ways in which Irish communities supported the Southern war effort. The main focus is the military actions in which Irish American soldiers were present in significant or influential numbers. With a combat death rate disproportionate to their numbers, the 40,000 Irish who served in the Confederate army played significant roles in the Army of Northern Virginia, the Army of Tennessee, the hotly disputed coastal areas and the Mississippi and Trans-Mississippi campaigns. Most major battles of the war are discussed including Manassas, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Murfreesboro and Appomattox. Appendices contain a list of various Irish commands and field commanders in the Confederate Army.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents List of Maps      Foreword by Kelly J. O’Grady      Preface      Prologue: Celtic War Cry      PART I. THE IRISH EXPERIENCE IN THE SOUTH 1. The New Country: Irish Immigrants in the South      2. Fighting Irish: The Character of the Irish Confederate Soldier      3. Home Front: The Irish Family, Community, and Church in War      PART II. THE IRISH IN THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA 4. Green Flag Unfurled: Manassas and the Valley Campaign      5. Defending Richmond: The Seven Days, June 1862      6. Southern Offensive: Second Manassas and Sharpsburg, August–September 1862      7. “With Distinguished Gallantry and Coolness”: Fredericksburg, December 1862      8. “A Stubborn and Bloody Conflict”: Gettysburg, July 1863      9. “To No Avail”: Wilderness to Appomattox, May 1864–April 1865      PART III. THE IRISH IN THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE 10. Hornets’ Nest: The Irish at Shiloh, April 1862      11. “Gallantry and Courage”: Perryville and Murfreesboro, October–December 1862      12. The Contest for Chattanooga: Chickamauga to Ringgold Gap, September–November 1863      13. The Contest for Atlanta, May–September 1864      14. “Carnival of Death”: Franklin, November 1864      PART IV. THE IRISH IN THE COASTAL STRONGHOLDS 15. “Up-Hill Work”: Charleston, Savannah, and Fort Fisher      16. To the Last Ditch: From Fort Pickens to Fort Blakely, 1861–1865      PART V: THE IRISH IN THEMISSISSIPPI AND TRANS-MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGNS 17. The Struggle for the Mississippi      18. West of the Sabine: The Irish in Texas      Epilogue: “Their Bones Lie on Every Battle-Field”      Appendix 1: Irish Commands in the Confederate Army      Appendix 2: Some Irish-American Field Commanders in the Confederate Army      Chapter Notes      Works Cited      Index     

About the Author :
The late Sean Michael O’Brien was a retired educator and free lance writer. He lived in Eufaula, Alabama.

Review :
“wonderful story...an easy read...extensive research...a treasure trove...excellent resource”—Civil War News; “provides a blow-by-blow account of Irish participation in virtually all of the major Confederate battles...useful battle maps”—The Journal of Southern History; “an important addition to this long-neglected subject, and should be read by anyone interested in Irish or Irish-American history”—Blue & Gray Magazine; “explores the often-overlooked contribution of Irish Americans to the Confederate military effort”—Reference & Research Book News.