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Title: Letter from an American Officer
ID3665
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
Filemagill/20
Year1861
SenderMagill
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationarmy officer
Sender Religionunknown
OriginCamp Lincoln, Virginia, USA
DestinationIreland?
Recipientunknown
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipson-father
SourceThe Armagh Guardian, Friday, August 2, 1861
ArchiveCentral Library, Belfast
Doc. No.9404016
Date02/08/1861
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 29:03:1994.
Word Count366
Genre
Note
TranscriptLETTER FROM AN AMERICAN OFFICER

Subjoined is an extract of a letter written by the son
of our old and respected fellow-citizen, Mr. Michael Magill.
We are glad to see that and Armagh man is engaged in the
righteous cause of suppressing wanton rebellion, and that he
holds a high post in the American Army-

"Camp Lincoln, Virginia, July 4, 1861.

"My dear father - On the glorious 4th of July, the
anniversary of the declaration of independence of this
great, free, and prosperous Republic, now rent asunder by
the ambitious designs of treacherous and lazy politicians, I
address those lines, thinking, wondering at your apparent
ignorance of the chaotic state of this now unhappy country.
"We are now in arms against our own countrymen, Irish,
English, Germans, and Scotch are enlisted on both sides, as
well as native Americans, and I now write this amid the
thunder of artillery celebrating our national anniversary,
which may be employed before morning dealing death and
destruction among those hitherto brothers. It is possible
that you are not aware that there is half a million of men
in battle array on the soil of Virginia?
"I am a Lieutenant in the 28th Regiment New York State
Militia, a Volunteer; never had anything to do with military
matters before; enlisted as a private, and got promoted to a
Lieutenancy when I arrived at Washington.
"So now behold me with sword and sash, left wife and
'olive branches' to fight for the Stars and Stripes of our
glorious Union, and put down the rebellious band of
politicians and their dupes whose motto for thirty years has
been 'rule or ruin.'
"A noble descendant of the Emerald Isle, General
Jackson, in 1832, put down the same rebellious clique by his
energy, before it had time to assume its present enormous
proportions (the south has one hundred and fifty thousand
men in the field), and nobly has Irish-men responded to the
call of our Union's defenders and earned a name that will
only perish with the annals of American history.
"I am enlisted only for three months. In one month
from date my time will have expired. If the war continues I
shall probably enlist as a captain, or perhaps higher. I
think I can enlist as a major. I can have a commission as
captain anyhow. However, I shall return to my wife at
Brooklyn, and give you notice of my intentions.
"Don't make any excuses to me about when you write.
Write when you please. 'Tis always welcome. That is your
right."