| Title: | Letter from an American Officer |
|---|---|
| ID | 3665 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | magill/20 |
| Year | 1861 |
| Sender | Magill |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | army officer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Camp Lincoln, Virginia, USA |
| Destination | Ireland? |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | The Armagh Guardian, Friday, August 2, 1861 |
| Archive | Central Library, Belfast |
| Doc. No. | 9404016 |
| Date | 02/08/1861 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 29:03:1994. |
| Word Count | 366 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | LETTER 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." |
