| Title: | Destruction of the Irish Regiment at Fredericksburg. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3980 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | 1861-70/3(2) |
| Year | 1863 |
| Sender | unknown |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | Captain of the 88th (Irish Regiment) |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | USA |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | The Armagh Guardian, Friday, 23 January, 1863. |
| Archive | The Central Library, Belfast. |
| Doc. No. | 9508058 |
| Date | 23/01/1863 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 11:08:1995. |
| Word Count | 404 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | THE IRISH AT FREDERICKSBURG. A Canadian journal (the Sherbrooke Leader) publishes a letter from the captain of the 88th (Irish Regiment), a young man who resigned a situation of 1,300 dols. a year in the Custom house and raised a company. The letter was written after the battle of Fredericksberg. He writes:- "Dear Father, - Thank God for his great mercy. I came out of the most terrible battle day of this war without a scratch. My brother Edmund is also unhurt. I can hardly realize the fact that I am so blessed. Oh! it was a terrible day. The destruction of life has been fearful, and nothing gained. The battle opened about 10 o'clock yesterday morning with a terrible fire of artillery. As we were drawn up in a line of battle on the front of the city General Meagher addressed us in words of inspiration and eloquences I never heard equalled, after which he ordered every one of the brigade to place a bunch of green boxwood at the side of his cap, showing the example himself. Every man appeared fired with determined zeal and a firm resolution, which the result proves to have been carried out in a manner scarcely paralled in the annals of war. The 88th Regiment this morning numbers 10 officers and 41 men; the 69th, 7 officers and 59 men; the 63rd, 6 officers and 64 men; the 116th, 13 officers and 57 men. The 28th Massachusetts also suffered heavily, but I have not the returns. Irish blood and Irish bones cover that terrible field today, for Irish regiments were placed foremost, as the reports and returns will prove. Lieutenant O'Brian, of my company of brave men is, I believe, mortally wounded. All I can find of my once fine company is two sergeants and three men. That noble, brave Major Horgan was one of the first to fall, shot through the head. Every field officer of the brigade in action was killed or wounded, except Colonel Kelly, and he had a very narrow escape. Lieutenant Granger was struck by a piece of shell, tearing through all his clothes and the flesh over his bowels; one inch closer and he would have been killed. A piece of shell struck my haversack, tearing it off me throwing me over. I do not know what disposition will be made of us now in our shattered condition. Colonel Kelly is in command of the remnant of the brigade which does not number half a regiment. I have got cold in my limbs, and have felt very sick all morning, but it is nothing more than the results of exposure and want of regular food, which a couple of days' rest will remedy." |
