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Granted this only applies tangentally to the War Between the States, but for many Americans of Irish Birth or Descent it was an important day...
With the words above Sligo-born Michael Corcoran, commander of the 69th New York Militia, let state officials know that his regiment of Irishman would not be marching in honor of the visiting Prince of Wales on October 11, 1860.
He issued a statement that he, "could not in good conscience order out a regiment composed or Irish-born citizens to parade in honor of a sovereign under whose reign Ireland was made a desert and her sons forced into exile."
In holding to that principle Corcoran risked the destruction of his military career, and indeed he was brought up on charges. But an event far more important than honoring the son of a foreign sovereign would intervene to eliminate those charges when the Confederate states fired on Ft. Sumter and the charges were dropped as his services were now needed by his adopted country. Former national historian of the Ancient Order Hibernians, John J. Concannon tells the story of this incident and the rest of Michael Corcoran's colorful but brief life for WGT.
October 11, 1860
"I Am Not Desirous of Joining in the Festivity"
"I Am Not Desirous of Joining in the Festivity"
With the words above Sligo-born Michael Corcoran, commander of the 69th New York Militia, let state officials know that his regiment of Irishman would not be marching in honor of the visiting Prince of Wales on October 11, 1860.
He issued a statement that he, "could not in good conscience order out a regiment composed or Irish-born citizens to parade in honor of a sovereign under whose reign Ireland was made a desert and her sons forced into exile."
In holding to that principle Corcoran risked the destruction of his military career, and indeed he was brought up on charges. But an event far more important than honoring the son of a foreign sovereign would intervene to eliminate those charges when the Confederate states fired on Ft. Sumter and the charges were dropped as his services were now needed by his adopted country. Former national historian of the Ancient Order Hibernians, John J. Concannon tells the story of this incident and the rest of Michael Corcoran's colorful but brief life for WGT.
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