Irish Brigade (Union)

E325058

The Irish Brigade (Union) was a famed Civil War infantry formation composed largely of Irish immigrants, renowned for its fierce fighting spirit and heavy casualties in major battles.

All labels observed (3)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Union Army unit
infantry brigade
allegiance Union
associatedWith Irish nationalism in the United States
Irish-American identity
branch Union Army
carriedSymbol green flags with Irish symbols
commander Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher
Thomas Francis Meagher
commandLanguage English
commemoratedBy Antietam National Battlefield
surface form: monuments at Antietam National Battlefield

monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park
conflict American Civil War
country United States of America
disbandedIn 1864
engagedInBattle Battle of Antietam
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Gettysburg
Peninsula Campaign
Seven Days Battles
ethnicComposition predominantly Irish-American soldiers
formedIn 1861
garrisonLocation primarily field army service, no fixed garrison
hasMotto Erin go Bragh
initialRegiments 116th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
Massachusetts 28th Volunteer Infantry Regiment
surface form: 28th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment

63rd New York Infantry Regiment
69th New York Infantry Regiment
88th New York Infantry Regiment
militaryRole infantry
nickname Irish Brigade
notableEngagement assault on Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg
assault on the Sunken Road at Antietam
notableFor fierce fighting spirit
heavy casualties in major battles
large proportion of Irish immigrants
notableMember Michael Corcoran
Patrick Kelly
partOf Army of the Potomac
recruitedFrom Irish immigrant communities
Massachusetts
New York
Pennsylvania
religiousComposition predominantly Roman Catholic
size brigade
sustainedHeavyCasualtiesAt Battle of Antietam
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Gettysburg
usedWeapon smoothbore muskets loaded with buck and ball

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Battle of Fredericksburg hasParticipant Irish Brigade (Union)
Thomas Francis Meagher commanded Irish Brigade (Union)
this entity surface form: Irish Brigade
Irish Brigade (Spanish Civil War) distinctFrom Irish Brigade (Union)
this entity surface form: Irish Brigade (Union Army)
Battle of Marye's Heights notableUnit Irish Brigade (Union)