NY State Guard honors Irish Brigade role in Civil War 1863 Battle of Fredericksburg

Media Advisory

NEW YORK (12/09/2022) — Twenty members of the New York Guard, the state's volunteer defense force, will commemorate the 545 Irish-American Soldiers from New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia who died at the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg in 1863 at a ceremony in Queens on Saturday, Dec. 10

There are more than 40 Civil War Soldiers of the Irish Brigade buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, N.Y.

WHO: Volunteers of the New York Guard's 88th Area Command which claims the lineage of the 88th New York Infantry, which was one of the five regiments of the Irish Brigade.

WHAT: A memorial ceremony commemorating the charge of the Union's Irish Brigade, part of the United States Army of the Potomac, against dug in Confederate positions during the Battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1863. The battle, and the Irish Brigade, are featured in the 2003 movie "Gods and Generals," about the early days of the Civil War.

WHERE: Calvary Cemetery, 49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd, Woodside, N.Y. 11377

WHEN: 10 a.m., Saturday, December 10, 2022

Media Opportunity:

News media are invited to the event to gather imagery of the commemorative events and speak with uniformed members of the New York Guard state defense force. Ceremony highlights include a short march from St. Callixtus Chapel to the Irish Brigade Monument where three boxwood wreaths will be placed, followed by the playing of Taps, a salute firing party and bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace.

Background:

The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought during the Civil War in and around the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia from December 10-13, 1862.

The battle involved over 200,000 Union and Confederate troops and is recognized as one of the most significant engagements of the Civil War.

The focus of the commemoration is the participation of the Union Army's Irish Brigade, which included the 69th New York Volunteers, 88th New York Volunteers and the 63rd New York Volunteers.

Fredericksburg is remembered as one of the most lopsided Confederate victories of the entire conflict and the casualties of the Irish Brigade bear that out.

The legacy of the 88th Regiment continues as part of the New York Guard's 88th Area Command.

Its volunteers serve the state in times of disaster or crisis, most recently with forces for the COVID-19 pandemic response and the support to the recent asylum seeker arrivals in New York City.

The Irish Brigade was involved in the northern battleground at Fredericksburg, where they assaulted the sunken road in front of Marye's Heights, where Confederates had prepared defensive works.

The brigade advanced under heavy fire, getting close to Confederate lines, but ultimately failed to break the Confederate positions due to staggering casualties.

Nearly half the brigade became casualties at Fredericksburg, with 545 of 1,200 men killed, wounded, or missing in the failed assault.

It was at Fredericksburg that the 69th New York Volunteers, part of the Irish Brigade, earned its nickname from Confederate General Robert E. Lee as the "Fighting 69th."

That unit legacy continues today with the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment.

The commemoration will begin with a Mass of Remembrance at St. Callixtus Chapel, located on the grounds of the Calvary Cemetery, followed by a short march to the Irish Brigade Monument where three boxwood wreaths will be placed, followed by Taps, firing party salute and a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace.

The 69th Regiment Monument in Calvary Cemetery honors the battles fought by Meagher's Irish Brigade and the Corcoran Legion in the American Civil War. Erected in 1920 by the Veterans Corps of the 69th Infantry Regiment, it is located in Section 4, Range 5, Plot W.

For further information contact Warrant Officer Ed Shevlin, 88th Area Command, New York Guard, edward.shevlin@newyorkguard.us.

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