This excellent photograph of the officers of the 69th New York Veteran Volunteers was taken in 1865, and is now at the Library of Congress. Lieutenant Colonel James J Smith is seated at center. Smith was First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the regiment at Antietam in September 1862 and was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in February 1865.

First Sergeant Francis T. Brennan of Company H, 97th New York Infantry was acting Adjutant when he was severely wounded in the leg on 17 September 1862 at Antietam. He was commissioned First Lieutenant on 7 January 1863 but his left arm was “blown off” on 6 May 1864 in the Wilderness, where he died of wounds on 10 May.

His photograph here is thanks to Joseph Maghe; from a hand-colored CDV in his collection.

Chaplain William Corby of the 88th New York Infantry was with the famed Irish Brigade as they prepared to charge on the Sunken Road position on September 17th:

Our brigade received orders to go in “double quick,” that is, on a full run. I gave rein to my horse and let him go at full gallop till I reached the front of the brigade, and, passing along the line, told the men to make an Act of Contrition. As they were coming toward me, “double quick,” I had time only to wheel my horse for an instant toward them and gave my poor men a hasty absolution, and rode on with Gen. Meagher into the battle. In twenty or thirty minutes after this absolution, 506 of these very men lay on the field, either dead or seriously wounded …

He’s seated at the far right in this group photograph taken at Harrison’s Landing, VA in July 1862 by Alexander Gardner. An original of the image is at the Library of Congress.

On May 25th Damian Shiels gave a talk in Waterford, and today kindly shared the audio/slideshow of it on his website, Irish in the American Civil War.

Although mostly specific to Waterford & the American Civil War, the first 20 minutes contain a terrific, clear and concise overview of the role of the Irish in the ACW (and the War itself) generally.

The rest of the the talk is also superb, as Damian discusses his use of the extensive US federal pension data to learn about the life experiences of Irish veterans and their families in Ireland. It is well worth your time!

Your AotW webmaster talked with Dr. Gerry Prokopowicz in an episode of his podcast Civil War Talk Radio, streamed live on 4 April 2018. This is the show’s 14th year, now with 425 episodes broadcast, and I’m honored to be included among the luminaries of Civil War writing who have been his guests.

Each week since October 2004, host Gerald Prokopowicz and a guest have discussed various aspects of Civil War History. Each show consists of an hour long conversation with guests including very well known historians James McPherson, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Gary Gallagher, to mention a few. Gerry also speaks with artists such as Don Troiani, filmmakers like Ken Burns, re-enactors like Rob Hodge, and novelists such as Jeff Shaara; as well as curators, game designers, children’s authors, collectors, and others. In addition to well known names like the ones mentioned, the show often features first-time authors who are just starting to make their reputations.

And now, one web page guy.

The podcast audio is available from Gerry on his Impediments of War site, companion to the podcasts. Or wherever you usually get your podcasts. It’s Episode #1426.