The Union Army

Civil War History

It was one of the bloodiest days of the American Civil War — September 17,1862. General George B. McClellan's 75,000 Federal troops waged war with General Robert E. Lee's 40,000 Confederates near Sharpsburg, Maryland at the Battle of Antietam. When the day ended, more than 26,000 Northern and Southern soldiers were dead, wounded or missing.
Among the hardest-hit of the Federal regiments was the 69th New York Infantry. Part of the Army of the Potomac's heralded "Irish Brigade" commanded by Brigadier General Thomas F. Meagher, the 69th New York was composed of Irish-Americans. Battle-tested and known as a regiment of hard fighters, the 69th New York was sent into the thick of the skirmish.

Led by Meagher, the Irish Brigade — including the 69th New York — made a courageous Federal assault on a fiercely fortified Confederate position in a sunken farm road that became known as "Bloody Lane." Vowing to rely on the "impetuosity and recklessness of Irish soldiers in the charge," Meagher ordered his troops to unleash two volleys of gunfire, then charge the enemy with fixed bayonets. The Irishmen charged as ordered, advancing beneath banners of Irish green. Bloody Lane was defended by desperate North Carolinians, Alabamians and Georgians, who poured repeated volleys into the ranks of the Irish Brigade. Eight color-bearers were shot down in succession.
"Boys, raise the colors and follow me!" Meagher commanded. "I'll follow you!" shouted Captain James McGee of the 69th New York as he seized the emerald flag from a wounded color-bearer. Confederate fire splintered the flagstaff and pierced his cap, but McGee defiantly waved the flag. Scores of the regiment's men were struck down by the fiery flood, but the regiment held its ground and poured a hail of return fire into Bloody Lane. Finally, the 69th's charge collapsed — but not before the regiment suffered 60 percent casualties. By day's end, Federal forces had taken Bloody Lane, Lee's army was retreating southward, and the hard-fighting reputation of the "Fighting 69th" was further enhanced.

The 69th New York was the first regiment to be organized for the famed Irish Brigade. The regiment and the brigade were raised by Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary who had fled to the United States in 1852 after being banished by the British. Meagher, an influential Irish-American spokesman who believed the British were sympathetic to the South, raised a company of Zouaves for the 69th New York State Militia in 1861. After the Battle of First Bull Run, the company's inlistments expired. Meagher returned to New York City and organized the Irish Brigade, beginning with the 69th New fork Infantry, which was mustered into Federal service on November 18,1861, in the Army of the Potomac. Meagher was commissioned as a brigadier general in February of 1862 and commanded the Irish Brigade, which was also known as Meagher's Brigade. The 69th New York soon joined the 1st Division of the 2nd U.S. Army Corps.
The regiment served in the Washington, D.C. defenses until March of 1862, then moved with General George B. McClellan and the Army of the Potomac to Virginia's peninsula region for the duration of the Peninsula Campaign. The Irishmen of the 69th soon made a name for themselves as ready fighters at Seven Pines, Games' Mill, Savage station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill and other actions n McClellan's unsuccessful attempt to take Richmond.
Back in northern Virginia, the 69th covered General John Pope's retreat after Pope was defeated by General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Second Bull Run. The regiment reinforced its reputation as the "Fighting 69th" at the Battle of Antietam. After Antietam, the regiment was posted at Harper's Ferry, then was ordered to Falmouth, Virginia, and was engaged in the Battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862. Fredericksburg proved to be a disastrous defeat for the Army of the Potomac, which suffered more than 12,000 casualties. Among the most bloodied regiments was the 69th New York.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, a portion of the 69th was engaged in heavy fighting on July 2nd. After Gettysburg, the regiment was involved in the Bristoe Campaign and the Mine Run Campaign in the fall of 1863. When General Ulysses S. Grant besieged Lee's Confederate forces at Petersburg, the Irish Brigade and the 69th New York saw action repeatedly. During the Appomattox Campaign, the 69th joined in the pursuit of Lee's retreating army and was engaged at the Battle of Saylor's Creek on April 6,1865.
When Lee surrendered his battle-worn Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, the bloodied survivors of the 69th New York were present to help receive the surrender. On June 30,1865, with a combat record matched by few Northern regiments, the Fighting 69th was mustered out of duty after losing a total of 401 men to the war.