Very cool birthday present from my dad

[skygazer]

The pic isn't the best - I took it with my cell phone. It's a reproduction of the flag of the 69th New York in the Civil War. My great-great grandfather was the Colonel commanding the regiment which was the lead regiment of the famous (and infamous) Irish Brigade. The flag itself is 3'x 5', heavy duty cotton and the design is all embroidered (shamrocks on the bottom, Irish harp and sunburst on top, the motto in Gaelic reads "Riamh Nar Dhruid O Spairn Iann" which supposedly means "who never retreated from the clash of spears").

It's absolutely beautiful and came as a complete surprise - I just love it.



Here's Grampa after he was promoted to Brigadier General -



And here's a photo of an officer's uniform belt buckle - I have his but no photo of mine -

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. Irish Gaelic!

Cool language!

And cool flag....

:thumbsup:

[AllegroRondo]

2. Wow, the Irish Brigade

Have you seen the movie "Gettysburg"?

Theres an amazing scene where the Irish Brigade is attacking uphill against the Confederate troops, many of whom we see are also Irish. They keep marching forward and firing long after the other units around them have broken and run away. After many have fallen, the Colonel finally gives the command to retreat, and they fall back in an orderly manner. The Confederate troops they were just fighting hold their fire and cheer them as they leave, one commander saying "thats the bravest Regiment I've ever seen".

[skygazer]

3. Actually, I think that was "Gods and Generals"

A movie I boycotted because the history was so wrong. They had the charge being led by Lt. Col. somebody or other of the 88th Pennsylvania and I know that the 88th was actually 5th in line of battle in the Brigade in that fight (Fredericksburg) - the lead regiment in that charge was the 69th, my great-grandfather led it and was seriously injured at the head of it.

He was sent back to NYC to recuperate where he was put to work as Provost Marshal of the first district, comprising lower Manhattan. He was the man who pulled the first name for the draft, setting off the infamous draft riots (featured in yet another movie, Gangs of New York). During the course of those riots, his house was burned to the ground and his family barely escaped.

Meanwhile, the Brigade, having suffered massive casualties at Fredericksburg, was consolidated and his position was effectively eliminated. Because it was, he lost his rank which meant he reverted to his regular Army rank of Captain (Civil War grades are confusing). Because he was now only a Captain, he lost his job in the Provost Dept.

He embarked on a letter writing campaign to the governor of NY, the secretary of war and Lincoln himself begging for permission to recruit for the Brigade - permission was finally received and he rejoined the re-established Irish Brigade at Petersburg and served with them to the end of the war. There is an unsubstantiated family story that he carried one of the communications between Lee and Grant at Appomattox.

He served in the Army until 1879, dying in 1901 of complications from his Fredericksburg wound. He was brevetted (a form of promotion) four times during the War.