Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg July 1-4, 1863. 

July 2nd, Father William Corby performs absolution for the Irish brigade before it's involvement in Gettysburg. 

2nd Battalion at Rose Woods.

2nd Battalion at Stony Hill.

Map of Pickett's charge with the 69th in the center.

Monument to the Irish 69th Pennsylvania.

19'6" tall monument to the 63rd, 69th, 88th, and 14th New York Regiments. Father William Corby “We have unveiled this pile, and it will stand to perpetuate the fame of those heroes. To keep their memory green in the American heart, this Celtic Cross has been erected. It is an emblem of Ireland, typical of faith and devotion, and the most appropriate that could be raised to hand down to posterity the bravery of our race in the great cause of American liberty.” 

In May 1863 General Robert E. Lee and 60,000 men in his army of Nothern Virginia would invade union territory for the last time. Wining several small battles before fighting in the turning point of the civil war at Gettysburg. July 1st, 1863 small calvary skirmishes in the town would mark the beginning of the battle. The 2nd brigrade would fight the confederate forces into the Rose Woods and at Stony Hill. Of the 4,000 Irish Soliders that signed up with the 2nd brigade at the beginning of the war 530 would make it to Gettysburg. The turning point of the civil war Pickett's charge on July 3rd would be met with Irish soliders of the 69 Pennsylvania, conscripted in recognition of the 69th New York, who fought at the center of the Union line, and fought hand to hand combat repelling the charge. The 2nd brigade was called to reinforce the center of the line following Pickett's charge. Following Gettysburg the 2nd brigade would be consolidated with the 1st NY Artillery Brigade. 74 men of the 88th regiment would make it back to New York in 1864. 

Casualty List

63rd- of the 112 men remaining. 7 enlisted men killed, 1 officer wounded, 7 enlisted men wounded, 1 officer missing, 7 enlisted missing.

69th- of the 75 men remaining. 5 enlisted men killed, 1 officer wounded, 13 enlisted men wounded, 6 enlisted men missing.

88th-of the 126 men remaining. 1 officer killed, 6 enlisted men killed, 1 officer wounded, 16 enlisted men wounded, 4 enlisted missing. 

The battle of Gettysburg marks the conclusion of the 2nd Brigade in the civil war. 2 months following Gettyrsburg the New York Draft Riots would indirectly cause the dissolution of the 2nd. The draft implemented would include a $300 opt out option, and excluded Blacks from the draft. Angry over the appalling losses at previous battles and the thought that many former slaves would take the jobs of the Irish would spark a week, WEEK, long riots that looted every borough and burned down most of New York. The riots would only be quelled by the national guard intervening a week later. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKJ_OOKQVrU

The Irish would continue to serve during the civil war without an all Irish brigade. The 69th Pennsylvania would continue to carry the dark green flag and the golden harp of Erin and the motto in Gaelic "'Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann' (Who never retreated from the clash of spears.)" "After years of effort and continuous consultation with the distributor we are finally able to offer THE Flag that all wanted for so long, the famous 2nd Irish Color of the 69th presented to the 69th the day following the Battle of Fredericksburg. The original was presented to JFK in 1963 by the 69th for presentation to the people of Ireland. It now hangs in the DaU (Congress) in Dublin."