I am pleased to report the latest update to the Clare County Library’s online database of Clare-born soldiers (and now one sailor) in the U.S. Civil War. Forum members Sheila Duddy and Jimbo provided material this time, so here’s another thanks for their generosity. As always, a big thanks to the Library and its staff who make this possible, with an additional note on how rapidly they work on this. What a pleasure and an incentive to keep on with these updates. Now the service of these men is memorialized:
BREEN, Michael J., M.D.
CONNOLE, Anthony
COONEY, Daniel E.
CURRAN, Thomas
HEALY, Thomas
HOLLIN/HOLLAIN/HOLLARN (Holleran), Patrick
MADDEN, Patrick
MCDEVITT, John (sailor)
MOLONEY, Matthew
MORAN, James
MULLEN, Michael F.
O’BRIEN, Michael
POWELL, Richard, M.D.
SHEEHAN, Timothy J.
A reminder that each such entry is linked to a good source stating birth in Co. Clare, although that fact is not repeated in each entry.
Existing entries of these two soldiers have been changed to add new data:
MCGRATH, Patrick (Kilkee origin found in 1866 Missing Friend ad)
SCANLON, Michael (New Quay origin confirmed)
Clare-born U.S. Civil War soldier database, 2022 additions
Moderators: Clare Support, Clare Past Mod
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smcarberry
- Posts: 1285
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:31 pm
- Location: USA
Re: Clare-born U.S. Civil War soldier database, 2022 additions
Hi Sharon
I have turned my desk to the wall in order to get my project done while the humour is on me, so forgive me if I give you only half a story here. Last evening I listened to a radio programme called The History Show, in which Myles Dungan spoke to Damian Shiels about his project on the Irish in the American Civil War. Shiels spoke mainly about Andersonville, and I remembered that you had described that prison on this forum: “ Fenian Toohey, 150 NY Inf, Shawangunk resident 1870s” (http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtop ... lle#p12567). He mentioned one Owen Maloney from Tromra, and said that Owen’s father had died while working on the Public Works during the Great Famine and that Owen had taken his place and finally managed to get enough money together for passage to America. How Shiels could have found all that information about Owen I can’t imagine. Shiels has created a site for people wishing to get more information on the civil war, or give information: irishamericancivilwar.com. I looked at it this morning and found Owen’s headstone: https://irishamericancivilwar.com/andersonville-irish/ . And there are a few more from Co. Clare. I say “half a story” as I know you need more detail on each man in order to include him in your list, and it may be that this detail is given somewhere on the site, but I haven’t taken the time to look for it.
Sheila
I have turned my desk to the wall in order to get my project done while the humour is on me, so forgive me if I give you only half a story here. Last evening I listened to a radio programme called The History Show, in which Myles Dungan spoke to Damian Shiels about his project on the Irish in the American Civil War. Shiels spoke mainly about Andersonville, and I remembered that you had described that prison on this forum: “ Fenian Toohey, 150 NY Inf, Shawangunk resident 1870s” (http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtop ... lle#p12567). He mentioned one Owen Maloney from Tromra, and said that Owen’s father had died while working on the Public Works during the Great Famine and that Owen had taken his place and finally managed to get enough money together for passage to America. How Shiels could have found all that information about Owen I can’t imagine. Shiels has created a site for people wishing to get more information on the civil war, or give information: irishamericancivilwar.com. I looked at it this morning and found Owen’s headstone: https://irishamericancivilwar.com/andersonville-irish/ . And there are a few more from Co. Clare. I say “half a story” as I know you need more detail on each man in order to include him in your list, and it may be that this detail is given somewhere on the site, but I haven’t taken the time to look for it.
Sheila
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smcarberry
- Posts: 1285
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:31 pm
- Location: USA
Re: Clare-born U.S. Civil War soldier database, 2022 additions
Timely and valuable info, Sheila, thanks very much. I have been aware of Damian Shiels' interest in Irish-born soldiers of the American Civil War but have not been following his work. His website on Andersonville Prison is an excellent addition to the subject and very visually attractive. Good for him that he is following this aspect so vigorously and garnering support from both U.S. and Irish government sources. Seems like an idea whose time has come. As for his sources, I have no idea. I can confirm that his entry on Michael Jordan matches the soldier already in the Library's online database but I used only the Illinois enlistment record. Looks like now there is material to add about a demise at Andersonville, sad to say. It was an awful way to die but, from viewing the physical site myself when I lived in Georgia, his resting place is serene and dignified, maintained by the National Park Service which is doing as fine a job there (small, rural and remote, far off the beaten tourist path) as at Gettysburg, a vastly popular, huge war memorial site.
I have made notes on the other soldiers whom Shiels has attributed to Clare. I will follow up to see which ones were actually born in Clare, as Shiels' inclusion criteria extends to men born into Clare-born families.
Taking time from your project to do this alert is very appreciated.
Sharon C.
I have made notes on the other soldiers whom Shiels has attributed to Clare. I will follow up to see which ones were actually born in Clare, as Shiels' inclusion criteria extends to men born into Clare-born families.
Taking time from your project to do this alert is very appreciated.
Sharon C.
Re: Clare-born U.S. Civil War soldier database, 2022 additions
Today's "Irishman's Diary" in the Irish Times newspaper is about Andersonville Prison, and mentions Thomas O'Dea from Co. Clare: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-i ... deadlines/.
Sheila
Sheila
Re: Clare-born U.S. Civil War soldier database, 2022 additions
Here is the piece on Thomas O’Dea, by Damian Shiels: https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2022/ ... 1-imagery/
Damian Shiels notes that some men, who returned to Ireland from America, gave their occupation in the 1901 census as “Veteran”: https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2016/ ... 01-census/. He lists David Scanlan, Moyarta West, as one such:
The record of David's marriage to Mary Gorman in 1891 gives his occupation as American Army Pensioner: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 891689.pdf.
The record of David's death, on 20 Aug 1901, gives his occupation simply as Army Pensioner; informant: Thomas Scanlan, brother: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 612787.pdf
Sheila
Damian Shiels notes that some men, who returned to Ireland from America, gave their occupation in the 1901 census as “Veteran”: https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2016/ ... 01-census/. He lists David Scanlan, Moyarta West, as one such:
I checked the census and, sure enough, David gives his occupation as "American Army Pensioner, 4th Brigade Royal Artillery". But can we be sure that he fought in the Civil War?: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... t/1077678/ .David Scanlan, Moyarta West, Co. Clare, 66-year-old Roman Catholic, Occupation: “American Army Pensioner 4th Bgd Royal Artillery.” He served in Battery A of the 3rd United States Artillery (Pension Certificate 451253). He enlisted on 27th July 1860 in San Francisco where he was working as a laborer, and served through until 27 July 1865 when he was discharged at Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his unit had spent the majority of their service.
The record of David's marriage to Mary Gorman in 1891 gives his occupation as American Army Pensioner: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 891689.pdf.
The record of David's death, on 20 Aug 1901, gives his occupation simply as Army Pensioner; informant: Thomas Scanlan, brother: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 612787.pdf
Sheila
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smcarberry
- Posts: 1285
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:31 pm
- Location: USA
Re: Clare-born U.S. Civil War soldier database, 2022 additions
Good catch on Thomas O'Dea, very appreciated, Sheila. The next step for me is a bit of research to determine his military unit and a source for his Clare birth (which, as you observed a while back, is not shown on the Shiels website).
With a suitable number of new additions for the Library's database, mainly this year from referrals by you and Jimbo, I should be able to remit a new batch to the Library by December. Glad that your reading material is so diverse that it includes these occasional references that result in another database entry. Our collective effort underlines my original motivation to develop the database, to make a central list to allow recognition of the Clare men's service and serve as a springboard for further research.
This is the first that I have heard of any preserved inmate drawings that illustrate daily life at that prison. I wonder if it took the resilience of a very young man, to go back there mentally after the war and use recollections for the sketches, rather than bury everything in the past. You can only imagine how many individuals of artistic ability didn't survive to face that dilemma after the war's end. As noted in the McNally news article, Wirz was only 1 of 2 war criminals put to death in that era by the federal government, but there was no hesitation to exact that penalty for his responsibility for prison conditions.
SMC
(also thanks for typing out the Clare Men's Association articles earlier this week, which allows a website search to find those names)
With a suitable number of new additions for the Library's database, mainly this year from referrals by you and Jimbo, I should be able to remit a new batch to the Library by December. Glad that your reading material is so diverse that it includes these occasional references that result in another database entry. Our collective effort underlines my original motivation to develop the database, to make a central list to allow recognition of the Clare men's service and serve as a springboard for further research.
This is the first that I have heard of any preserved inmate drawings that illustrate daily life at that prison. I wonder if it took the resilience of a very young man, to go back there mentally after the war and use recollections for the sketches, rather than bury everything in the past. You can only imagine how many individuals of artistic ability didn't survive to face that dilemma after the war's end. As noted in the McNally news article, Wirz was only 1 of 2 war criminals put to death in that era by the federal government, but there was no hesitation to exact that penalty for his responsibility for prison conditions.
SMC
(also thanks for typing out the Clare Men's Association articles earlier this week, which allows a website search to find those names)
Re: Clare-born U.S. Civil War soldier database, 2022 additions
Hi Sharon
The Andersonville drawings are also in the Digital Library of Georgia (a coloured version). That site gives the dates for Thomas O’Dea as 1848-1926: https://dlg.usg.edu/collection/nps-ande_odea
Sharon, I see now that the David Scanlan (listed by Damian Shiels and mentioned by me above) is already on your list of Civil War soldiers from Co. Clare.
I’ve been looking through those who gave “Army Pensioner” as their occupation in the 1901 census – Co. Clare - and David Scanlan is the only one who gives "American Army" as an extra detail. Most just give “Army Pensioner.”
Sheila
The Andersonville drawings are also in the Digital Library of Georgia (a coloured version). That site gives the dates for Thomas O’Dea as 1848-1926: https://dlg.usg.edu/collection/nps-ande_odea
Sharon, I see now that the David Scanlan (listed by Damian Shiels and mentioned by me above) is already on your list of Civil War soldiers from Co. Clare.
I’ve been looking through those who gave “Army Pensioner” as their occupation in the 1901 census – Co. Clare - and David Scanlan is the only one who gives "American Army" as an extra detail. Most just give “Army Pensioner.”
Sheila