Description:

(1830-1864) Union officer who raised the Irish Brigade, he was mortally wounded at Winchester and begged his men to 'Lay me down and save the flag!'. 'I'M ONLY A SHAM GENERAL...' Rare, fine content war-date A.L.S.. 1p. 4to., 'Hd. Qrts. 1st Brigade Camp Commiskey', New Creek Va, Nov. 25, 1862 to 'Lt. Tom Brennan Irish Brigade Chicago', an angry letter concerning his presumed promotion to brigadier general and military gossip. In part: '...You have congratulated me too early: I'm only a sham general: an Acting Brigadier: about as intimately related to a real General as Mock Turtle to Green Turtle Soup. I've all the men, all the responsibility, and all the labor of a General without the honors and without the pay...It is an indication however, what my immediate superiors think of me...we had a review of 12,000 men Genls. Milroy, Kelly and Cluseret were present...Col. Mulligan's brigade won the honors...I'm building a Hospital and a Cathedral and several other parts of a city...'We've had a [Thanksgiving] grand Jubilee here...gunpowder & speeches...other regiments have petitioned to join me...' Very good. Of course, Mulligan was correct - he was killed at Winchester on July 24, 1864, and would only become brigadier general by brevet on Feb. 20, 1865, backdated to a day before his death.

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August 25, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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