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James Rowan O'Beirne

James Rowan O'Beirne (Sep 25, 1839 – February 17, 1917) was a lawyer, journalist, civil servant, and American soldier who fought with the U.S. Army in the American Civil War. O'Beirne received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on June 1, 1862 during the Battle of Fair Oaks.

James Rowan O'Beirne
Born(1839 -09-25)September 25, 1839
Cappagh, County Roscommon, Ireland
DiedFebruary 17, 1917(1917-02-17) (aged 77)
New York City, US
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1861–1865
RankMajor
Bvt. Brigadier General
Unit Company C, 37th New York Infantry
Battles/wars
Awards Medal of Honor
Alma materFordham University (at that time St. John's College)
Spouse(s)Martha Susannah Brennan O'Beirne
Children1

Early life edit

He was born in Cappagh, County Roscommon, Ireland, to Michael Horan O'Beirne and Eliza Rowan O'Beirnehe was nine months-old he when his family emigrated to New York City. He grew up in Manhattan a devout Catholic and went to the Jesuit College of St. Francis Xavier then on 15th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Manhattan.[1][2] He moved to the Bronx to complete his education at St. John's College (now Fordham University) as the valedictorian of the class of 1854.[3] He continued on to study philosophy and then law at St. John's and received his Magister Artium (MA) and Legum Doctor (LL.D) in 1857.[2] He briefly worked as an attorney in Manhattan until 1861.[4]

Military service edit

1861 edit

When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, the self-described radical Republican originally enlisted as a private in Company I of the 7th New York Militia but was mustered out two months later.[2] In July 1861 he reenlisted in Company C of the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry (Irish Rifles) and was given a commission as a 2nd lieutenant. The regiment continued in Hunter's Brigade, Division of the Potomac from August 4, 1861.[5] Next they served in Richardson's Brigade from August 22, 1861; in same brigade, Heintzelman's Division, Army of the Potomac, from October 15, 1861.

O'Beirne left New York on June 23, 1861, with the regiment. The regiment initially served at and near Washington DC. They camped at the foot of East Capitol Street.,[5] Their regimental commander, John H McCune,[note 1] as the senior colonel was initially the brigade commander, but he was relieved for cause, court-martialed, and found guilty of conduct "prejudicial to the good order and military discipline" though also directed to "resume his sword and duties."[6]

BGEN David Hunter was brought on to command the brigade as part of BGEN Samuel P. Heintzelman's Division, in BGEN McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia.At the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, O'Beirne and the regiment were in McDowell's reserves and suffered no casualties. During the battle O'Beirne had displayed leadership and a talent for soldiering such that he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Company C on August 9, 1861.

After the defeat at Bull Run, 1861, Lincoln relieved McDowell and appointed George B. McClellan as his new commander of the army at the capital. During the summer and fall, McClellan brought a high degree of organization to his new army, and greatly improved its morale with frequent trips to review and encourage his units. During this period of training and reorganization, O'Beirne and this 37th exchanged their smoothbore Model 1842 Muskets for newer rifle-muskets. They received Austrian Lorenz Rifled Muskets and P53 Enfield Rifled Muskets (slightly more Lorenz).[7][8] In October, O'Beirne had a new brigade commander, BGEN Israel B. Richardson. The 37th remained in Heintzelman's Division, but were now part of the Army of the Potomac (AoP). They would remain in their division until March 1862.

Through this period O'Deirne continued to excel and as promoted to captain and took over command of Company C on November 4, 1861.[9] At some point O'Beirne acquired a civilian rifle which he used instead of his pistol incombat.[10] Among O'Beirne's duties of company commander were overseeing the color guard of the regiment as Company C's position was in the middle of the battle line.[10] [note 2] McClellan had rebuilt the forces into the Army of the Potomac, and O'Beirne and his men thought highly of him.[11] At the end of November, O'Beirne and his regiment went into winter quarters in the defenses of Washington.[note 3]

O'Beirne frequently saw friends in other regiments from the Irish community in New York. He frequently met some of his St. John's classmates as well as several of the Jesuits from the faculty who were serving as chaplains in the AoP.[14] He also saw many colleagues from the legal profession in Manhattan. Among these were the fellow lawyers and St. John's classmates, the McMahon brothers, John Eugene (St. John's '48), James Power (St. John's '53), and the youngest, and fellow Medal of Honor winner, Martin Thomas (St. John's '55). O'Beirne was very close to the middle brother, James with whom he has numerous boxing bouts while undergraduates at Fordham.[10][note 4] As a product of the Jesuits, O'Beirne was also very close with Rev. Peter Tissot, S.J. who was the 37th's chaplain.[note 5]

1862 edit

After several temporary assignments the regiment finally became a part of the 3d brigade, 3rd division, III Corps from March 13, 1862.[5][note 6] In March 1862, O'Beirne and the 37th the regiment embarked on steamers for Fortress Monroe. During the Peninsula Campaign, O'Beirne was active throughout the campaign. His first action was in the Siege of Yorktown (1862).

Peninsula Campaign edit

While at Williamsburg, he participated in the brigade's bayonet charge that drove the Rebels from the entrenchments. This action led to the regiment's receiving a complimentary mention from the division commander, BGEN Kearny for gallantry in action. During this battle 95 were killed, wounded, or found to be missing.[5][note 7]

At the Battle of Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days' battles, the 37th was closely engaged. During the Seven Days at Oak Grove, leading Company C, O'Beirne performed the actions that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Holding the line with his company containing the regimental colors, he held the line and in turn kept the regiment held to their ground until ordered to fall back.[note 8] These two battles were his regiment's third and fourth costliest battle with 81 casualties at Fair Oaks and 81 at Seven Days. After the battle, O'Beirne went with his regiment into at Harrison's Landing.[note 9]

After spending six weeks in camp with the rest of the AoP, O'Beirne and the 37th found themselves leaving the Peninsula suffering a strategic feat. On August 16, they moved to Alexandria and then pushed south to Centreville.[15] O'Beirne and his regiment were present but in reserve at Second Bull Run and Chantilly during MGEN Pope's Northern Virginia campaign. The 37th detached from AoP during the Maryland campaign and went into the defenses at Washington.

Fredericksburg campaign edit

They remained in the capital's fortifications until October. O'Beirne and his regiment began gradual moves south in October and November. They joined the rest of the AoP, now commanded by Burnside reached Falmouth, across the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg on Saturday, December 6, 1862. O'Beirne and the regiment were active at Fredericksburg with a total loss of 35 members ; and encamped near Falmouth during the rest of the winter.[5]

1863 edit

On Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 1862, the regiment received the veterans of the 101st New York. On Tuesday, January 20, 1863, the 37th moved out in unseasonably mild weather on the AoP's infamous "Mud March". This offensive was Burnside's abortive second attempt at crossing the Rappahannock. Despite sound strategy, the offnsive failed due to dissension among generals in the Army of the Potomac, compounded by severe winter storms. During the night of the 20th, the rain began, and by the morning of the 21st, the earth was soaked and the river banks had the appearance of a quagmire. For a considerable area around the planned crossing sites, men worked all day of January 21, but to little purpose. Thursday added even more only added to the storm, and the 37th, and the rest of the AoP were swamped in the mud. As O'Beirne and his compatriots slogged through the mud, Lee ample time to line the other shore with his army, although there was no attempt to interfere with his crossing except from the sharpshooters, who peppered away on all occasions. By Friday, the river was swollen. There seemed to be no end in sight of the bad weather. Burnside finally became resigned the failure and gave the order for the army to return to its camp in Falmouth on Monday, January 26.

O'Beirne noted a brighter outlook for AoP when Hooker replaced Burnside as army commander.[10] Under the new leadership preparations began for the Chancellorsville campaign. This upcoming campaign would incur the 37th's heaviest losses as well as personally costly for O'Beirne.. was suffered in the Chancellorsville campaign in May 1863, when 222 of the 37th were killed, wounded or missing.

A report from Major William DeLacy recounted the actions of this encounter in detail. The regiment struck tents the morning of April 28 and marched about 6 miles toward the Rappahannock River where they encamped. They crossed the river on May 1 at about 11 am. They defended a battery on the front and then to connect with the left of General Howard's command. A night attack was undertaken at around 11 pm. DeLacey recounted how the regiment "Drove some troops from the rifle-pits on our right." On May 3 while the brigade was moving to the rear of the Union lines, a deadly attack on the front and left flank caused confusion and forced the regiment to fall back. ?The regiment was later reformed and fell back.[16] After being wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville O'Beirne was mustered out. He was recommisioned as captain in the Veteran Reserve Corps in July.

Later war edit

O'Beirne was promoted to the rank of major in July 1864 and received brevet promotions to the ranks lieutenant colonel and colonel. In April 1865 he was serving as Provost Marshall of Washington DC and was active in the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth and his associate conspirators following the assassination of US President Abraham Lincoln. In September 1865 he was brevetted to the rank of brigadier general for "gallant, distinguished and meritorious service" while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War and he was discharged from military duty on January 30, 1866. He then pursued a career in journalism, reporting for the Washington Sunday Gazette and the New York Herald. In the 1890s he served as second in command of immigration at Ellis Island, New York City. He died in New York City at the age of 77

Medal of Honor citation edit

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain James Rowan O'Beirne, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on May 31 & 1 June 1862, while serving with Company C, 37th New York Infantry, in action at Fair Oaks, Virginia. Captain O'Beirne gallantly maintained the line of battle until ordered to fall back.[17][18][19][20][21]

Personal life edit

While recovering from his wounds at Chancellorsville, he married Martha Susannah Brennan in New York. His daughter, Gertrude was born in 1865.[3]

After the war, O'Beirne and his family remained in Washington where he received an appointment as Register of Wills in DC. His civil service career continued as Deputy United States Marshal and Acting Marshal during his superior's lengthy absences.[2] He also worked as a journalist as the editor and publisher of The Washington Gazette, and served as the Washington correspondent for the New York Times and New York Herald.[3] He also traveled west several times with the U.S. Army as a war correspondent for the Herald during the Indian Wars of the 1870s. In Washington he was active in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and was well known among the political elites receiving a bust of Simon Bolivar from the Venezuelan government upon his departure from Washington.[3]

In March 1889, fellow veteran and GAR member, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Assistant Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island. He and hs family returned home with the appointment. During his tenure he frequently ran the facility when the Commissioner was in Europe.[2][3] He remained in that post for the duration of the Harrison administration.

During the twenty-year project of publishing The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, the federal government began reviewing the actions of veterans to recognize those that had performed actions worthy of the Medal of Honor. O'Beirne's conduct during the Battle of Seven Pines between May 31, 1862 – June 1, 1862, was deemed rating the award. He received his medal in January 1891.

He was active in veterans' affairs; he served a term as the Grand Marshal of the GAR Posts of New York state.[3] He was an active donor and fund-raiser for the Irish Parliament Fund Association and United Irish League, as well as several Irish benevolent associations. His wife died in June 1895.

In 1897, He was appointed to a six-year term as Commissioner of Charities in New York City. He continued with his involvement in charitable works after his term expired in 1901. As well as his devotion to veterans and Irish causes, he was very active in his church. He was involved in the New York Archdiocese and very closely involved in supporting the Jesuits at his alma maters, St. Francis Xavier and St. John's. He remained close with his surviving classmates and former teachers. He was a strong supporter of St. John's cadet corps (the precursor of the modern ROTC unit at Fordham). Although never a trustee of the college, he was also involved in the opening of the law and medical schools and when St. John's College officially became Fordham University on March 7, 1907. He contributed articles to the alumni magazine and was a common sight on the Bronx campus until shortly before his death in Manhattan at the age of 77, on February 17, 1917.[3]

Detailed Service[22] edit

O'Beirne, James Rowan

  • -Age: 24 years
  • -Enrolled: April 17, 1861, at New York city to serve one month; mustered in as Private, Company I, 7th Militia, April 26, 1861; mustered out with company, June 3, 1861, at New York city
  • -Enrolled: July 7, 1861, at Washington to serve two years, and mustered in as Private, Company C, 37th New York Infantry Regiment
  • -Dates of Rank: 2LT, July 9, 1861, 1LT, August 9, 1861, CPT, November 4, 1861
  • -Wounded in action, May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, VA
  • -Mustered out with company, June 22, 1863, at New York city; subsequent service in Veteran Reserve Corps as Provost in Washington, DC
  • -Medal of Honor
  • -Billets: Commissioned 2LT, in Company C, 37th New York Infantry, August 9, 1861, with rank from July 9, 1861, replacing Joshua V. Willitt who was discharged; 1LT, Company C second-in-command, 37th New York Infantry, August 27, 1861, with rank from August

9, 1861, replacing 1LT Martin E. Lawlor who was discharged; CPT, Company C commander, 37th New York Infantry, December 2, 1861, with rank from November 4, 1861, replacing CPT Michael Doran who was dismissed.

See also edit

Notes/References edit

Footnotes

  1. ^ John H. McCunn was born in Ulster, Ireland in 1820. He belonged to a poor Irish immigrant family who arrived in New York City in the 19th century. He worked as a dockhand before training as a lawyer, and eventually becoming a judge. When the war began he was appointed a Captain in the 69th New York Infantry Regiment before he recruited the 37th. As a reward for his recruiting, he was appointed its colonel. Despite his court-martial and relief, by war's end he was brevetted Brigadier General. After the war, he was a member of the infamous Tweed Ring, which he aided by naturalising new citizens to boost his election rolls. On one day alone, he naturalised over 2,000 new voters. However, when the scandal was uncovered, he was impeached and removed from office.
  2. ^ per O'Beirne in 1916:
    "I had two butchers and a color-sergeant in my company to which was entrusted the important custody of the colors,—a beautiful silk American Flag and an exquisitely embroidered green one with a glorious Sunburst and "Erin-fo-bragh" worked on it, presented by the Irish citizens of New York City. With them were a brace of expert foragers who could not be excelled. Our mess was well supplied through the aif of these favored sons of the Company with what the country afforded, as we advanced our lines."
    Officers in the U.S. Army at that time, like present-day U.S. Naval officers with their wardroom bills, had to purchase their own food, so these "scroungers" were quite appreciated by the Company Officers' Mess.
  3. ^ McClellan had built defenses that were almost impregnable, consisting of 48 forts and strong points, with 480 guns manned by 7,200 artillerists.[12] The Army of the Potomac grew in number from 50,000 in July to 168,000 in November, becoming the largest military force the United States had raised until that time.[13]
  4. ^ All three brothers were lawyers before the war in The two elder McMahon brothers had been born in Waterford before the family emigrated. The youngest had been born during a temporary residence in Quebec before they moved to New York City. John and James enlisted in the 164th New York Infantry Regiment where John was the colonel and James was the lieutenant colonel. John was wounded badly at Fredericksburg and was invalided to Buffalo, NY, where he died from complications of his wounds. O'Beirne's close friend, Jim, fleeted up to command the regiment and was killed in one of the frontal attacks at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864.
  5. ^ This priest was born on October 15, 1823, in Savoy, France. After joining the Jesuits, he studied in Europe, before coming to the United States, and St. John's where he completed his studies earning JCD degree. After finishing, he took up a job at the University as a canon lawyerprocurator and occasionally taught. O'Beirne first met him as a teacher at St. John's. During his service with the 37th, Tissot kept a diary from 1861 to 1863 which was left to Fordham. He was known for providing inspiration, comfort and spiritual support to all even in the heat of combat. Following the war, Tissot returned to Fordham where he was president until in his last few years when he went on missionary work until his death on July 19, 1875, in Manhattan.
  6. ^ The other regiments in the brigade were all from Michigan, the 2nd, the 3rd, and the 5th Michigan.
  7. ^ In this battle, Hooker's Division had launched bayonet attacks to drive the Rebels from their entrenchments. Among this division was the Excelsior Brigade which contained the 70th, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th New York Infantry Regiments. These regiments were garbed in imported and New York-made chasseur uniforms, but some of these regiments had one or two companies of Zouaves. The entrenchments had changed hands several times when Kearny led the 37th and its brigade mates in an assault. O'Beirne wrote that the memory of the dead Zouaves (which he appers to misremember as members of the Duryée's Zouaves who were back in Yorktown as part of Sykes' infantry reserve) and Rebels impaled on each other's bayonets had haunted him for years.
  8. ^ The 37th was a well-drilled regiment and had been trained to load and fire their Lorenz and Enfield rifle-muskets from the prone position as to present a smaller target for their enemies. O'Beirne remained standing despite the urging of his men to lie down. He found himself the target of Rebel sharpshooters. He made a point of not standing still and firing his sporting rifle at any foes he saw aiming at him. The action was intense and O'Beirne later noted that he had fired 53 rounds from his rifle in the action.[10]
  9. ^ Here, O'Beirne met some of his southern classmates from St. John's who were had been taken prisoner. [10]

Citations

References

  • Beyer, Walter Frederick (1905). Deeds of Valor (PDF) (1st ed.). Detroit, MI: Perrien-Keydel Co. p. 555. OCLC 680527243. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Dyer, Frederick Henry (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (PDF). Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co. pp. 29, 43, 190. 273, 279, 296, 297, 326, 1417. ASIN B01BUFJ76Q. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Federal Publishing Company (1908). Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of New York, Maryland, West Virginia, And Ohio (PDF). The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union army – Cyclopedia of battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. Vol. II. Madison, WI: Federal Publishing Company. p. 75. OCLC 1086145633. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Lowry, Thomas P. (1997). Tarnished Eagles: The Courts-martial of Fifty Union Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels (PDF) (1st ed.). Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 47–51, 223. ISBN 978-0-8117-1597-3. OCLC 231715975. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  • Mink, Eric J. (November 30, 2008). "Armament in the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg" (PDF). Mysteries & Conundrums. Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Staff. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  • Mink, Eric J. (May 2018). "Armament in the Army of the Potomac During the Chancellorsville Campaign" (PDF). Mysteries & Conundrums. Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Staff. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  • Phisterer, Frederick (1912). Eighth Regiment of Infantry – Sixty-Ninth-Eighth Regiment of Infantry (PDF). New York in the War of Rebellion, 1861–1865. Vol. 3 (3rd ed.). Albany, NY: J. B. Lyon Company, State Printers. pp. 2173–2188. LCCN 14013311. OCLC 1359922. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Sandburg, Carl (1942). Storm Over the Land: A Profile of the Civil War: A Profile of the Civil War Taken Mainly from Abraham Lincoln: The War Years (PDF) (1st ed.). New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace and Co. p. 62. LCCN 42023236. OCLC 444823. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  • Sears, Stephen W. (1988). George B. McClellan : the young Napoleon (PDF) (1st ed.). New York, NY: Ticknor & Fields. pp. 111, 116. ISBN 978-0-544-39122-2. LCCN 88002138. OCLC 571245090. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  • U.S. War Department (1884). The Peninsular Campaign, Virginia. Mar 17-Sep. 2, 1862, Part I -- Reports, Mar 17 – Jun 24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XI-XXIII-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 505, 510, 840, 866, 871. hdl:2027/coo.31924079609560. OCLC 29216042.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • U.S. War Department (1889). Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 26 – June 3, 1863 – Reports. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXV-XXXVII-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 161, 178, 385, 408, 432–434, 437, 440–442. hdl:2027/coo.31924077730244. OCLC 857196196.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • O'Beirne, James Rowan (March 1887). "Reminscences of Gen Jas R. O'Bierne" (PDF). Fordham College Monthly. Bronx, NY: Fordham University. 5 (6): 88–92. OCLC 669364695. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • O'Beirne, James Rowan (February 1896). "Gen Jas R. O'Beirne, '54" (PDF). Fordham College Monthly. Bronx, NY: Fordham University. 14 (5): 75. OCLC 669364695. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • O'Beirne, James Rowan (June 1916). "James R. O'Beirne"Reminiscences: In War Time"" (PDF). Fordham College Monthly. Bronx, NY: Fordham University. 34 (9): 51–65. OCLC 669364695. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "General James R. O'Beirne, '53, A.M., LL.D." (PDF). Fordham College Monthly. Bronx, NY: Fordham University. 35 (7): 337–340. April 1917. OCLC 669364695. Retrieved April 30, 2023.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "O'Beirne, James R – U.S. Civil War – U.S. Army – Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. CMOHS. 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  • . Medal of Honor Recipients. US Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  • "James Rowan O'Beirne – Recipient". The Hall of Valor Project. Sightline Media Group. 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  • "James Rowan O'Beirne". VCOnline. 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  • "Research Guides @ Fordham: American Civil War and Fordham: General Rowan O'Bierne". Research Guides @ Fordham at Fordham University Libraries. October 7, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  • "St. Francis Xavier". lost-colleges. Retrieved May 1, 2023.

External links edit

  • James Rowan O'Beirne (1839–1917)

james, rowan, beirne, 1839, february, 1917, lawyer, journalist, civil, servant, american, soldier, fought, with, army, american, civil, beirne, received, country, highest, award, bravery, during, combat, medal, honor, actions, taken, june, 1862, during, battle. James Rowan O Beirne Sep 25 1839 February 17 1917 was a lawyer journalist civil servant and American soldier who fought with the U S Army in the American Civil War O Beirne received his country s highest award for bravery during combat the Medal of Honor for actions taken on June 1 1862 during the Battle of Fair Oaks James Rowan O BeirneBorn 1839 09 25 September 25 1839Cappagh County Roscommon IrelandDiedFebruary 17 1917 1917 02 17 aged 77 New York City USService wbr branch United States ArmyYears of service1861 1865RankMajorBvt Brigadier GeneralUnitCompany C 37th New York InfantryBattles warsBlackburn s Ford Siege of Yorktown Battle of Williamsburg Battle of Fair Oaks Seven Days Battles Battle of Oak Grove Battle of Glendale Battle of Malvern Hill Battle of Groveton Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of Chantilly Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of ChancellorsvilleAwardsMedal of HonorAlma materFordham University at that time St John s College Spouse s Martha Susannah Brennan O BeirneChildren1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Military service 2 1 1861 2 2 1862 2 2 1 Peninsula Campaign 2 2 2 Fredericksburg campaign 2 3 1863 2 4 Later war 3 Medal of Honor citation 4 Personal life 5 Detailed Service 22 6 See also 7 Notes References 8 External linksEarly life editHe was born in Cappagh County Roscommon Ireland to Michael Horan O Beirne and Eliza Rowan O Beirnehe was nine months old he when his family emigrated to New York City He grew up in Manhattan a devout Catholic and went to the Jesuit College of St Francis Xavier then on 15th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Manhattan 1 2 He moved to the Bronx to complete his education at St John s College now Fordham University as the valedictorian of the class of 1854 3 He continued on to study philosophy and then law at St John s and received his Magister Artium MA and Legum Doctor LL D in 1857 2 He briefly worked as an attorney in Manhattan until 1861 4 Military service edit1861 edit When the Civil War broke out in April 1861 the self described radical Republican originally enlisted as a private in Company I of the 7th New York Militia but was mustered out two months later 2 In July 1861 he reenlisted in Company C of the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry Irish Rifles and was given a commission as a 2nd lieutenant The regiment continued in Hunter s Brigade Division of the Potomac from August 4 1861 5 Next they served in Richardson s Brigade from August 22 1861 in same brigade Heintzelman s Division Army of the Potomac from October 15 1861 O Beirne left New York on June 23 1861 with the regiment The regiment initially served at and near Washington DC They camped at the foot of East Capitol Street 5 Their regimental commander John H McCune note 1 as the senior colonel was initially the brigade commander but he was relieved for cause court martialed and found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the good order and military discipline though also directed to resume his sword and duties 6 BGEN David Hunter was brought on to command the brigade as part of BGEN Samuel P Heintzelman s Division in BGEN McDowell s Army of Northeast Virginia At the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21 1861 O Beirne and the regiment were in McDowell s reserves and suffered no casualties During the battle O Beirne had displayed leadership and a talent for soldiering such that he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Company C on August 9 1861 After the defeat at Bull Run 1861 Lincoln relieved McDowell and appointed George B McClellan as his new commander of the army at the capital During the summer and fall McClellan brought a high degree of organization to his new army and greatly improved its morale with frequent trips to review and encourage his units During this period of training and reorganization O Beirne and this 37th exchanged their smoothbore Model 1842 Muskets for newer rifle muskets They received Austrian Lorenz Rifled Muskets and P53 Enfield Rifled Muskets slightly more Lorenz 7 8 In October O Beirne had a new brigade commander BGEN Israel B Richardson The 37th remained in Heintzelman s Division but were now part of the Army of the Potomac AoP They would remain in their division until March 1862 Through this period O Deirne continued to excel and as promoted to captain and took over command of Company C on November 4 1861 9 At some point O Beirne acquired a civilian rifle which he used instead of his pistol incombat 10 Among O Beirne s duties of company commander were overseeing the color guard of the regiment as Company C s position was in the middle of the battle line 10 note 2 McClellan had rebuilt the forces into the Army of the Potomac and O Beirne and his men thought highly of him 11 At the end of November O Beirne and his regiment went into winter quarters in the defenses of Washington note 3 O Beirne frequently saw friends in other regiments from the Irish community in New York He frequently met some of his St John s classmates as well as several of the Jesuits from the faculty who were serving as chaplains in the AoP 14 He also saw many colleagues from the legal profession in Manhattan Among these were the fellow lawyers and St John s classmates the McMahon brothers John Eugene St John s 48 James Power St John s 53 and the youngest and fellow Medal of Honor winner Martin Thomas St John s 55 O Beirne was very close to the middle brother James with whom he has numerous boxing bouts while undergraduates at Fordham 10 note 4 As a product of the Jesuits O Beirne was also very close with Rev Peter Tissot S J who was the 37th s chaplain note 5 1862 edit After several temporary assignments the regiment finally became a part of the 3d brigade 3rd division III Corps from March 13 1862 5 note 6 In March 1862 O Beirne and the 37th the regiment embarked on steamers for Fortress Monroe During the Peninsula Campaign O Beirne was active throughout the campaign His first action was in the Siege of Yorktown 1862 Peninsula Campaign edit While at Williamsburg he participated in the brigade s bayonet charge that drove the Rebels from the entrenchments This action led to the regiment s receiving a complimentary mention from the division commander BGEN Kearny for gallantry in action During this battle 95 were killed wounded or found to be missing 5 note 7 At the Battle of Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days battles the 37th was closely engaged During the Seven Days at Oak Grove leading Company C O Beirne performed the actions that would earn him the Medal of Honor Holding the line with his company containing the regimental colors he held the line and in turn kept the regiment held to their ground until ordered to fall back note 8 These two battles were his regiment s third and fourth costliest battle with 81 casualties at Fair Oaks and 81 at Seven Days After the battle O Beirne went with his regiment into at Harrison s Landing note 9 After spending six weeks in camp with the rest of the AoP O Beirne and the 37th found themselves leaving the Peninsula suffering a strategic feat On August 16 they moved to Alexandria and then pushed south to Centreville 15 O Beirne and his regiment were present but in reserve at Second Bull Run and Chantilly during MGEN Pope s Northern Virginia campaign The 37th detached from AoP during the Maryland campaign and went into the defenses at Washington Fredericksburg campaign edit They remained in the capital s fortifications until October O Beirne and his regiment began gradual moves south in October and November They joined the rest of the AoP now commanded by Burnside reached Falmouth across the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg on Saturday December 6 1862 O Beirne and the regiment were active at Fredericksburg with a total loss of 35 members and encamped near Falmouth during the rest of the winter 5 1863 edit On Christmas Eve Wednesday December 24 1862 the regiment received the veterans of the 101st New York On Tuesday January 20 1863 the 37th moved out in unseasonably mild weather on the AoP s infamous Mud March This offensive was Burnside s abortive second attempt at crossing the Rappahannock Despite sound strategy the offnsive failed due to dissension among generals in the Army of the Potomac compounded by severe winter storms During the night of the 20th the rain began and by the morning of the 21st the earth was soaked and the river banks had the appearance of a quagmire For a considerable area around the planned crossing sites men worked all day of January 21 but to little purpose Thursday added even more only added to the storm and the 37th and the rest of the AoP were swamped in the mud As O Beirne and his compatriots slogged through the mud Lee ample time to line the other shore with his army although there was no attempt to interfere with his crossing except from the sharpshooters who peppered away on all occasions By Friday the river was swollen There seemed to be no end in sight of the bad weather Burnside finally became resigned the failure and gave the order for the army to return to its camp in Falmouth on Monday January 26 O Beirne noted a brighter outlook for AoP when Hooker replaced Burnside as army commander 10 Under the new leadership preparations began for the Chancellorsville campaign This upcoming campaign would incur the 37th s heaviest losses as well as personally costly for O Beirne was suffered in the Chancellorsville campaign in May 1863 when 222 of the 37th were killed wounded or missing A report from Major William DeLacy recounted the actions of this encounter in detail The regiment struck tents the morning of April 28 and marched about 6 miles toward the Rappahannock River where they encamped They crossed the river on May 1 at about 11 am They defended a battery on the front and then to connect with the left of General Howard s command A night attack was undertaken at around 11 pm DeLacey recounted how the regiment Drove some troops from the rifle pits on our right On May 3 while the brigade was moving to the rear of the Union lines a deadly attack on the front and left flank caused confusion and forced the regiment to fall back The regiment was later reformed and fell back 16 After being wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville O Beirne was mustered out He was recommisioned as captain in the Veteran Reserve Corps in July Later war edit O Beirne was promoted to the rank of major in July 1864 and received brevet promotions to the ranks lieutenant colonel and colonel In April 1865 he was serving as Provost Marshall of Washington DC and was active in the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth and his associate conspirators following the assassination of US President Abraham Lincoln In September 1865 he was brevetted to the rank of brigadier general for gallant distinguished and meritorious service while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War and he was discharged from military duty on January 30 1866 He then pursued a career in journalism reporting for the Washington Sunday Gazette and the New York Herald In the 1890s he served as second in command of immigration at Ellis Island New York City He died in New York City at the age of 77Medal of Honor citation editThe President of the United States of America in the name of Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain James Rowan O Beirne United States Army for extraordinary heroism on May 31 amp 1 June 1862 while serving with Company C 37th New York Infantry in action at Fair Oaks Virginia Captain O Beirne gallantly maintained the line of battle until ordered to fall back 17 18 19 20 21 Personal life editWhile recovering from his wounds at Chancellorsville he married Martha Susannah Brennan in New York His daughter Gertrude was born in 1865 3 After the war O Beirne and his family remained in Washington where he received an appointment as Register of Wills in DC His civil service career continued as Deputy United States Marshal and Acting Marshal during his superior s lengthy absences 2 He also worked as a journalist as the editor and publisher of The Washington Gazette and served as the Washington correspondent for the New York Times and New York Herald 3 He also traveled west several times with the U S Army as a war correspondent for the Herald during the Indian Wars of the 1870s In Washington he was active in the Grand Army of the Republic GAR and was well known among the political elites receiving a bust of Simon Bolivar from the Venezuelan government upon his departure from Washington 3 In March 1889 fellow veteran and GAR member President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Assistant Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island He and hs family returned home with the appointment During his tenure he frequently ran the facility when the Commissioner was in Europe 2 3 He remained in that post for the duration of the Harrison administration During the twenty year project of publishing The War of the Rebellion a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies the federal government began reviewing the actions of veterans to recognize those that had performed actions worthy of the Medal of Honor O Beirne s conduct during the Battle of Seven Pines between May 31 1862 June 1 1862 was deemed rating the award He received his medal in January 1891 He was active in veterans affairs he served a term as the Grand Marshal of the GAR Posts of New York state 3 He was an active donor and fund raiser for the Irish Parliament Fund Association and United Irish League as well as several Irish benevolent associations His wife died in June 1895 In 1897 He was appointed to a six year term as Commissioner of Charities in New York City He continued with his involvement in charitable works after his term expired in 1901 As well as his devotion to veterans and Irish causes he was very active in his church He was involved in the New York Archdiocese and very closely involved in supporting the Jesuits at his alma maters St Francis Xavier and St John s He remained close with his surviving classmates and former teachers He was a strong supporter of St John s cadet corps the precursor of the modern ROTC unit at Fordham Although never a trustee of the college he was also involved in the opening of the law and medical schools and when St John s College officially became Fordham University on March 7 1907 He contributed articles to the alumni magazine and was a common sight on the Bronx campus until shortly before his death in Manhattan at the age of 77 on February 17 1917 3 Detailed Service 22 editO Beirne James Rowan Age 24 years Enrolled April 17 1861 at New York city to serve one month mustered in as Private Company I 7th Militia April 26 1861 mustered out with company June 3 1861 at New York city Enrolled July 7 1861 at Washington to serve two years and mustered in as Private Company C 37th New York Infantry Regiment Dates of Rank 2LT July 9 1861 1LT August 9 1861 CPT November 4 1861 Wounded in action May 3 1863 at Chancellorsville VA Mustered out with company June 22 1863 at New York city subsequent service in Veteran Reserve Corps as Provost in Washington DC Medal of Honor Billets Commissioned 2LT in Company C 37th New York Infantry August 9 1861 with rank from July 9 1861 replacing Joshua V Willitt who was discharged 1LT Company C second in command 37th New York Infantry August 27 1861 with rank from August9 1861 replacing 1LT Martin E Lawlor who was discharged CPT Company C commander 37th New York Infantry December 2 1861 with rank from November 4 1861 replacing CPT Michael Doran who was dismissed See also editList of American Civil War brevet generals Union Notes References editFootnotes John H McCunn was born in Ulster Ireland in 1820 He belonged to a poor Irish immigrant family who arrived in New York City in the 19th century He worked as a dockhand before training as a lawyer and eventually becoming a judge When the war began he was appointed a Captain in the 69th New York Infantry Regiment before he recruited the 37th As a reward for his recruiting he was appointed its colonel Despite his court martial and relief by war s end he was brevetted Brigadier General After the war he was a member of the infamous Tweed Ring which he aided by naturalising new citizens to boost his election rolls On one day alone he naturalised over 2 000 new voters However when the scandal was uncovered he was impeached and removed from office per O Beirne in 1916 I had two butchers and a color sergeant in my company to which was entrusted the important custody of the colors a beautiful silk American Flag and an exquisitely embroidered green one with a glorious Sunburst and Erin fo bragh worked on it presented by the Irish citizens of New York City With them were a brace of expert foragers who could not be excelled Our mess was well supplied through the aif of these favored sons of the Company with what the country afforded as we advanced our lines Officers in the U S Army at that time like present day U S Naval officers with their wardroom bills had to purchase their own food so these scroungers were quite appreciated by the Company Officers Mess McClellan had built defenses that were almost impregnable consisting of 48 forts and strong points with 480 guns manned by 7 200 artillerists 12 The Army of the Potomac grew in number from 50 000 in July to 168 000 in November becoming the largest military force the United States had raised until that time 13 All three brothers were lawyers before the war in The two elder McMahon brothers had been born in Waterford before the family emigrated The youngest had been born during a temporary residence in Quebec before they moved to New York City John and James enlisted in the 164th New York Infantry Regiment where John was the colonel and James was the lieutenant colonel John was wounded badly at Fredericksburg and was invalided to Buffalo NY where he died from complications of his wounds O Beirne s close friend Jim fleeted up to command the regiment and was killed in one of the frontal attacks at Cold Harbor on June 3 1864 This priest was born on October 15 1823 in Savoy France After joining the Jesuits he studied in Europe before coming to the United States and St John s where he completed his studies earning JCD degree After finishing he took up a job at the University as a canon lawyerprocurator and occasionally taught O Beirne first met him as a teacher at St John s During his service with the 37th Tissot kept a diary from 1861 to 1863 which was left to Fordham He was known for providing inspiration comfort and spiritual support to all even in the heat of combat Following the war Tissot returned to Fordham where he was president until in his last few years when he went on missionary work until his death on July 19 1875 in Manhattan The other regiments in the brigade were all from Michigan the 2nd the 3rd and the 5th Michigan In this battle Hooker s Division had launched bayonet attacks to drive the Rebels from their entrenchments Among this division was the Excelsior Brigade which contained the 70th 72nd 73rd and 74th New York Infantry Regiments These regiments were garbed in imported and New York made chasseur uniforms but some of these regiments had one or two companies of Zouaves The entrenchments had changed hands several times when Kearny led the 37th and its brigade mates in an assault O Beirne wrote that the memory of the dead Zouaves which he appers to misremember as members of the Duryee s Zouaves who were back in Yorktown as part of Sykes infantry reserve and Rebels impaled on each other s bayonets had haunted him for years The 37th was a well drilled regiment and had been trained to load and fire their Lorenz and Enfield rifle muskets from the prone position as to present a smaller target for their enemies O Beirne remained standing despite the urging of his men to lie down He found himself the target of Rebel sharpshooters He made a point of not standing still and firing his sporting rifle at any foes he saw aiming at him The action was intense and O Beirne later noted that he had fired 53 rounds from his rifle in the action 10 Here O Beirne met some of his southern classmates from St John s who were had been taken prisoner 10 Citations LC College of St Francis Xavier a b c d e Fordham College Monthly February 1896 p 75 a b c d e f g Fordham College Monthly April 1917 pp 337 340 Fordham General Rowan O Bierne a b c d e Federal Publishing Company 1908 p 75 Lowry 1997 p 47 51 Mink Armament in the Army of the Potomac 2008 p 86 Mink Armament in the Army of the Potomac 2018 p 89 Phisterer 1912 p 2161 a b c d e f Fordham College Monthly June 1916 pp 51 65 Sears 1988 p 111 Sears 1988 p 116 Sandburg 1942 p 62 Fordham College Monthly March 1887 pp 88 92 Dyer 1908 p 1417 U S War Dept Official Records Vol 25 1 p 442 Report of Maj William DeLacy Thirty seventh New York Infantry May 7 1863 pp 441 442 CMOHS O Beirne James R USARCMH O Beirne James R WoV James Rowan O Beirne VCOnline James Rowan O Beirne Beyer 1905 p 555 Phisterer 1912 p 2170 References Beyer Walter Frederick 1905 Deeds of Valor PDF 1st ed Detroit MI Perrien Keydel Co p 555 OCLC 680527243 Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Dyer Frederick Henry 1908 A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion PDF Des Moines IA Dyer Pub Co pp 29 43 190 273 279 296 297 326 1417 ASIN B01BUFJ76Q Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Federal Publishing Company 1908 Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of New York Maryland West Virginia And Ohio PDF The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861 65 Records of the Regiments in the Union army Cyclopedia of battles Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers Vol II Madison WI Federal Publishing Company p 75 OCLC 1086145633 Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Lowry Thomas P 1997 Tarnished Eagles The Courts martial of Fifty Union Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels PDF 1st ed Mechanicsburg PA Stackpole Books pp 47 51 223 ISBN 978 0 8117 1597 3 OCLC 231715975 Retrieved April 30 2023 Mink Eric J November 30 2008 Armament in the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg PDF Mysteries amp Conundrums Fredericksburg amp Spotsylvania NMP Staff Retrieved November 14 2020 Mink Eric J May 2018 Armament in the Army of the Potomac During the Chancellorsville Campaign PDF Mysteries amp Conundrums Fredericksburg amp Spotsylvania NMP Staff Retrieved November 14 2020 Phisterer Frederick 1912 Eighth Regiment of Infantry Sixty Ninth Eighth Regiment of Infantry PDF New York in the War of Rebellion 1861 1865 Vol 3 3rd ed Albany NY J B Lyon Company State Printers pp 2173 2188 LCCN 14013311 OCLC 1359922 Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Sandburg Carl 1942 Storm Over the Land A Profile of the Civil War A Profile of the Civil War Taken Mainly from Abraham Lincoln The War Years PDF 1st ed New York NY Harcourt Brace and Co p 62 LCCN 42023236 OCLC 444823 Retrieved April 30 2023 Sears Stephen W 1988 George B McClellan the young Napoleon PDF 1st ed New York NY Ticknor amp Fields pp 111 116 ISBN 978 0 544 39122 2 LCCN 88002138 OCLC 571245090 Retrieved April 30 2023 U S War Department 1884 The Peninsular Campaign Virginia Mar 17 Sep 2 1862 Part I Reports Mar 17 Jun 24 The War of the Rebellion A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Vol XI XXIII I Washington DC U S Government Printing Office pp 505 510 840 866 871 hdl 2027 coo 31924079609560 OCLC 29216042 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain U S War Department 1889 Operations in Northern Virginia West Virginia Maryland and Pennsylvania January 26 June 3 1863 Reports The War of the Rebellion A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Vol XXV XXXVII I Washington DC U S Government Printing Office pp 161 178 385 408 432 434 437 440 442 hdl 2027 coo 31924077730244 OCLC 857196196 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain O Beirne James Rowan March 1887 Reminscences of Gen Jas R O Bierne PDF Fordham College Monthly Bronx NY Fordham University 5 6 88 92 OCLC 669364695 Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain O Beirne James Rowan February 1896 Gen Jas R O Beirne 54 PDF Fordham College Monthly Bronx NY Fordham University 14 5 75 OCLC 669364695 Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain O Beirne James Rowan June 1916 James R O Beirne Reminiscences In War Time PDF Fordham College Monthly Bronx NY Fordham University 34 9 51 65 OCLC 669364695 Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain General James R O Beirne 53 A M LL D PDF Fordham College Monthly Bronx NY Fordham University 35 7 337 340 April 1917 OCLC 669364695 Retrieved April 30 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain O Beirne James R U S Civil War U S Army Medal of Honor Recipient Congressional Medal of Honor Society CMOHS 2014 Retrieved September 6 2018 Civil War Recipients M Z Medal of Honor Recipients US Army Center of Military History Archived from the original on August 3 2019 Retrieved August 6 2009 James Rowan O Beirne Recipient The Hall of Valor Project Sightline Media Group 2020 Retrieved April 30 2023 James Rowan O Beirne VCOnline 2020 Retrieved April 30 2023 Research Guides Fordham American Civil War and Fordham General Rowan O Bierne Research Guides Fordham at Fordham University Libraries October 7 2014 Retrieved April 30 2023 St Francis Xavier lost colleges Retrieved May 1 2023 External links editJames Rowan O Beirne 1839 1917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Rowan O 27Beirne amp oldid 1175974147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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