The Seventh Cavalry’s Irish Contingent

As we approach St. Patrick’s Day, this topic bears mention:

Immigrants from numerous nations were prevalent in both armies during our nation’s Civil War. In fact, many officer positions were filled for political purposes with the intent of winning the loyalty of immigrants from give nationalities.

President Lincoln, for example, a perceptive politician, was known to have filled a general’s position with a man of German descent in order to retain the loyalties of German immigrants. In another case, at least one deserving officer was passed over for promotion because a given command already had “too many Irish officers.” Sadly, I have not been able to locate his name in time for posting on this topic.

It is noted that Ireland suffered its Great Famine, or Potato Famine, in the late 1840’s and early 1850’s. It resulted in many Irish immigrating to the United States. Most were poor. By the time they paid passage across the ocean most had little or no money left for starting businesses or buying farms. As a result, many of them, like other immigrants, found at least sparse employment by enlisting in the U.S. military.  

After the oppression most Irish had endured, it seems odd that many of them fought for the South during America’s Civil War. More Irish did fight for the Union and its desire to break the oppression of slavery. However, some feared that the freeing of southern slaves would lead to even greater competition for employment, particularly in the North. Some had simply settled in the South and therefore were loyal to their states.

Regardless of their motivation, many Irish fought capably on both sides of the war. An AI pop-up notes that at least 12 Union generals were Irish, while at least 6 Confederate generals were Irish immigrants or descendants. Many Irish, naturally, had served honorably in America’s Revolution as well, it might be noted.

Thomas Francis Meagher bears mention here, although he had little direct connection to the Little Bighorn. An Irish revolutionary, he was exiled to Tazmania, then managed to escape and make his way to the U.S. After becoming a Union general he led the famed Irish Brigade, also known as the original “Fighting 69^th.”

After the war, Meagher became Acting Governor of Montana Territory and raised a territorial volunteer militia to combat Blackfeet Indian depredations. However, he died a mysterious death on the Missouri River while en route to receive a shipment of arms for that purpose. A statue of Meagher has long stood in front of Montana’s capitol building. He is portrayed atop a horse with his saber raised as if leading his troops.

After 1865, many poor immigrants continued to enlist in America’s army. They were not all selfless in their motivations. Some might well have been “rabble.” Out at the lonely, isolated posts on what was then America’s frontier, drunkenness and disciplinary problems were not uncommon. Desertion was relatively frequent as well. Rumors of gold often beckoned.With no ties elsewhere, a man might easily change his name or otherwise disappear in the frontier’s vast reaches.

Regardless, many Irish ended up in the army’s Seventh Cavalry Regiment. At its head was General Phil Sheridan. Although he was American-born, Sheridan was the son of Irish parents. John and Mary ( Meenagh) Sheridan had immigrated from Killinkere parish in County Cavan, Ireland.

Sheridan is sometimes regarded negatively for his practice of “total warfare,” both in America’s Civil War and later against Plains Indian tribes. (A particularly unfair and inaccurate quote has been attributed to Sheridan as well. That has contributed to the overall negative perceptions and portrayals of him, but that will be discussed in another post.)

Regardless of one’s view, Sheridan was a lieutenant general overseeing the army’s Department of the Missouri through the 1870’s. The Seventh Cavalry fell under his overall command.

The only other commissioned officer in the Seventh Cavalry was Myles Keogh. Aside from George Armstrong Custer himself, Captain (brevet Colonel) Keough is likely the most widely known member of the Seventh Cavalry. Keough had been recruited directly from Ireland during the Civil War. More will be posted about him, as well, in the near future. However, he brought an Irish influence to the regiment, and his Irish Catholic practices may have kept his body from being mutilated after his death at the Little Bighorn.

It is less well known that the 7^th Cavalry had a strong Irish presence throughout its ranks, far beyond just the well known Myles Keough.

Accounts vary, but anywhere from 103 to 128 Irish were enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1876. Of those, 34 (or possibly 35) died at the Little Bighorn, a high attrition rate. I have read on a discussion board that Irish made up 16% of the regiment (out of roughly 600 total enlistees.) Although Keogh was its only commissioned officer, roughly 18 held the rank of sergeant.

Although Keough may or may not have actually brought the song Garryowen to the Seventh Cavalry, he certainly helped to popularize it there. That spirited Irish jig tune is well know for its adoption as the 7^th Cavalry’s “anthem.” (See ‘Songs of the Seventh,’ posted 3/10/26.)

A brief mention here of the Civil War term “galvanizing” might be fitting. It refers to members of either side who changed their outer uniform, or coating just as iron pipes were galvanized (a practice patented in1836.) This was often done by prisoners of war who wanted to escape the horrors of prison camps, but it was started at Camp Douglas, in Illinois, by Colonel James Mulligan. (Irish, perhaps?) Many who galvanized were Irish immigrants who had been drafted or conscripted, and many were sent to remote frontier posts, away from their original places of loyalty.

After noting the Seventh Cavalry’s strong Irish presence, I looked into the topic further. I realized the notion was hardly original with me. An internet search will show many other sources have dealt with this topic. The site below, though might be one of the best. Although it has some inaccuracies regarding the lead-up to the Little Bighorn, it is overall a good source on this topic:

The Irishmen who fought with Custer at the little Big Horn