The Irish Brigade of the American Civil War were the most
honored and beloved of all soldiers. Their shout of
faugh a ballagh, Clear the Way!
could be heard across the fields as the bright green and
gold of their flag blew in the wind. Many
had fought in Ireland like Thomas Francis Meagher "Meagher
of the Sword" before coming to this new country and would
fight again to preserve precious freedom. He formed
the first regiment to be known as the Fighting 69th and
went into battle with the Finnian flag flying the motto
Riam nar druid ó sbarin lann
which translates
from the Gaelic,
We will never flee from the clashing
of blades.
As other regiments joined the Fighting
69th they became known as the Irish Brigade. The Irish Brigade's strong
religious beliefs and culture unified them and provided
comfort in the bloody battles. Love of country,
loyalty and fierceness in battle made them proud to be the
Fighting Irish. You can find monuments of the Irish
Brigade in Gettysburg, Antietam, New York and many more
battlefields and cities all over the United States.
169th
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