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DONAHOE'S

MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Vol. XVII.

BOSTON, JANUARY, 1887.

No. I.

"THE future of the Irish race in this country, will depend largely upon their capability of assuming an independent attitude in American politics."— RIGHT REV. DOCTOR IRELAND, St. Paul, Minn.

Irish Element in the Southern Confederacy.

IRISHMEN the world over have been applauded for their bravery. Nowhere was their characteristic gallantry displayed to the advantage that it was in the late war of the Rebellion. They marched to death or victory under both banners, with superb fearlessness. The history of either army can furnish unstinted testimonials to their excellence as soldiers; and upon every sacrificial battle-ground, from the Virginias to the Gulf, the turf rests lightly above hundreds of Irish hearts that never knew the chill of terror or of cowardice. Perhaps they were no braver than legions of their comrades, native and foreign born; but it cannot be denied that the Irish soldier, no matter for what cause or under what banner he fought, always faced the foe and never shirked a duty or a danger, even when Death rode upon every breeze.

The following letter from the Honorable Jefferson Davis in reply to a request, will be of special interest in this connection:

DANIEL E. O'SULLIVAN, Esq.

BEAUVOIR, MISS., July 6, 1886.

Dear Sir:-The letters written to me during the war were all lost or stolen, about, or soon after, the close; the reports made by army commanders were many of them captured among the papers of the Adjutant General. These, and others, are being published by the United States Government in the Official Record of the "War of the Rebellion." From those you will be able to extract information in regard to some of the most eminent Irishmen who served in the Confederate Army. Among the most gallant and distinguished officers in our service was General Pat. Cleburne, who fell while gallantly leading a charge at Franklin, Tenn. Captain Mitchell, a son of the patriot John Mitchell, was killed while serving in the defence of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor. Captain Atkins, who had served in the army of Garibaldi, came to the Confederacy, and in the first battle of Manassas served in the ranks of Wheat's Louisiana Battalion. For gallantry and good conduct he was

promoted to a vacancy created by the casualties of that battle, and served with great gallantry in subsequent engagements, until he was disabled by wounds and was placed upon special service at Richmond. After a time he was informed of the death of his father, and that the interests of his property and of his family required his return to Ireland. He called upon me to announce the fact, adding that he would not leave were it not that the surgeons had told him he would never again be fit for field service. Before taking his leave, he said when he reached home he would send his younger brother to take his place. Notwithstanding the difficulties which then existed on account of the blockade, in due time his brother arrived and reported for duty.

Of the elder Atkins, who died of his wounds after his return to Ireland, I have vivid remembrance, as he appeared near the close of the battle of first Manassas. He was a man about six feet four inches high, broad-shouldered, gaunt-waisted, bigboned, and with every indication of power and activity. He was serving in the ranks of Louisiana Tigers, as I rode past a spring giving a small supply of water, and around which the men were gathered with cups to catch it as it drained out. I saw Atkins, whom I recognized, because on his arrival he had called upon me at my office, standing with his hands crossed on the muzzle of his rifle with the air of one who defied thirst as he had danger and fatigue, and he so impressed me that I spoke to Major Wheat commanding the battalion and asked him if there was no place to which Atkins could be properly assigned. He told me there was a vacancy of captain, to which he thought the company would willingly elect him. Suffice it to say that he fully justified the impression he had created upon me.

I am sorry I have no records to refresh my memory in regard to the Irishmen who performed gallant and valuable service in our army. They were of two classes: those who were residing in the South before the war, and those who, despite the difficulties of getting transportation, came to us to fight for home rule-came at their own expense, joined the army without bounty, notwithstanding our poverty and destitution in all the material of war, served with patriotic fidelity and Irish gallantry wherever they were tried. At p. 236 and following of Vol. 2 of "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government," you will find a report of the battle of Sabine Pass, Texas, where forty-four men, commanded by Lieutenant Dowling, all of them Irishmen, achieved the most wonderful victory that I believe is to be found in the annals of military history.

Respectfully and truly yours,

JEFFERSON Davis.

The following is the description of the battle referred to in Mr. Davis' letter:

"The capture of the enemy's fleet in Galveston Harbor, by means so novel as to excite surprise as well as grateful admiration, was followed by another victory on the coast of Texas under circumstances so remarkable as properly to be considered marvellous. To those familiar with the events of that time and section, it is hardly necessary to say that I refer to the battle of Sabine Pass.

"The strategic importance to the enemy of the possession of Sabine River caused the organization of a large expedition of land and naval forces to enter and ascend the river. If successful it gave the enemy short lines for operation against the interior of Texas, and relieved them of the discomfiture resulting from their expulsion from Galveston Harbor.

"The fleet of the enemy numbered twenty-three vessels. The forces were estimated to be ten thousand men. No adequate provision had been made to resist such a force, and under the circumstances none might have been promptly made on which reliance could have been reasonably placed. A few miles above the entrance into Sabine River a small earthwork had been constructed, garrisoned at the time of the action by forty-two men and two lieutenants, with an armament of six guns. The officers and men were all Irishmen and the company was called The Davis Guards.' The Captain, F. H. Odlum, was temporarily absent, so that the command devolved upon Lieutenant R. W. Dowling. Wishing to perpetuate the history of an affair in which I believe the brave garrison did more than equal force had ever

elsewhere performed, I asked General Magruder, when I met him after the war, to write out a full account of the event; he agreed to do so but died not long after I saw him, and before complying with my request. From the publications of the day I have obtained the main facts, as they were then printed in the Texas newspapers, and, being unwilling to summarize the reports, give them at length."

Captain F. H. Odlum's Official Report.

HEADQUARTERS, SABINE PASS, September 9, 1863.

CAPTAIN A. N. MLLS, Assistant Adjutant General.

Sir, I have the honor to report that we had an engagement with the enemy yesterday and gained a handsome victory. We captured two of their gunboats crippled a third, and drove the rest out of the Pass. We took eighteen fine guns, a quantity of smaller arms, ammunition and stores, killed about fifty, wounded several, and took one hundred and fifty prisoners, without the loss or injury of any one on our side or serious damage to the fort.

Your most obedient servant,

F. H. ODLUM, Captain, Commanding Sabine Pass.

Commodore Leon Smith's Official Report.

CAPTAIN E. P. TURNER, Assistant Adjutant General.

Sir,-After telegraphing the Major-General before leaving Beaumont, I took a horse and proceeded with all haste to Sabine Pass, from which direction I could distinctly hear a heavy firing. Arriving at the Pass at 3 p. m. I found the enemy off and inside the bar, with nineteen gunboats and steamships and other ships of war, carrying, as well as I could judge, fifteen thousand men. I proceeded with Captain Odlum to the fort, and found Lieutenant Dowling and Lieutenant N. H. Smith, of the engineer corps, with forty-two men, defending the fort. Until 3 p. m. our men did not open on the enemy as the range was too distant. The officers of the fort coolly held their fire until the enemy had approached near enough to reach them. But when the enemy arrived within good range, our batteries were opened and gallantly replied to a galling and most terrific fire from the enemy. As I entered the fort the gunboats Clifton, Arizona, Sachem and Granite State, with several others, came boldly up to within one thousand yards and opened their batteries, which were gallantly and effectively replied to by the Davis Guards. For one hour and thirty minutes a most terrific bombardment of grape, canister and shell was directed against our heroic and devoted little band within the fort. The shot struck in every direction, but, thanks be to God! not one of the noble Davis Guards was hurt. Too much credit cannot be awarded Lieutenant Dowling, who displayed the utmost heroism in the discharge of the duty assigned him and the defenders of the fort. God bless the Davis Guards, one and all! The honor of the country was in their hands and they nobly sustained it. Every man stood at his post, regardless of the murderous fire that was poured upon them from every direction. The result of the battle which lasted from 3.30 to 5 p. m. was the capture of the Clifton and Sachem, eighteen heavy guns, one hundred and fifty prisoners, and the killing and wounding of fifty men, and driving outside the bar the enemy's fleet comprising twenty-three vessels in all. I have the honor to be your obedient servant,

LEON SMITH,

Commanding Marine Department of Texas.

Headquarters District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, Houston, Texas. Sept. 9, 1863.

[Special Order.]

Another glorious victory has been won by the heroism of Texans. The enemy confident of overpowering the little garrison at Sabine Pass, boldly advanced to the work of capture. After a sharp contest they were entirely defeated, one gunboat hurrying off in a crippled condition while two others the Clifton and Sachem with

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