Thomas
Francis Meagher (1823 -1867)
Thomas Francis Meagher who became known as “Meagher Of The
Sword” was born
in Waterford, Ireland in 1823.
He was educated by the Jesuits in Clongowes Wood College, County Kildare, where, at an early age he displayed oratorical skills that were to become a hallmark of his career. He later studied under other Jesuits at Stonyhurst
College, in Lancashire, England, where he completed his
education in 1843.
He joined Daniel O' Connell’s Repeal
movement in the early 1840’s where his oratorical skills were
used to make the case for a sovereign Ireland. He was compared
favorably with Wolfe Tone and Robert Emmet.
In 1846, Meagher made his
first speech on a crowded political platform, in Conciliation
Hall in Dublin. His speech made a lasting impression on
Young Irelander, William Smith O’ Brien who chaired the
event. When the 'peace resolutions' were introduced, Meagher
was expected to subscribe to the doctrine that the use of arms
was at all times unjustifiable and immoral, a doctrine he
abhorred. Instead, he delivered a speech that has never been
surpassed for its brilliancy and lyrical grandeur. The following brief excerpt
from that speech shows why he was called "Meagher of the
Sword,".
“Abhor
the sword - stigmatize the sword? No, for at its blow a giant
nation started from the waters of the Atlantic, and by its
redeeming magic, and in the quivering of its crimsoned light,
the crippled colony sprang into the attitude of a proud
Republic.”
In 1849 he
made two anti-Union speeches that were transcribed by
English agents. As a consequence he was arrested, charged with
treason and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered. His body was to be disposed of as determined by the English queen. The colonial governor of
Ireland exercised the option of transportation, and on the 29th
July 1849, he, with O'Brien, McManus, and O'Donohue was
sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.
Early in 1852 he escaped from Tasmania and
arrived in New York in late May via San Francisco. He soon became a
popular lecturer, and in 1853 published a volume of his speeches
on "The Legislative Independence of Ireland." He
traveled a great deal during that period and drew large crowds
to hear him speak for the cause of Irish
freedom.
Meagher was admitted to the New
York Bar in 1855. In 1856, together with John Savage he started the "Irish News", which continued publication
for several years.
At the onset of the civil war in 1861, he choose to support the Union cause and raised a company of "Irish Zouaves"
for the 69th N.Y. Regiment. At the first battle of Bull Run he served as acting
Major of the regiment and led his men in battle with characteristic gallantry.
He next organized the Irish
Brigade, raising over 7,000 men. In
November of 1861 he left New York for Washington with the first
regiment of the Irish Brigade; other regiments followed in rapid succession. In 1862, he was appointed Brigadier
General.
Meagher's Irish Brigade went on to
distinguish itself at Mechanicsville, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Malvern Hill and later at Antietam.
Here in Western Maryland, Meagher's Brigade of five regiments approached a well-protected Confederate force in a lane bordered with a stone wall, triggering a fierce engagement that left hundreds of dead and wounded on both sides, giving the scene its memorable name, The Bloody Lane. One observer described the Irish troops, with green flags flying (made by Tiffany, using embroidered ancient Fenian and Gaelic mottoes, and even today on view at the Armory on Lexington Avenue in New York), comparing them as if a brigade on parade, with bayonets fixed, in serried ranks and closing in on the Confederates, their purpose to insert themselves between the men of the brilliant Stonewall Jackson and the gallant campaigners of General Longstreet. Even under fire, the Irish were halted by General Meagher to allow a few solemn moments permitting their immortal Chaplain William Corby of Notre Dame to bless his men. About 30 percent of Meagher's gallant brigade would fall that day, dead or wounded. The last four of the hastily-buried warriors were accidentally found and exhumed for a formal burial in 1994 at the adjacent military cemetery. In 1997 Antietam's last war memorial was finally installed, honoring the Irish Brigade, with a fine bas-relief bronze image of Meagher looking out upon the fields where his faithful fighting men gained immortal fame for American arms.
After the war ended
he was appointed Secretary then later Acting Governor of Montana.
On July 1st, 1867 Meagher of the Sword was drowned under mysterious circumstances in the night when he was traveling aboard the steamer Thompson, on the Missouri River opposite Fort Benton.
MONUMENT
location
LOCATION:
On the grounds of the Montana State Capitol.
ADDRESS:
1301
East
Sixth
Avenue,
Helena,
Montana
59620
MONUMENT AND INSCRIPTION
