1863 Civil War 170 NY Corrocan's Legion Great War four page letter

  

Corcoran's Legion--Suffolk, Campaign 1863 Civil War 170 NY Corrocan's Legion Great war four page letter Soldiers Letter-----Brigade Hospital, April 18th, 1863---four page leter, written in ink----From Charles Smith, 170th NY Vol. Mentions how he got the better of a Seecesh woman in a store at Norfolk.... We expect a battle here as there are 4000 Rebs here in the woods to miles away..... Non of our regiment has been killed or wounded but there have been 10 wounded and one killed in the Brigade.

[2] As its colonel, he led the 69th New York Regiment to Washington, D. And was one of the first to serve in the defense of Washington by building Fort Corcoran.

He then led the 69th into action at the First Battle of Bull Run. After promotion to brigadier general, he left the 69th and formed the Corcoran Legion, consisting of at least five other New York regiment Corcoran's Legion--Suffolk, Campaign The Siege of Suffolk was fought around Suffolk, Virginia, from April 11 to May 4, 1863, Soldiers Letter-----Brigade Hospital, April 18th, 1863---four page leter, written in ink----From Charles Smith, 170th NY Vol. Excellent LetterBaptism of Fire: The Corcoran Legion at Deserted House, Virginia, 30th January 1863by irishacwMarch 18, 2012155th New York, 164th New York, 170th New York, 182nd New York, 69th New York National Guard, Battle of Deserted House, Corcoran's Irish Legion0Formed in late 1862, the early war experience of Brigadier-General Michael Corcorans Irish Legion is often forgotten. Their first major battles would not come until 1864, when they suffered severe casualties during Grants Overland Campaign.

However, their initial taste of Rebel fire had come over a year earlier, on 30th January 1863. This engagement, which became known as the Battle of Deserted House or Kellys Store, would bring the Irishmen their first victory- and their first casualties.

Corcorans Legion was made up of four New York regiments (five were initially raised, but the 175th New York did not serve with the Brigade). These were the 69th New York National Guard (182nd New York), 155th New York, 164th New York and the 170th New York. Although a number of the Legions soldiers had previous combat experience, notably in the 69th New York State Militia at First Bull Run, in early 1863 the majority had yet to see the elephant. Michael Corcoran and his men had been sent to southern Virginia and the Union outpost of Suffolk, which guarded the western approaches to the Federal naval yards at Portsmouth and Norfolk. Here they formed part of the VII Corps, consisting of three divisions under the command of Major-General John J. On their arrival, Brigadier-General Corcoran assumed command of the 1st Division. The lead-up to the Legions first fight began on 25th January. On this date Confederate Brigadier-General Roger Atkinson Pryor began an advance towards Suffolk at the head of some 1,800 troops, hoping to disrupt Union activity in the area. Crossing the Blackwater river, by the 29th he had closed to within ten miles of Suffolk, halting at Kellys Store. Peck ordered Corcoran to take a force of 4,800 troops and drive back the Rebels. The Sligo mans force included a sizeable portion of his Legion- the 69th New York National Guard, the 155th New York and two companies of the 164th New York; the remainder of the 164th New York and the 170th New York did not participate in the expedition. (1)All was now set for the Irishmens baptism of fire. Many of the men in the Legion could not contain their excitement, trying to burn off their nervous energy by singing as they marched. Orders came down for the 69th and the 155th to keep silent so as not to alert the enemy to their presence. Conditions were harsh on the rain-sodden roads, and during the nine-mile trek a number of the men lost their footwear to the mud and were forced to proceed without them.

Corcoran initially brought his command to Nansemond County Poor House, where he halted his men for a ten minute rest; he then advanced on Kellys Store and the Rebel positions. (2)The Confederates had set up a defensive line astride the Suffolk road, a half-mile to the west of Kellys Store near the Deserted House which would later give the battle its name. Corcorans advance guard of cavalry and artillery were the first to run into these positions shortly before 4am, and the fight commenced. The Rebel artillery had ranged the approach road and so were able to maintain a deadly fire on the advancing Federals, who quickly sought to bring their own cannon into the fight.

At 5.15am, Corcoran decided to order up his infantry, initially calling up the 167th Pennsylvania Militia. They failed to obey the instruction, forcing the Irish General to ride to their position to investigate the delay. He found that their Colonel had been seriously wounded in the barrage, and the unit was now in a hopeless state of confusion and disarray.

He turned next to his own men, the 69th New York National Guard and 155th New York (with the two 164th New York companies attached); the Legions first taste of action was at hand. (3)The Virginia countryside was still shrouded in early morning darkness as the Irishmen advanced, moving along the road which cut through woods on either side. Some tried to remain light-hearted- Private Thomas Burns, a 19-year-old Corkman in the 69th, told his comrades jokes as they pressed forward into the unknown. Moving into a gully near the unfortunate 167th Pennsylvania, the Legion came into range of the Confederate artillery, and were ordered to lie down.

Trees and houses were ripped apart during the ferocious barrage that followed. Some of the virtually leaderless Pennsylvanians now attempted to retreat- in the process one individual incurred the wrath of Captain Eugene OSullivan of the 164th New York, who he nearly knocked over in his eagerness to escape. Exhibiting that there was often no love lost between the Irish and their fellow immigrants, OSullivan roared: You Pennsylvania Dutch son of a gun! If you dont go back at a double quick, Ill put this sword to the hilt in you! A rebuke which appeared to have the desired effect.

If our offer is taken while on line WE would like a CW collector to get them first. The item "1863 Civil War 170 NY Corrocan's Legion Great War four page letter" is in sale since Thursday, June 28, 2018. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Posters & Prints".

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