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**ironbar61** · 12-30-2008, 04:03 PM

Hey FestungSpanien, I'm not an expert but I can give you a little insight; first, when you say Irish people I'm going to guess you are referring to the Catholic Irish, who are seen in the the steriotype of the 'Fightin' 69th Regiment' from New York which fought for the Union.
Since the folks that made up the bulk of the Confederate forces, from here in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, would have identified themselves 'Scotch Irish' (meaning descendents of people who had emigrated from Scotland to Ireland, and after a hundred years or so emigrated on to America), you could say that most of the CSA was Irish, albeit Protestant.
But yes, there was a fair percentage of Catholic Irish units in the CSA;
Hope this helps

http://www.ulster-scots.co.uk/docs/a...shinthecsa.htm

**J Melvin** · 12-30-2008, 04:03 PM

Yes, there were Irish fighting for CSA. There is a scene in the movie "Gods & Generals" that depicts the Confederate Irish Regiment of Cobb's Legion (Georgia) firing upon the Union Irish Brigade during the battle of Fredericksburg.

Here's what I could find on a couple of the Irish units:

10th Tennessee: These "Sons of Erin" carried their green flag through many of the major battles fought in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. They fought at Fort Donelson, where they were surrendered along with the rest of the garrison in February 1862. They were exchanged in November 1862 and saw action at Chicksaw Bayou in December. In May 1863 they fought at Jackson and Raymond, MS. The 10th was sent to Bragg’s Army of the Tennessee in September and fought at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign. In Hood’s disastrous campaign in back in Tennessee in 1864 the 10th fought at Franklin and Nashville. The remnants of the regiment ended the war with Johnston in North Carolina, fighting in the last major battle of the Army of Tennessee at Bentonville.

6th Louisiana: This predominantly Irish regiment was recruited in the New Orleans area in 1861 and were mustered in on June 14th. Men born in 17 different countries would serve in its ranks, over half the original recruits were from Ireland. The 6th served in the Eastern Theater arriving just in time for the battle of 1st Bull Run, though they saw no combat there. They saw their first combat at Front Royal as part of the famous “Valley Campaign” of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson in the spring of 1862. With the Army of Northern Virginia from the Peninsula Campaign on to the end of the war they left their dead on the field from Gaines Mill, Antietam, and Gettysburg on through the Petersburg Campaign. At Lee’s surrender at Appomattox they had less than 60 left in the ranks.

It appears that the highest ranking Confederate of Irish descent was Patrick Cleburne. Here's a page with links to books about him: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=U...&creative=9325. Here's some biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Cleburne

Fellow forum member Nutmeg is probably our best source for uniforms and colors.

**J Melvin** · 12-30-2008, 04:09 PM

Here's also a few links to the movie "Gods and Generals" on youtube that depicts the Irish Brigade assault upon Cobb's Irish Regiment at Fredericksburg: http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...rch_type=&aq=f

**FestungSpanien** · 12-30-2008, 04:31 PM

Many thanks Jack and ironbar61

Now I have info to start seeking and investigating in the web

Very nice links provided also, very useful

I have never heard of a movie called "Gods and Generals", but in the scenes from youtube it really looks nice.I will also start looking for a copy.
Many thanks for the help provided so far,mates

Ace

**J Melvin** · 12-30-2008, 08:19 PM

"Gods and Generals" was the prequel to the made-for-tv movie "Gettysburg". IMHO, Gettysburg was an incredible movie that detailed the 3 days in July of 1863 that ultimately decided the fate of the Confederacy. Gods and Generals, on the other hand, did not rise to the same level. It does, however, lay the groundwork for the events that led up to Gettysburg.

Many of my friends were involved in the Gettysburg filming. They told me how there was not a dry eye among them as they portrayed some of the Confederates taking part in the filming of Pickett's charge on July 3, 1863.

**nutmeg** · 12-31-2008, 12:07 AM

Be careful of films like "Gods and Generals" which depict a green Confederate Irish flag at Fredericksburg, a fairy tale . There were a few Confederate units with predominately Irish members , but in most cases they were scattered throughout other regiments in the Southern army. On the Union side there were quite a few mostly Irish Regiments, 69th NY, 164th NY, 88th NY, 37th NY, 69th PV, 116th PV,28th Mass, 9th Mass, 9th CV, to name just a few.

**FestungSpanien** · 12-31-2008, 04:25 AM

I have been told that a first type confederate flag with an irish harp in the middle of it existed for CSA irish regiments.
Could you confirm that?
Thanks
Ace

Originally posted by nutmeg View Post

Be careful of films like "Gods and Generals" which depict a green Confederate Irish flag at Fredericksburg, a fairy tale . There were a few Confederate units with predominately Irish members , but in most cases they were scattered throughout other regiments in the Southern army. On the Union side there were quite a few mostly Irish Regiments, 69th NY, 164th NY, 88th NY, 37th NY, 69th PV, 116th PV,28th Mass, 9th Mass, 9th CV, to name just a few.

**J Melvin** · 12-31-2008, 09:46 AM

I agree with Nutmeg on that. If there was a green regimental flag for a Confederate unit, it was probably in the 10th Tennessee. But, I will guaranty you that Nutmeg knows for certainty whether that is correct or not.

**ironbar61** · 12-31-2008, 09:54 AM

Sorry I can't remember the regiment, but there is a flag as you describe on display at the NPS museum in Franklin,Tennessee. It's from an Alabama regiment, raised in the Montgomery area if I recall, white with a green harp.

**FestungSpanien** · 12-31-2008, 01:08 PM

Wow, what do you think of this?
While seeking information on the Irish fighting for the Confederacy I found that even Spaniards fought for the CSA.
I didn't know that!
What do you think of it?
Here's the link
http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/...onspain/CC.htm

**DennyB** · 01-02-2009, 05:14 PM

Don't be surprised to find people from about any country to have fought for the CSA, some people will argue but it has been documented that there were free Blacks fighting for the CSA. I live deep in southern Illinois, Kentucky a short drive due east and south Missouri is due west, there were many people from Illinois that fought for the CSA and there were people from Kentucky and Tennessee that moved here to enlist in the Union army. It was all messed up.
Denny

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