07-13-2023, 09:32 AM
The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan
Throughout Waterford on our most recent trip, we saw many monuments and plaques to Thomas Francis Meagher (pronounced Mar) including a larger than life statue of him astride his horse. Meagher was a prince of Waterford due to his father's wealth, but he joined up with the Young Irelanders in order to gain more freedom for his fellow Catholics. A botched rebellion later, he was on his way to a penal colony in Tasmania saved at the last minute from execution. He escaped after several years and made his way to the United States where he was feted as a hero. It didn't hurt that Meagher was a fabulous orator able to sway crowds. When Civil War broke, he helped lead the Irish Brigade, New York's 69th. Because of the Irish Brigade's bravery they were often given the most difficult jobs and paid the price in lives for their courage. Disillusioned by one too many meat grinder battles, Meagher resigned his command.
Meagher's next adventure was in the Montana Territory where he was twice made acting Governor because the actual governor's didn't want to stay there and left the job to Meagher. Unfortunately, there was a secret government in the territory and they were not too fond of Meagher usurping their power. Bad things occurred.
It's an exciting tale, told more like a novel than a documentary which had me asking questions about how the author would know certain things or how to describe certain events. In the end Meagher lived an exciting life and this book covers it very thoroughly.
Fun fact: One of the gifts John F. Kennedy gave to Ireland when he visited there in 1963 was the battle flag of The Irish Brigade.
Throughout Waterford on our most recent trip, we saw many monuments and plaques to Thomas Francis Meagher (pronounced Mar) including a larger than life statue of him astride his horse. Meagher was a prince of Waterford due to his father's wealth, but he joined up with the Young Irelanders in order to gain more freedom for his fellow Catholics. A botched rebellion later, he was on his way to a penal colony in Tasmania saved at the last minute from execution. He escaped after several years and made his way to the United States where he was feted as a hero. It didn't hurt that Meagher was a fabulous orator able to sway crowds. When Civil War broke, he helped lead the Irish Brigade, New York's 69th. Because of the Irish Brigade's bravery they were often given the most difficult jobs and paid the price in lives for their courage. Disillusioned by one too many meat grinder battles, Meagher resigned his command.
Meagher's next adventure was in the Montana Territory where he was twice made acting Governor because the actual governor's didn't want to stay there and left the job to Meagher. Unfortunately, there was a secret government in the territory and they were not too fond of Meagher usurping their power. Bad things occurred.
It's an exciting tale, told more like a novel than a documentary which had me asking questions about how the author would know certain things or how to describe certain events. In the end Meagher lived an exciting life and this book covers it very thoroughly.
Fun fact: One of the gifts John F. Kennedy gave to Ireland when he visited there in 1963 was the battle flag of The Irish Brigade.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm