Green, Blue & Grey: The Irish in the American Civil War

This history of the American Civil War takes into account the important role played by Irish individuals and units on both sides of the conflict. Irish involvement began when an ethnic Irish unit was called into action during John Brown's abortive attempt to start an anti-slavery uprising in 1859. When the war started the Irish Volunteers were the first unit in South Carolina to volunteer for service. The most famous Irish unit in the Federal army, the Irish Brigade, included the famous `Fighting 69th.' The heroics of this brigade at Antietam, and elsewhere, became an important part of Irish American history. Many Irish made the supreme sacrifice in Union blue and Confederate grey. This is their story of bravery and courage, savagery and death.