distant drums

Paddy's Lamentation

Well it's by the hush me boys, and sure that's to hold your noise,
And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration.
I was by hunger pressed, and in poverty distressed,
So i took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation.

Here's to you boys, now take my advice,
To America I'll have ye's not be going.
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar,
And i wish i was at home in dear old Dublin.

Well I sold me ass and cow, my little pigs and sow,
My little plot of land I soon did part with,
And me sweetheart Bid McGee, I'm afraid I'll never see,
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted.

Well meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er,
Our fortunes to be made we were thinkin'
When we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands,
Saying " Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln. "

General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your head,
Every murdered soul of youse will get a pension.
Well myself I lost me leg, they gave me a wooden peg,
And by God this is the truth to you i mention.

Well I think myself in luck, If i get fed on Indian buck,
And old Ireland is the country I delight in.
With the Devil, I do say, It's curse Americay
For I think I've had enough of your hard fightin'

Thomas Francis Meagher ( August 3rd 1823 - July 1st 1867 )
Born Wexford City, Ireland was an Irish nationalist, a Union Army General during the American Civil War, and American politician. In his younger years, he was an Irish revolutionary, fighting for Ireland's Independence from British rule. He was known as ' Meagher of the Sword ' due to his fiery revolutionary speeches. During this time Meagher introduced the flag that is now the national flag of Ireland. In 1848, Meagher was convicted of sedition by the United Kingdom and sentenced to death. The sentence was later commuted to transportation to Van Diemen's Land ( today the Australian state of Tasmania ) In 1852, he escaped to the United States and arrived in New York City. Once in the United States, he studied law, pursued journalism, and traveled presenting lectures.

At the commencement of the American Civil War, he joined the U.S Army and rose to the rank of Brigadier General, most notably forming and leading the Irish Brigade. Following the Civil War, Meagher served as acting governor of Montana Territory. In 1867, in unexplained circumstances, Meagher drowned in Missouri after falling from a steamboat.

St. Clair Augustine Mulholland ( April 1st 1839 - February 17th, 1910 ) Born Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland, was a brevet Major-General in the Union Army in the American Civil War who later received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action. Mulholland emigrated to Philadelphia with his parents while a boy, his youthful tastes inclimed him to military affairs and he became active in the ranks of the militia. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry, which was attached to Meagher's Irish Brigade, and was later made its Colonel. He was wounded during the famous charge of the Irish Brigade up Marye's Heights at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13th, 1862. At the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 3rd, and May 4th, 1863, he led his regiment and distinguished himself by

saving the guns of the Fifth Maine Battery that had been abandoned to the enemy. For this he was complimented in general orders and later received the Medal of Honor from Congress. In this campaign he was given the command of the picket line by Maj.Gen Winfield Scott Hancock and covered the retreat of the Army of the Pontomac across the Rappahannock River. Although Mulholland saw action at Gettysburg, on July 2nd, 1863. He was wounded a second time at the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864, and for his conduct was brevetted as a Brigadier-General. At Po River, he was wounded a third time, but remained in hospital only ten days. Resuming his command, he was dangerously wounded again at the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek. He recovered rapidly and commanded his brigade in all the actions around Petersburg, Particularly distinguishing himself by storming a fort for which he was brevetted as a Major General on October 27th, 1864.
He was indeed, a remarkable Irishman.