Irish-Americans in the American Civil War

Irish-American Catholics served on both sides of the American Civil War (1861–1865) as officers, volunteers and draftees. Immigration due to the Irish Great Famine (1845–1852) had provided many thousands of men as potential recruits although issues of race, religion, pacifism and personal allegiance created some resistance to service. A significant body of these Irishmen later used the military experience gained in the American Civil War to fight against the British Empire with the goal of establishing an Irish Republic as members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Fenian Brotherhood and Clan na Gael. In addition very large numbers of Scots-Irish Protestants were involved in the American Civil War, especially the Confederacy.

Although Irish immigration to the United States has taken place since colonial times (Six Declaration of Independence signers were of Anglo-Irish or Scots-Irish descent and Andrew Jackson was partially Scots-Irish, with one signee Charles Carroll of Carrollton, being of native Irish descent and the only Catholic signer),, worsening conditions (under British rule) in Ireland-especially the Great Famine-caused many Irish to emigrate in the mid-19th century.

An Irish immigrant, having suffered through an arduous overseas journey, would have been thrust into a difficult and unfamiliar situation, as many were poor and unused to American customs.

Soon, however, the number of Irish-Americans in some cities grew so great that immigrant Patrick Murphy stated "New York is a grand handsome city. But you would hardly know you had left Ireland." American customs, once utterly foreign to the immigrants, became blended with traditional ones, forming a distinct Irish-American culture.

Most Irish-Americans had settled in the northern, American states and were thus called up to serve when the southern states seceded and formed the Confederacy in 1861.

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