An Cosantóir

32 | FÁG AN BEALACH! (CLEAR THE WAY) BY 1ST SGT WESLEY BOURKE PHOTOGRAPHS BY GRETCHEN DZEDZEJ O ver the century's Irish have found themselves in the armies of Spain, Austria, France, Mexico and England just to name a few. Their battle cries have been heard on many a battle- field. Wherever they went they made their mark. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, otherwise known as the War Between the States. By the 1860's hundreds of thousands of Irish men and women had left their native land because of famine, economic hardship, or deportation. After German immigrants the Irish became the second largest foreign provider of troops to the armies of the Civil War. Of the 3 million in uniform 300,000 were first generation German and 190,000 were Irish. In April this year Civil War Living History units came together to take part in the commemoration of the firing of the first shots of this great conflict in Charleston South Carolina. The re-enactment followed the original timeline. There are parts of Charleston and the harbour that have not changed in 150 years. Downtown Charleston and many of the old forts and batteries have not changed all that much being preserved in excellent condition. Although Fort Sumter is only half its original size it still dominates the entrance to Charles- ton harbour. Stationed outside Fort Moultrie with the Washington Light In- fantry we waited for days to see if Federal Major Robert Anderson's detachments of or engineers and gunners of the 1st US Artillery Regiment in Fort Sumter would accept the surrender terms of Con- federate Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard. The small garrison had been cooped up on the island fort since South Carolina had left the Union in December 1860. On January 9 US President James Buchanan had sent the Star of the West to resupply the fort. Charleston Cadets on Morris Island fired on the steamship which had to turn back to Union waters. By April the beleaguered Federals were cut off from the rest of the world and on meagre half rations. Surrounding them in batteries around the harbour where the militia units of South Carolina consisting of some 7,000 men. Many of their names bear the mark of their immigrant heritage; Irish Volunteers 28th Regt SC Militia, Magrath Guard and the Hibernian Guards 16th Inf Regt, and the German Light Artillery. Only camped a few companies away was the Meagher Guard who woke every one up in the morning with shouts of Éirinn go Brách! (Ireland forever). On Fort Sumter there were Irishmen too. The new president, Abraham Lincoln who had been inaugurated in March 1861, had sent a fleet to resupply the Federal fort. Knowing this the growing Confederate States pushed for a peaceful and swift solution in Charleston harbour. All they wanted was for all Federal troops to leave all Confederate territories and for those seceded states to be left alone. On Thursday, April 11th, Major Anderson turned down a demand for surrender. At 4:30 a.m. April 12 Confed- erate batteries opened fire. For 34 straight hours over 3,000 shots were fired at the fort. Firing from Fort Moultrie was 2/Lt John C. Mitchel Co. B, South Carolina Artillery Battalion. John was the son of the famous Irish nationalist of the same name. Of course this April the living history artillery were only firing blanks. The noise echoed around the harbour like thunder. Each shot was met by a cheer from local South Carolinians and re-enactor's alike no different than 150 years ago. April 14 150 years ago just so happened to be a Sunday. Agree- ing to evacuate the fort Major Anderson handed over command to Confederate Lt Col Roswell Ripley and the Palmetto Guard. The fact it was the Sabbath Confederates saw this as a sign God was on their side. Alexander Querengässer from Germany and myself were the only two Europeans to take part in this commemoration. Fort Sumter is a Federal monument. We were quite surprised when the Union Flag, the stars and stripes, was lowered and the Confederate First National and the Palmetto Flags were raised. It was a poignant An Cosantóir December 2011

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