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Michael Corcoran | |
|---|---|
 Brig. Gen. Michael Corcoran | |
| Nickname | "Mick" |
| Born | (1827-09-21)21 September 1827 |
| Died | 22 December 1863(1863-12-22) (aged 36) |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch | United States Army Union Army |
| Service years | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Commands | 69th New York Militia, "Corcoran’s Irish Legion" |
| Conflicts | |
Michael Corcoran (21 September 1827 – 22 December 1863) was anIrish-American general in theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War and a close confidant of PresidentAbraham Lincoln.[8] As its colonel, he led the69th New York Regiment to Washington, D.C., and was one of the first to serve in the defense of Washington by buildingFort Corcoran. He then led the 69th into action at theFirst Battle of Bull Run. After promotion to brigadier general, he left the 69th and formed theCorcoran Legion, consisting of at least five other New York regiments.
Corcoran was born in Carrowkeel, nearBallysadare,County Sligo in Ireland,[1][8][7] the only child of Thomas Corcoran, an officer in theBritish Army,[9] and Mary (McDonagh) Corcoran. Through his mother, he claimed descent fromPatrick Sarsfield, hero of theWilliamite War in Ireland and a leader of theWild Geese.[2]
In 1846, at the age of 18, he took an appointment to the Revenue Police, enforcing the laws and searching for illicit stills and distilling activities inCreeslough,County Donegal. At the same time he joined and belonged to a Catholic rebel guerrilla group, theRibbonmen.[10] On 30 August 1849, he emigrated fromSligo Bay to the U.S. and settled in New York City[10] where he found work as a clerk in the tavern, Hibernian House, at 42 Prince Street inManhattan owned by John Heaney, whose niece, Elizabeth, he married in 1854.[citation needed]
He enlisted as aPrivate in the69th New York Militia. By 1859 he was appointedcolonel of the regiment. The regiment was a state militia unit at that time composed of citizens, not soldiers, and was involved in the maintenance of public order.[citation needed] On 11 October 1860, Colonel Corcoran refused to march the regiment on parade for the 19-year-oldPrince of Wales, who was visiting New York City at the time, to protest againstBritish rule in Ireland. He was removed from command and acourt martial was pending over that matter when theCivil War began.[11]
Corcoran became involved inDemocratic politics atTammany Hall: he could deliver the Irish vote. He became district leader, a member of the judicial nominations committee, an elected school inspector for his ward, and a member of the Fourteenth Ward General Committee.[12][13]
With the outbreak of war, the court martial was dropped and Corcoran was restored to his command because he had been instrumental in bringing other Irish immigrants to the Union cause. He led the 69th to Washington, D.C., and served for a while in the Washington defenses building Fort Corcoran. In July he led the regiment into action at theFirst Battle of Bull Run and was taken prisoner.[citation needed]
Corcoran was one of the founders of theFenian Brotherhood in America. While in jail, Corcoran wrote, "One half of my heart is Erin's, and the other half is America's. God bless America, and ever preserve her the asylum of all the oppressed of the earth, is the sincere prayer of my heart."[14]
In April 1863 Corcoran was involved in an incident that ended with Corcoran shooting and killing Edgar A. Kimball, commander of the9th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Corcoran attempted to pass through the 9th New York's area without giving the required password after receiving the challenge from a sentry. When Kimball intervened on the side of the sentry, Corcoran shot Kimball.[15] At a court of inquiry, Kimball was faulted for interacting with Corcoran though Kimball was not on duty and was not a sentry, and for using menacing and insulting language.[16][17] In addition, some witnesses suggested that Kimball was intoxicated when he confronted Corcoran.[16][17] Corcoran was found at fault for not providing the required password; he was reprimanded by the court, but not subjected to further punishment.[16][17]
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Corcoran returned to the army and set about recruiting more Irish volunteers. He raised and took command of what would be known as theCorcoran Legion:
The Legion consisted of:
Placed in command of the 1st Division, VII Corps he was engaged in theBattle of Deserted House and took part in thesiege of Suffolk. In late 1863 he was placed in command of a division in theXXII Corps and returned to serve in the Washington defenses. While riding alone inFairfax, Virginia, he was thrown from a runaway horse and suffered a fractured skull. He died at theW.P. Gunnell House on 22 December 1863, at the age of 36.[citation needed]
TheMayor of New York City,Michael Bloomberg unveiled Ireland's national monument to the Fighting 69th inBallymote on 22 August 2006.[18] The monument was sculpted by Philip Flanagan. The inscription around the top of the monument reads "Michael Corcoran 1827–1863" Around the base is inscribed "New YorkBallymoteCreesloughBull Run". Underneath the monument is a piece of steel from theWorld Trade Center, donated by the family of Michael Lynch, who died in the towers on 11 September 2001. Lynch's family are also from County Sligo.[19]
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