I suppose most people when they think of their armed forces think of their soldiers being tall handsome
Grecian looking
guys with flowing locks handsome in the extreme, covered in medals for just about every maneuover they ever
made in their army career. Perhaps they won some victories after sustaining heavy losses, some victories even
being of the
phyrric variety. The Irish soldiers of the 69th. did not really reflect this image. A lot would appear to have been
be of smallish stature perhaps around 140 pounds. Great friends but terrible enemies who would have brought real meaning
to the "one strike and
you're out" comment if it been around then. These men were tough in the extreme looked for but gave no ground and in victory
looked not for accolades but had as their medals their pride in their memory ... they had fought
in the Grand Army of the
Republic. They had kept a great nation in unity. Such a soldier would be epitomised by Sergt. Stephen Dooley.
If one looks at the data bases of the soldiers in the various companies of the 69th. the fact that there were
many from the northern counties of Ireland vis Derry, Tyrone, Donegal comes through immediatley. However what must
be kept in mind is that
there were soldiers from other counties. Such a man would be Stephen Dooley. Firstly we see that his name even
as now is not a name associated with the northern part of Ireland. One source researching the 69th. states that
he was from Queens Co. Ireland. This in fact would be Co. Laois in east central Ireland west of Co. Wicklow
where the name is fairly common. In the case of some of the other soldiers it is said they were from Kings Co. This is in fact
Co. Offaly north of Laois.The names Kings Co. and Queens Co. are a hangover from a previous era now they are referred
to as Laois (or Leix) and Offaly.
Looking further as to the source of the name Dooley or more likely O'Dooley in McLysaghts book The Surnames of Ireland
a map of the septs of Ireland shows
that the O'Dooley sept lived along the northwest slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the Offaly-Laois border. This
ties up
with what we know about O'Dooley's roots. Even as now sept name groups still exist in rural Ireland despite
movements to the
larger towns and cities seeking work. Dooley would most certainly have been able to speak both Irish and English. The name
Dooley or more correctly O'Dooley being from the old Irish name O'Dubhlaioch ... dubh meaning black and laioch meaning
a hero or champion.
As to why and when Stephen emigrated from Ireland we can guess both fairly accurately. Why? Well a rural Ireland
circa 1830 was
not the best place to be. The population density was about 8 million and a very agricultural dependent economy.
Emigration from Counties Laois and Offaly and all over Ireland would be the order of the times. There was some
emigration from Laois
area from the late 18th century
onwards but emigration dramatically
increased during the period of the Great Famine. The chief destinations were Australia, Canada and the
United States of America. During the period of the Great Famine Laois lost about 25% of its population
with some towns experiencing population reductions of up to 50%.
This is best illustrated by the census of 1841 prior to the great famine of 1847. In 1847 the population was noted
as being 153,930. However by 1860 some 12 years after the famine the population was 90,650. Somewhere in this time slot Stephen Dooley
either on his own or with a few friends or perhaps his entire family set off for America. Most probably they would have gone via the
port of Dublin.
Among the famous people whose family roots lie in Counties Laois and Offaly were: Charles Carroll who was a
signatory of the American Declaration of Independence,
Col. Oliver North of the U.S. Army and the internationally renowned poet Patrick Kavanagh.
Stephen Dooley was probably from
a small labouring family or perhaps his family had a small farm. He would have had a fairly basic education
at a local school. It is interesting to see his signature on his re-enlistment document of 1st. Feb. 1864 at Vicksburg Va.
which shows
a fairly rough hand.
This is not a negative comment on Stephen. It is a reflection of the circumstances
of the times in Ireland. Survival was first priority, education was a lower priority and thousands of the emigrants
of the era could not read and write at all. We also see that when at Hatchers Run in March 26th 1865 he would have got
a friend
who had better writing and composing
skills or more likely
a Company writer to compose a letter for him to his wife. He was of course a blacksmith and no doubt the nature of his
work would not lead to a fine hand for writing.
We shall probably never know what age he was when he arrived in Philadelphia, whether he came with a family unit or with
a group
of friends.
What we see is that he had some interest in the militia units in the Philadelphia area initially. If not
an active member of a militia unit he certainly would know those who were.
It is known he volunteered for the 24th. Penn. for a three month enlistment prior to joining the 69th. In the 24th. Penn
he would
learn soldiering skills which would stand him good when he joined the main 69th. when it formed up in Oct. 1861.
In his enlistment papers he is listed as a blacksmith. This is very interesting. The greater percentage of emigrants
coming from Ireland at that period would simply be listed as "labourer". A blacksmith in the Ireland of the time was
a skilled trade
and was time served. It is possible I suppose he could have learned this trade in Philadelphia but I feel he brought
it with him. A lot
of incoming Irish found work as barmen, waiters or working in the steel mills. It is noted after the war was over that
in the 1870 census he was noted as a "springmaker". Again this would be a skilled trade no doubt based on his blacksmith
skills.
Nowadays each soldier's records would no doubt be kept on computer and there would be a lot on each man. In the days of
the Civil War
there would be less record keeping and each man would have his associated "records" or "papers". We have records on Stephen
Dooley which are
interesting as not too many people as now would have an idea what they looked like. The image below is a card record
and does have some information.These card records probably generated well after the war. This confirms his 3 month enlistment into the 24th. Inf. at Philadelphia 1st May 1861 for a three month
period.
The document below though fairly difficult to make out carries a lot of informatiom. It is the disharge document for Stephen's three months enlistment in the 24th Penn. Vol. Inf. It states that he enlisted in May 1861 and discharged 9th. August 1861. He was under the command of Capt. James Duffy. He is noted as being 28 years of age. This would have his birth date in Ireland as 1833. James Duffy was the owner of an Hotel in Philadelphia and no doubt Dooley would have known the establishment well as he would have known O'Kanes. It is very likely Duffy had little difficulty getting Dooley move into the 69th. where Duffy was a Major. It just might flag up why Dooley made Sergt. some time later. This was a regiment that looked for good soldiers from the ranks, I suppose it helped greatly if you knew the officer class from Philadelphia and needless to say also helped if you were a member of the Democratic party and also Catholic.
Know Ye that Stephen Dooley a private of Capt. James Duffy's Company G 24th Penna. Infantry who was
enrolled on the ??? of May one thousand eight hundred and 61 to serve three months is hereby discharged from
Service of
the United States this ninth day of August 1861 at Philadelphia by reason of expiration of service. Said Stephen
Dooley was born in Ireland ........28 years of age.5 feet 7 inches in height,light complexion ....eyes and by occupation
on enrolement a blacksmith.
Given at Philadelphia this ninth day of August 1861.
James Duffy
Capt.Com. G.Coy.
??? Ruff
Lieut Col.U.S.A.
Mustering officer.
We have no copy of his real enlistment document into the 69th. What we have is a card record. It records that he had done
a three month service, he enrolled in Philadelphia 23rd. Aug. 1861, he was aged 26, mustered in as a private at Camp
Observation
Md. 31st. Oct. 1861 and mustered out 1st. July 1865. He was at muster in 5'6" in height, fresh complexion blue eyes,
light hair and he was a resident of Philadelphia.
Also he had been promoted Corp. 6th. May 1863.
Stephen Dooley's initial three engagement would be up in early 1864. He could have walked away and gone back home
to Philadelphia. He was obviously not minded to do so. He was a man of principle and had both loyalty to his comrades and
the 69th.
Stephen Dolley re-enlistes at Stevensburg Va. on 1st. Feb. 1864. The 69th. had in fact wintered at Stevensburg.
The re-enlistment document is as below. It records that
he was born in Queens Co. Ireland, a blacksmith by trade. He was aged 30.
He was enlisting for a period of 3 years.The document is signed by Bernie McNeill the Asst Surgeon of the 69th and Lieut. John
McIlvane of Co. B. The card also notes that he was mustered in again on 9th. Feb. 1864. Stephen Dooley would soon be
promoted. It is noted
on the reverse of the records card above that he was promoted Sergt. 17th. Feb. 1864. That he
was wounded at The Wilderness 6th. May 1864.
Note: Record keeping was hardly an exact science in Civil War days. Done on the hoof no doubt mistakes compounded
by men who
themselves did not know their exact date of birth. This factor must be kept in mind when researching these men.
Life in early 1864 would be good for young Stephen Dooley. He had made sergeant rank and as far as the war was concerned
he would have by that time survived quite a few battles. Perhaps the biggest battle had been Gettysburg
on the 2nd. and 3rd. of July 1863 where he played a major part in the command of Co. A. during a shortfall of
line officers.
Obviously there "was a girl back in Philly" and in early April 1864 he
applied for and was granted leave to get married and on 12th. April 1864 he married Jane McLaughlin in St. James Church
in Philadelphia. The Rev Michael F. Martin performs the ceremoney. This is the chaple where Col. O'Kane was buried from
in July 1863
after Gettysburg. It was the same pastor Father Michael F. Martin who presided over O'Kanes funeral. Jane McLaughlin was
also
born in Ireland. The image to the left is of the church where Stephen and Jane were married in.
Probably after a short honeymoon in early April 1864 he would be back in the front line again. On May 6th 1864 he is
wounded in foot at what the hospital classes "2nd Chancellorsville" ( the Wilderness ). He would be
in the
Armory Square General hospital in Wash. D.C. suffering from what they called a "contusion" of his left foot. In fact a bullet wound received in exchanges with
some Confederate troops from S. Carolina.
He was furloughed in Nov. 1864 and returned to duty in Dec. 1864. Probably a period of rest and recuperation back
in Philadelphia.
These would be very worrying times for Stephen Dooley his wife and his family back in Philadelphia. He has been
very lucky at the Wilderness. We see that he returned back to duty in Dec. 1864. No doubt he saw further conflict
until the war ended. We know from a letter he sent home to his wife in Philadelphia dated March 25th 1865 that he was
at Hatchers Run Va. and the unit was involved in quite heavy engagements with the enemy.
However it would all be over in 1st. July 1865 at Munsons Hill Va. where he was mustered out and free to return
to Philadelphia and pick up his life again. In the 1870 census he is listed as being a springmaker by trade. No doubt
a trade based on what he had learned as a blacksmith.
However life was to have a cruel turn for Stephen Dooley. His first named son Stephen born in Philadelphia died aged 8 months
26th. Aug. 1866. On March 8th. 1874 ex. Sergt. Stephen Dooley Co A. 69th. Penn. Vols. dies from hydrophobia ( rabies) however
contracted and is buried the very next day March 9th. 1874 in the old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia. He would be around
35 years of age though probably we will never find out his correct age. He was buried from the church of St. Malachy where
his young son Stephen Jnr.(the 2nd named Stephen) was baptised the previous August. He is buried in Section A Range 2. Lot 40 East Margin.
Stephens wife Jane lived until she was 72 and died 17th. April 1905.
Stephen Dooley's service in the Civil War in Co. A. ends when he is mustered out by Standing Order S. O. 158 dated June 22nd. 1865 to be operative 1st. July 1865. It is signed by William Davis Act. Colonel and 1st. Lieut. Gallagher. He would be given the above document and head off home to Philadelphia.
"Cootehill or Moybologue th former the name of the parish, is a market town and a parish, partly in the barony of Lower Kells, county of Meath, province of Leinster, partly in that of Castlerahan, but chiefly in Clankee barony, county of Cavan, about 54 miles NW from Dublin, 7.5 NE from Virginia, 14 NW by N from Kells, and 12.5 S from Cootehill; situated in a valley on the road between the two last named towns. It consists of one principal street and two diverging lanes. There is no particular branch of trade flourishing here, the business enjoyed being of a general and local nature, carried on by the shopkeepers." [From Slater's Directory (1896)]
When one reads the names of most Irish soldiers who fought in the Civil War information about them always focusses on their actual military exploits and little had been written down about their early lives. Many of their descendants in America in particular have therefore little knowledge of their ancestors, of their lives in Ireland prior to emigration and indeed much knowledge of the places they were from in Ireland.
Let us look at what limited knowledge we have on Thomas Woods, his earl;y life in Ireland and his army service and some notes on his subsequent life.
Note it is more likely that his name was spelled as Woods in Ireland.
Thomas Woods was born in Cootehill Co. Cavan. Now we will probably never know exactly where in the Cootehill parish area. It may well have been in
the small village there at the time or in some of the townlands in the parish of Cootehill. This was a poor part of Ireland and emigration
would have been an option for many, to America in particular. He is recorded as being a carpenter by trade when he joined the Army at
the start of the Civil War. Now was it a trade learned in Ireland or in America?. I tend to think that it was a trade learned in Ireland.
From my research into the soldiers of the 69th any man who had a "trade" as such would appear to have been ear marked for promotion.
Remember that any man who had a trade had learned many skills understanding measurement, weight, use of instruments,beinmg well able to
read and write and have reasonable communication skills and he would soon catch the eye of senior officers in the army. At the time the greater
percentage of Irish emigrants from the Ireland of the era would be poorly educated have few skills and as the records show merely listed as "laborer".
They would be the foot soldiers,the privates. However it must be realised that these men would form the backbone of the army and indeed high praise
must be given to them for their courage and dedication to duty and ideals.
As to the exact year Thomas emigrated we shall never know. However if he had learned his trade as a carpenter here in Ireland
he would probably have been 20 when he completed his apprenticeship as a carpenter. I feel he probably emigrated between 1855 and
1860. He would certainly be in Philadelphia by late 1860 or early 1861. He would get involved as so many did in the Phialadelphia militias
of the time initially in the Meagher Guards where he became an orderly sergeant.
From the Meagher Guards he enlisted in the three month enlistment in the 24th Pa. Regt in April 1861. After discharge from this unit on Aug. 10th 1861
he moved quickly into what was then the California Regt. Baker Guards 69th. Pa on Aug 19th. 1861. This unit would later become the
69th Pa Vol. Infantry - "Paddy Owens Regulars". He was mustered into the 69th Pa proper on 31st. Oct. 1861 as an ensign at Camp Observation. He was noted as being 29 years of age.
Thomas was wounded at the battle of Antietam 17th Sept. 1862.
He was promoted 1st. Lieut.in this unit 1st, May 1863. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg 3rd. July 1863 by a shell fragment and as result was hospitalised in Philadelphia and did not return to the regiment until
Sept of the same year. Soon after on the 29th Oct 1863 he was promoted this time to Captain in Co. E. around the time of the battle of Turkey Run Va.
He was on detached duties in Philadelphia in Jan and Feb of 1864 but went absent without leave in April of the same year. For whatever reason he joined
the 3rd Regt Pa. Cavalry as a private in Co. D. No doubt trying to conceal his earlier misdeeds.
He remained with the 3rd Regt. Pa Cavalry and was discharged in May 1865.It is noted on his file that at some time he had been discharged from the 69th by S.O.No. 427 of which I have no information.
Like so many soldiers in the Civil War he was married twice. Many 1st wives died in childbirth. Firstly he married a Catherine Taggart of
Philadelphia probably the sister of Lieut John Taggart another soldier in the 69th.
They had two children Joseph and Anne. Catherine died in 1873. He would appear to have lived
in Wash. D.C from 1865 the end of the Civil War until 1884.
He remarried a Mary Cunningham who died in 1906. His last years seem difficult to trace and it
is likely he lived in Newport News Va. from 1888-1890. He may have lived in the old Soldiers home
at Hampton Va 1900-1907 and may have died there. Some sources state that Thomas never recovered fully from his war wounds. Thomas Woods like so many of his fellow soldiers from Philadelphia is buried in the New Cathedral Cemetery in that city.
Capt. Thomas Woods attended the funeral of Colonel Dennis O'Kanes in Philadelphia in Aug. 1863 as did Lieut John Taggart
also of the 69th. Kind
of proves that Catherine Taggart was in fact the sister of Lieut Taggart. It is of interest to note that Lieut
John Taggart had two other brothers who fought for the 69th. all in Co.E. Hugh a private who died at Harrisons Landing Va. from disease Aug 16th 1862. He was the oldest brother. The third brother Patrick a Sergt. though wounded at Gettysburg survived the war. Some sources suggest that the brothers from Co. Down Ireland.
In the company data bases a Private soldier by the name of John Woods turns up as a member of Co's D and I.
Possibly a brother of Thomas.
Thomas Woods was promoted to 1st Lieut when Ist Lieut Alex Lovett was wounded and left the unit. Later when Lovett recovered and joined the VRC the Voluntary Reserve Corps he Lovett was the arresting officer in charge of the unit which arrested Dr. Mudd after President Lincoln's assassination. Lovett survived the war and died on March 19th 1887 and is buried in the New Cathedral cemetery in Philadelphia.
Private Andrew McGucken (McGuckin) Co.B.69th Pa.Vols.
Information
from his military service record shows that he enlisted on the 14th August
1862.
He was 26 years of age plumber by trade and from Philadelphia.
Andrew was
5ft. 4ins. tall, had blue eyes brown hair and a sandy complexion.
His enlistment form was signed by Lieut. Joseph W. Sunderland of the
72nd. Regiment.
In a very well researched book by a John H. McGuckin a
descendant
McGuckin
extended family member it is stated that Andrew's brothers brought his body
from his shallow grave
at Gettysburgh where he had been killed and brought it home to Phoenixville.
This would be a substantial journey.
He is said to be the only soldier from
Company B not have been buried at Gettysburg.
The Philadelphia Public Ledger
reported Andrews death on its edition of July 13th. July 1863 and that
he was
buried from
his mother's home to St. Mary's cemetery in
Phoenixville. The McGuckin grave plots at St. Marys are situated on the north
side of the church and close to the building itself.
Note that the name McGuckin has variant spellings. Even today
in S.Derry there are numerous
McGuckins.
McGuckens and McGuckians. It should also be noted that Andrews name
on the monument to the the 69th at Gettysburg is spelt as McGurkin.
On the headstone
to the left at the old St Mary's cemetery he is named as Andrew McGuckian who died July 1. 1863..This should
have been July 3rd. Probably a mistake
by whoever got the monument erected. A common mistake. However the name Andrew
is not a common McGuckin/McGuckian name so am certain that
this is "the" Civil War soldier.
Sergt. Edward McGucken ( McGuckin) Co. B. Edward who also fought at Gettysburg was a brother to Andrew above.
He was promoted to Corp. 8th. April 1863. Wounded and captured May 17th. 1864. Absent at muster out.
James enlisted Philadelphia aged 32. Labourer by trade.
James fought in Co. D. of the regiment. He joined the Regiment
on Oct. 31st. 1861 at Philadelphia.
He survived the war and
returned to Ireland.
He was from the townland of Derrygarve near Toomebridge Co. Derry
and he returned there. He is
buried in the graveyard at St. Trea's chaple Newbridge Co. Derry. Newbridge is only a few miles from Toome village.
James had some health problems
around the time of the Gettysburg campaign
and he was hospitalised for a time at
at Frederick Maryland. He was later transferred to the main hospital at Washington D.C.
Later he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in Sept. 12th. 1863.
He was discharged at
the end of the war and moved back home and married. He was granted the
usual $12 per month pension in 1904. and died aged 83 Feb. 20th. 1913.
James would have known
Lieut.Charles McAnally who would have been one of his superior officers.
I visited the graveyard at St.Treas church Newbridge
in mid Feb. 2004.See image of church and graveyard on left. James is buried in the family grave but
his name is not recorded on the headstone.
Note:
The greater number of Irish Catholic churches are named after the more
common
saints names eg St. Patricks, St Josephs, etc. However from time to time
one finds a church named after
one of the "old" Irish saints dating perhaps back to the era of Patrick.
St Trea
was said to have been converted to Christianity in Patricks era, lived her
life as a hermit at Ardtrea Co. Derry.
Also
in this graveyard are headstones carrying the names Stinson/Steenson. The three soldiers
Stinson named below may well be ancestrally related. This is a very unique name in Ireland and is proably a derivative from Stevenson or Stephenson as
quite a few names in the area have Scots planter settler roots. We know of other soldiers in the 69th. carrying the
unique name of Hinphey or Hanphey. It is a personal opinion that this name is derived from the more common Irish name
Hanvey. Overall from names alone it is fair to assume that there were quite a few soldiers in the 69th.
from close to the
parish centered on St. Trea's at Newbridge close by Toome Co. Derry.
In the soldiers listings there is a Martin McPeake perhaps a brother to
James McPeake already identified.
