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2nd Saturday Civil War Series: In the Footsteps of the 69th New York State Militia at First Bull Run
March 12, 2022 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
In Person in the Lincoln Gallery at ACFL&MH
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarnegieCarnegie No Account Required!
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9370579279 Meeting ID: 937 057 9279
The predominantly Irish 69th New York State Militia, still in existence today, has a storied, and somewhat misunderstood, history. An antebellum organization of some notoriety, it expanded its ranks and offered its services to the United States in the early days of the rebellion, and marched off to Washington. A primarily political organization, it was led by Irish nationalist and Fenian Colonel Michael Corcoran, and its ranks also included the future leader of the famous Irish Brigade, Thomas Francis Meagher.
On July 21st, 1861, the 69th NYSM, as part of William T. Sherman’s brigade, took part in it’s only action of the Civil War at the First Battle of Bull Run. Join us as we briefly discuss the history of this regiment (which is probably not what you think it is) and follow in their footsteps on the Plains of Manassas.
Harry Smeltzer is the host of Bull Runnings (bullrunnings.wordpress.com), a website dedicated to the digitization of primary resources and original content related to the First Battle of Bull Run. He lives just outside Pittsburgh, and was born and raised here in Southwestern PA. He has earned degrees at The Pennsylvania State University and the Katz School of the University of Pittsburgh. He’s also been published in print media including in the journal Civil War History, The Civil War Monitor, Civil War Times, and America’s Civil War. He was a Contributing Writer for America’s Civil War and is a Digital History Advisor for The Civil War Monitor. He sits on the board of directors of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. He has presented programs on Bull Run related topics to organizations in seven states and the District of Columbia, and has organized and led tours of the battlefield of First Bull Run. Groups with which he’s worked include Civil War roundtables, libraries, historical societies, universities, battlefield preservation organizations, and the United States Marine Corps. He’s been hosting Bull Runnings since November 2006.
2nd Saturday Lectures made possible by the Massey Charitable Trust