#OnThisDay 1862 The Irish Brigade charged the Confederate lines at the Battle of Fredericksburg at Marye’s Heights. Of the 1,200 Irish men who started the charge, only 256 men present for duty the next day. They were cut down by an Irish unit from Georgia. As the Irish Brigade came into view some of the Irish Confederates shouted “Oh God, what a pity! Here comes Meagher’s fellows.”
It was at Fredericksburg that Confederate General Robert E. Lee allegedly called Meagher’s men ‘The Fightin’ 69th”.
The Irish at War 