The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. II, 1899Various
History
The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. II, 1899
Various
American-Irish Historical Society -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- United States -- Periodicals; Irish Americans -- Periodicals
This regiment had in the war the gratuitous services of a chaplain whose
name is a benediction to-day in the Connecticut valley, Father
Fitzgerald, chaplain of the Twenty-second Infantry, U. S. A. He is an
Irishman born, and may fittingly be spoken of in this connection, and
the world will honor us as well as him. Every man of the regiment,
Catholic and Protestant alike, loves him, and can scarcely meet a priest
to-day without claiming kindly right to speak of him. The gist of the
general love is in the words of an enthusiastic captain, who writes me
in this manner: “The Rev. E. A. Fitzgerald, chaplain Twenty-second
Infantry, U. S. A., was as truly chaplain of the First Brigade, Second
Division of the Fifth Army Corps, comprising the Eighth and
Twenty-second Regular Infantry and the Second Massachusetts Volunteers.”
Chaplain Fitzgerald had the respect of all the officers and men of the
brigade for his earnest devotion to their interests and for his
unflinching courage during the progress of the battles at El Caney and
San Juan, where he confronted danger at every turn and amid shot and
shell attended to the needs of the wounded. He won for himself a name
unequaled in bravery by that of any other chaplain in the Santiago
campaign. While he was not wounded, his clothing showed the effect of
the mausers.
During the time of disease, a horror of war more trying than battle, he
was unceasing in his labors for the sick, going from one end of the
brigade to the other daily, and reeking with sweat during the heat of
the day. His cheerful countenance and kindly disposition in his daily
work brought comfort and true sunshine to many a drooping soldier
irrespective of creed or race. Colonel Clark, Second Massachusetts
Volunteers, says of him: “One of God’s noblemen,” and Adjutant Hall,
Twenty-second Infantry, in speaking of him, said that he was the “salt
of the earth.” The officers and men of the brigade are unstinted in his
praise, and his name will ever be cherished with reverence, respect and
good wishes by his comrades in the Santiago campaign, the rank and file
of the unassuming volunteers of the Second Massachusetts. I am satisfied
that a study of the men who fought on land and on the sea in the war
with Spain, will be highly creditable to our people.
[Illustration:
MR. JOHN D. O’BRIEN,
Of Minnesota.
Residence, ST. PAUL.
]
[Illustration:
REV. M. C. LENIHAN,
Of Iowa
Residence, MARSHALLTOWN.
]
[Illustration:
MR. EDWARD FITZPATRICK,
Of Kentucky.
Staff of the _Louisville Daily Times_.
]
[Illustration:
MR. MICHAEL GAVIN,
Of Tennessee.
Residence, MEMPHIS.
]
FOUR STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS.
THE “SCOTCH-IRISH” AND “ANGLO-SAXON” FALLACIES.
BY JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE, BOSTON, MASS.
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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