“The body of another of our brave volunteers killed at the storming of Missionary Ridge, that of Lieut. James Conway, of Co. A, 90th Illinois, arrived home yesterday morning. He was a brave soldier, a young man as we learn of excellent character and highly respected. We learn in regard to the deceased that he fell with his face to the foe, shot in two places, and was found with a revolver in one hand and his sword in the other.”

MISSIONARY RIDGE – 1864

Late on November 25th 1863 part of the Union Army under the command of the newly appointed General Ulysses S Grant were in the midst of a bloody and violent contest to gain control of a vital military position near Chattanooga, Tennessee called Missionary Ridge. Grant wanted to take the ridge as soon as possible but was aware that the positions held by the defending Confederate Army were formidable. He also knew that any attempt to storm the Ridge would surely lead to huge casualties for his Army. But Ulysses S Grant was a man of action and having now gained full control of the Union Armies in the Western theatre of the war he was not going to shy away from any chance to inflict a defeat on the Confederate Army. He had already ridded himself of the previous Union Commanders whose timid actions, in his view, had allowed the Confederates to take control of these vital mountains and ridges and replaced them with men he could trust. Namely General George Thomas and General William Tecumsah Sherman. Grant hoped that these were men of action just like himself. But more importantly that these were men who could make quick choices on their own and not allow indecision to delay the actions that were needed to win a battle. He would prove to be correct in his assessment of these men in particular and their appointments would over the next 2 years prove vital to him and to the Unions cause.

General Thomas’ and his Army of the Cumberland were ordered to try to take the “rifle pits” at the base of Missionary Ridge and therefore prevent the Confederates movements towards the north end of Missionary ridge where General Sherman’s Army of the Tennessee were already busy mountin attacks but meeting fierce resistance. Among the several units being used by Sherman in these attacks was the 90th Illinois Infantry also known as The Irish Legion due to the large number of Irish within its ranks. Lieutenant James Conway from Birr in County Offaly was in The Irish Legion on that day in November 1863. James was shot twice and killed on Missionary Ridge and died with his gun and sword still in his hand fighting to the end. He was only 21 years of age. Later reports on James Conway state – “He was a brave soldier of excellent character and highly respected”.

While James Conway’s unit was struggling at the Northern end of Missionary Ridge their comrades in the Army of the Cumberland under General Thomas had just taken possession of “The rifle pits” but were now wide open to the Confederate’s heavy artillery fire from high above them on the ridge. In a surprise and unplanned move, instead of staying at the rifle pits at the bottom of the hill and without clear and specific orders to do so, the Union soldiers charged up to the top of Missionary Ridge and drove the Rebels back in disarray. Just like their Commanding officers the soldiers had become “men of action” and taken the fight to the enemy. The Rebel’s would retreat down the mountain and throughout the night and next morning would make their way South towards the state of Georgia. The had lost control of the State of Tennessee.

Photograph Courtesy of Library of Congress

It would be February of the following year before James Conway’s body would eventually be brought back to the state of Illinois and to his home town of Rockford. He had been a well known member of this community before the war and had secured a job as a Clerk in the JB King Company of Rockford before enlisting in the Army in 1861. He had quickly been appointed as a Lieutenant in his Company which demonstrates he had shown bravery and leadership in his short army career. That bravery and leadership was in full view on the slopes of Missionary Ridge on 25th November 1863.

Lieutenant James Conway, born in Birr in 1842, is buried in St. Mary’s and St’ James Cemetery in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois in a plot that today is unmarked. Hopefully soon we will be able to place the Offaly flag on the grave on another one of America’s Offaly Heroes.

By Kevin Guing – 13/2/2025

Go to James Conway Page for more details