An Unauthorized Trip Off Site Led to A Terrible And Fatal Accident

Michael Condon enlisted into the 3rd Light Artillery Regiment of the Regular Union Army in 1860 at San Francisco, California. His enlistment record gives his age as 28 and also, vitally, confirms his place of birth as “Kings County, Ireland”. This was the former name given to County Offaly in Ireland while under British rule. His regiment would be stationed for the entire US Civil War in San Francisco and in particular at Fort Alcatraz. This was before that famous location became known as the most secure prison in the United States. During the Civil War Alcatraz Island was a military fortification with over 80 large canons mounted on its peripheries guarding the entrance to San Francisco Bay. The fort was also used as an arsenal storing a range of firearms protecting them from falling into the hands of any Confederate sympathizers. Even though there were tensions in the California area at the outbreak of the Civil War and a big concern that the fortification could be taken by Confederates, as it transpired, those large cannons mounted on the Island were never fired in battle during the conflict. At its peak about 430 soldiers were stationed on the Island with a view to manning the cannons should any attempt be ever made to attack San Francisco. One of those solders was Michael Condon from Offaly and cannons would eventually lead to his demise under a completely bizarre set of circumstances.

Records show that Michael’s term of service ran out in February of 1864 and that he immediately re-enlisted for a further three years. He was now a member of Company K of the 2nd Light Artillery Regiment and also promoted to the rank of Corporal. He was also transferred to a new post at Fort Point which was also at the entrance to San Francisco and is close to where the Golden Gate Bridge now stands. Fort Point is today a National US Historic Site. As a Corporal he more than likely had command of a small squad of men with responsibility for manning one cannon at the fort. He would continue in this role until, ironically, the 4th July of 1867. While everyone in America was celebrating Independence day things would begin to go horribly and fatally wrong for Michael Condon.

On the 1st July 1867 Michal Condon and a fellow soldier, John Peterson, left their posts without permission and headed into the city of San Francisco where they would remain absent without leave for the next 3 days. On their return to Fort Point on the early morning of the 4th of July, slightly the “worse for wear”, both were placed under arrest and confined to one of the barracks cells. The two men quickly escaped and decided again to presumably leave the fort and desert the army for good. Reports later state that neither men passed the sentinel on duty at the main gate to the fort at any time after their arrest.

Michael Condon and John Peterson, knowing the layout of the fortifications, climbed into a parapet that housed one of the cannons, with a view no doubt, to escape when the coast was clear. The two men would without doubt have known that a salute was fired from these cannons at Fort Point each morning. Maybe it was as a result of still being not being as “clear headed” as normal that they presumed the salute had already being given. It would prove to be a fatal error for both men as the lethal cannon they were now sitting directly in front of was fully loaded and ready to fire.

The inquest that was held on Saturday 6th July 1867 states that the horribly mutilated bodies of Michael Condon and John Peterson were found 20 Feet from the mouth of the cannon and that their injuries made them almost unrecognizable.

The cause of death for both men was deemed as accidental. It was a terrible end for a man who had served the Union Army well for seven years but whose final few days of madness in July of 1867 had led to his unfortunate and bizarre death

Michael Condon is buried in San Francisco National Cemetery and his simple head stone references his regiment and his rank in the Union Army. No reference is made to his place of birth but we now know from his enlistment details that Michael was born in County Offaly, Ireland.

By Kevin Guing

Michael Condon is another soldier who we still aren’t sure of exactly where in County Offaly he was born. On checking records for that period there is a possibility that he was originally from the Killeigh area. If anyone has any information on this soldier that can help us confirm his birthplace please do let us know.

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