HE WAS A MEMBER OF COMPANY D, 125TH NEW YORK INFANTRY, BRANDED “THE HARPERS FERRY COWARDS” FOR THEIR SURRENDER IN SEPTEMBER OF 1862 – THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG WAS THEIR MOMENT OF REDEMPTION
Monument to the 125th New York Regiment at Gettysburg
John Eagan from Ferbane was 21 years of age in August 1862 when enlisting at Troy, New York into Company D of the 125th New York Infantry. He had no way of knowing that the next 2 years of his life would be a whirlwind of success, failure, freedom and captivity. Only a month after enlisting John’s regiment were present at Harpers Ferry in West Virginia at one of the most embarrassing moments for the Union Army during the entire Civil War. Over 12,000 soldiers, including James Eagan, were forced to surrender to the Confederate forces under General “Stonewall” Jackson as a result of a controversial decision made by their commanding officer Dixon Stansbury Miles. On September 15th 1862, After 3 days of fighting a weary Miles, who some of his men accused of being drunk on duty, held a council of war with his fellow commanders and decided to surrender. Just as the white flag was being prepared a shell exploded close to Miles which left him mortally wounded and he died the next day.
As a result of this surrender these New York Regiments were dubbed “The Harper’s Ferry Cowards” and would have to wait for a chance to redeem themselves as they trudged off to be held captive by the Confederates. Over the next 2 months the men were exchanged for Southern soldiers and were back at Washington DC nursing their wounded pride and no doubt itching for a chance to redeem themselves. That chance would come at The Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863.
Over the 3 days of fighting at The Battle Of Gettysburg the 125th New Yorkers would perform with extreme bravery and be involved in several important actions. Their most notable involvement would come on the last day of the battle when Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered a risky charge up Cemetery Ridge. The men of the 125th were positioned behind a stone wall facing the Confederate advance. General George Pickett would lead that fateful charge and it would prove to be a bloodbath. While the defending Union Army suffered 1,500 casualties, more than half of 12,500 Confederate soldiers sent on what would become known as Picketts Charge were either killed or wounded. Offaly’s James Eagan was one of the Union casualties during this assault and was taken prisoner by the retreating Confederate Army on the 3rd of July 1863.
Edwin Forbes Pickett’s Charge – Pickett’s Charge – Wikipedia (Forbes, Edwin, 1839-1895, artist. – Library of Congress print,)
James Eagan was back in captivity but this time he had no chance of being exchanged for Confederate prisoners. The previous system that had existed between the two armies had by then broken down and as a result James would find himself eventually housed at the notorious Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Being an inmate at this prison was as close to a death sentence for any soldier during the Civil War. The severe overcrowding and unhygienic conditions that existed there would lead to the deaths of almost 13,000 Union Soldiers. Almost a year after being captured at Gettysburg James Eagan died at Andersonville on 1st July 1864 at only 23 years of age. It is with a sense of irony that while this week marks the 162nd Anniversary of The Battle Of Gettysburg it also coincides with the 161st Anniversary of the death of James Eagan, a Union Soldier from Ferbane in County Offaly.
Andersonville Prison – Andersonville Prison – Wikipedia
It is with thanks to Dr. Damian Sheils from irishamericancivilwar.com that we now know what happened to this soldier from Ferbane in County Offaly. His amazing work in tracing the Irish dead at Andersonville Prison is an invaluable and vital source for all students of the American Civil War. It is solely Damian and his team that were able to pinpoint the grave of this Offaly man and uncover his story. His is just one of the many stories they have recorded and we would encourage people to visit the site and browse the many stories not just in relation to Andersonville Prison.
Kevin Guing
4th July 2025
For more on this soldier visit his page: John Eagan – americasoffalyheroes.com
For more reading on Offaly and The Battle of Gettysburg:
Offaly and the Battle of Gettysburg – Americasoffalyheroes
