We can link 7 Offaly men to the Battle Of Antietam in September 1862. As Members of “The Fighting Irish” they will each experience the horrors of war as they bravely attack Confederate defensive positions along “The Sunken Road”. Antietam will decimate the ranks of “The Fighting Irish”.
The story of William Keenan, an Irish soldier from Offaly, emerged after 160 years of obscurity. Born around 1839, he fought in the US Civil War, participating in key battles. Later, he experienced personal struggles, leading to his demise in 1869, leaving behind a remarkable yet lonely legacy. His contribution is now recognized.
Patrick Craven, an Irish immigrant, served in the Union Army during the Civil War but died of yellow fever in 1866. His wife, Mary Kilraine, displayed remarkable determination, appealing to President Lincoln for her husband’s release and later serving as a laundress in the army. She continued her life resiliently after his death.
Patrick Byrne, a Color Sergeant of Co. C, 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery, served bravely during the Civil War. He was wounded in April 1865 at the Third Battle of Petersburg but astonishingly recovered. After the war, he returned to Castleton, Vermont, where he lived a quiet life until his death in 1894.
