A Private in the Irish Brigade at the Stone Wall at Fredericksburg

Pat Young

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Featured Book Reviewer
Joined
Jan 7, 2013
Location
Long Island, NY

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photo by @Buckeye Bill https://civilwartalk.com/threads/officers-of-the-famous-irish-brigade.116306/#post-1294158

Private William McCarter was an immigrant in the famous Irish Brigade. He and his comrades would make a heroic and futile charge against the Confederates secure behind the Stone Wall at the Battle of Fredericksburg. McCarter was hit during the charge, but not killed. This is his story of survival on the battlefield after the last Union attack had failed but the killing went on as wounded Union soldiers trapped between the lines were slowly exterminated.

https://longislandwins.com/columns/...rivate-william-mccarter-of-the-irish-brigade/
 
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Thanks for posting that Pat. Good read. I find Union accounts of Fredericksburg very difficult to read. I try to put myself in their shoes but it's just not possible to do as I read, sitting in my recliner drinking coffee.
 
True definition of insanity. Seeing your comrades being brought back basically slaughtered and knowing you are next. I find the use of sharpshooters to be extremely callous in killing wounded men already out of action. The fact that they were wounded was a plus in that it was going to occupy able bodied men to transport and tend to them.
 
Thanks for posting that Pat. Good read. I find Union accounts of Fredericksburg very difficult to read. I try to put myself in their shoes but it's just not possible to do as I read, sitting in my recliner drinking coffee.
Thanks. Unimaginable.
 
Pat as always well written and researched! Unimaginable horrors Private McCarter underwent and yet it was the norm for the wounded of both sides!
It is good that we are reminded about the courage and sacrifice of those willing to serve their nation in battle lest we forget or more distressingly take it for granted.
Regards
David
 
William McCarter survived the Irish Brigade’s attack on the Stone Wall at Fredericksburg, but just barely. The next article in our Fredericksburg series looks at McCarter in the crucial days after his wounding. What was medical care like and who provided it to the young immigrant?
Thank you for your articles in the above referenced column:
This one was really interesting to me:
https://longislandwins.com/news/national/why-did-the-irish-fight-when-they-were-so-despised-2/
 
View attachment 394536
photo by @Buckeye Bill https://civilwartalk.com/threads/officers-of-the-famous-irish-brigade.116306/#post-1294158

Private William McCarter was an immigrant in the famous Irish Brigade. He and his comrades would make a heroic and futile charge against the Confederates secure behind the Stone Wall at the Battle of Fredericksburg. McCarter was hit during the charge, but not killed. This is his story of survival on the battlefield after the last Union attack had failed but the killing went on as wounded Union soldiers trapped between the lines were slowly exterminated.

https://longislandwins.com/columns/...rivate-william-mccarter-of-the-irish-brigade/
Good read. I liken that series of assaults against the Sunken Road to our brave heroes who stormed Normandy.
 
View attachment 394536
photo by @Buckeye Bill https://civilwartalk.com/threads/officers-of-the-famous-irish-brigade.116306/#post-1294158

Private William McCarter was an immigrant in the famous Irish Brigade. He and his comrades would make a heroic and futile charge against the Confederates secure behind the Stone Wall at the Battle of Fredericksburg. McCarter was hit during the charge, but not killed. This is his story of survival on the battlefield after the last Union attack had failed but the killing went on as wounded Union soldiers trapped between the lines were slowly exterminated.

https://longislandwins.com/columns/...rivate-william-mccarter-of-the-irish-brigade/
Yes, excellent read. Thank You as well.
 
@Pat Young Thank you for posting this. I can't imagine the kind of courage it takes to stand in the line of battle like that, and at such close range, and exchange volleys with an enthusiastic enemy. Not to mention what they experienced afterwards. Some tough nuts in those days.

John
 
True definition of insanity. Seeing your comrades being brought back basically slaughtered and knowing you are next. I find the use of sharpshooters to be extremely callous in killing wounded men already out of action. The fact that they were wounded was a plus in that it was going to occupy able bodied men to transport and tend to them.
The shooting of wounded men at Fredericksburg may have been in response to the shooting of Confederates removing wounded at Sharpsburg by the Massachusetts Sharpshooters. I am not aware of prior
 
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