★ Corcoran, Michael

Michael Corcoran​

Born: September 21, 1827

Birthplace: near Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland

Father: Thomas Corcoran 1785 – 1845

Mother: Mary McDonagh 1805 – 1854

Wife: Elizabeth Heaney 1830 – 1863

(Buried: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York)​

Occupation before War:

Served with the Revenue Police​

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Member of the guerrilla group called the Ribbonmen​

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1849: Immigrated to the United States from Ireland​

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Clerk at Hibernian House in Manhattan, New York​

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Private in 69th​ New York State Militia​

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1859 – 1862: Colonel of 69th​ New York State Militia​

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One of the Founders of the Fenian Brotherhood in America​

Civil War Career:

1861: Facing Court Martial for his role against England's Edward VII​

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1861: Colonel of 69th​ New York Militia Regiment​

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1861: Served in the Washington, D.C. Defenses building Fort Corcoran​

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1861: Wounded and Captured at the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1861 – 1862: Prisoner of War held by the Confederate Army​

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Selected for execution lot in The Enchantress Affair​

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1861 – 1863: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1862: Refused the offer of parole​

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1862 – 1863: Division Commander at Suffolk, Virginia in 7th​ Corps​

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1863: Involved in accident that led to killing of Edgar A. Kimball​

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1863: Division Commander in the Union, Department of Virginia​

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1863: Brigade Commander in King's Division, 22nd​ Army Corps​

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1863: Division Commander in 22nd​ Army Corps​

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1863: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

Died: December 22, 1863

Place of Death: Fairfax Court House, Virginia

Cause of Death: Fracture of the base of the skull when thrown from a runaway horse

Age at time of Death: 36 years old

Burial Place: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York

Officers of the 69th New York Volunteer Regiment pose with a cannon at Fort Corcoran in 1861. Michael Corcoran at left​

 

[Pollaco]

That court martial he was facing at the very beginning of the war was for a 1859 incident when Corcoran refused to call out his militia regiment in honor of a visit by England's Prince of Wales , the future Edward VII. As an Irishman he was probably opposed to almost anything or anyone "British" at the time. The militia proceedings were however dropped to allow him to volunteer for federal service.

 

[Pollaco]

From Bull Run to August 1862 he was held captive by the Confederates.

 

[Pollaco]

That E. A. Kimball was Lt. Colonel Edgar A. Kimball of the Hawkins Zouaves (9th Zouave N.Y. regiment).

 

[Luke Freet]

Michael Corcoran​

View attachment 373796

Born: September 21, 1827

Birthplace: near Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland

Father: Thomas Corcoran 1785 – 1845

Mother: Mary McDonagh 1805 – 1854

Wife: Elizabeth Heaney 1830 – 1863

(Buried: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York)​

Occupation before War:

Served with the Revenue Police​

​

Member of the guerrilla group called the Ribbonmen​

​

1849: Immigrated to the United States from Ireland​

​

Clerk at Hibernian House in Manhattan, New York​

​

Private in 69th​ New York State Militia​

​

1859 – 1862: Colonel of 69th​ New York State Militia​

​

One of the Founders of the Fenian Brotherhood in America​

Civil War Career:

1861: Facing Court Martial for his role against England's Edward VII​

​

1861: Colonel of 69th​ New York Militia Regiment​

​

1861: Served in the Washington, D.C. Defenses building Fort Corcoran​

​

1861: Wounded and Captured at the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

​

1861 – 1862: Prisoner of War held by the Confederate Army​

​

Selected for execution lot in The Enchantress Affair​

​

1861 – 1863: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

​

1862: Refused the offer of parole​

​

1862 – 1863: Division Commander at Suffolk, Virginia in 7th​ Corps​

​

1863: Involved in accident that led to killing of Edgar A. Kimball​

​

1863: Division Commander in the Union, Department of Virginia​

​

1863: Brigade Commander in King's Division, 22nd​ Army Corps​

​

1863: Division Commander in 22nd​ Army Corps​

​

1863: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

Died: December 22, 1863

Place of Death: Fairfax Court House, Virginia

Cause of Death: Fracture of the base of the skull when thrown from a runaway horse

Age at time of Death: 36 years old

Burial Place: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York

View attachment 373797
Officers of the 69th New York Volunteer Regiment pose with a cannon at Fort Corcoran in 1861. Michael Corcoran at left​

Corcoran was, second only to Tom Meagher, the most prominent Irishman in the Union army at the start of the war. He raised a second Irish Brigade (named the Irish Legion), which saw action at Suffolk and in the later stages of the Overland Campaign.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Saint Patrick's Day General Corcoran!

 

[Pollaco]

That incident involving the "accidental" killing of Edgar Kimball happened on April 12, 1863. I'm a bit puzzled how it can be called an accident.Lt. Col. Kimball physically blocked the road a after a sentry refused to let General Corcoran and his party pass without giving the countersign.After words of altercation a shot rang out and Col. Kimball fell dead from a bullet from Gen. Corcoran's pistol. How is that an accident? By the way this information was obtained from an article titled "The Murder of Lt. Colonel Edgar Kimball".

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Michael Corcoran! Salutes remembering General Corcoran on his birthday.

 

[Luke Freet]

Corcoran seems to be the war's forgotten Irishman.

 

[Pollaco]

The Enchantress Affair is a bit of Civil War History worth looking into. No executions resulted from this incident but Corcoran was selected by lot as one of the 14 prisoners to be executed in retaliation for the hanging of 14 privateers from the ship C.S.S. Enchantress. He was offered parole if he agreed to never take up arms against the Confederacy. He refused. His refusal got him some attention in the Northern Press,including the President's. Upon his release he was invited to dinner by Lincoln.