McConihe brothers

[luinrina]

John McConihe was born in Troy, New York on September 4, 1834 as fifth child of Judge Isaac McConihe and his wife Sarah Strong McConihe. The McConihe family originated from Scotland.

When John McConihe was 16 years old, he went to Union College in Schenectady, New York which he graduated in 1853. He then studied law with his father for a couple of months before attending Albany Law School. After graduation in 1855, he started his own law practice in his native town.

However, John McConihe soon desired to head west to the frontier. In 1857, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he began practicing law but soon spread out into other business ventures, such as land speculation and freight. In 1858, he founded a freighting business to Denver. He was furthermore involved in town development (he was one of the founders of Beatrice), had stock in Columbus and interests in Nebraska City, as well as owned lots in Omaha and Sioux City.

City of Omaha, c. 1861
courtesy of UNL Libraries​

He participated in the Pawnee War of 1859 as staff officer, when there were disputes between white settlers and the Pawnee Indians.

To supplement his income from land speculation, he also showed interest in local politics and worked in territorial government positions such as private secretary to Governors William A. Richardson and Samuel W. Black or as Notary Public and Master in Chancery. In 1860 he ran for mayor of Omaha but lost due to his association with Governor Black (Black wanting to keep the territory out of the slavery debate for which he was lambasted).

John McConihe was good friends with J. Sterling Morton, Secretary of Nebraska Territory from 1858 to 1861. He even asked Mrs. Caroline Morton for help in finding a wife.

Letter to J. Sterling Morton, 3 April 1860 (transcription under the link)


Prior to the Civil War, he discussed the tensions in letters.

"I do not know, I cannot see, what is to be the fate of our Country. Everything looks gloomy and dark to me in the future. Are we to subjugate the South and can it be done? If it is done, what have we accomplished? Will our Republican form of Government remain and how long must war continue? All these and many other questions bring gloomy forebodings to my mind."​

Letter to John Kellogg, 6 May 1861​

He believed the war could have been avoided, but he sided with the Union, declaring to

". . . bear aloft proudly the ensign of our Union, and never let the Stars and Stripes be trailed in the dust. Perish all first."​

Letter to John Kellogg, 6 May 1861​

After the war broke out, business went down. John McConihe remained in Nebraska for a while but was unable to pay his debts. In order to make money, he raised Company G for the 1st Nebraska Regiment in July 1861 and joined as its Captain. The regiment was originally formed to protect the settlers from Indian attacks after the U.S. Regular Army troops were withdrawn from Forts Kearny and Randall, but it was soon sent east to join the fight against the Confederacy and participated in the Missouri campaign.

The 1st Nebraska Infantry was a part of Ulysses S. Grant's forces during the attack on Fort Donelson but John McConihe was sent to Washington on official business. He contracted typhoid fever and returned to Troy, where he was confined at his father's house for almost six weeks. He recovered in time to fight at Shiloh where he was severely wounded in the arm.

(Transcribed) Letter to his father, Judge Isaac McConihe, 9 April 1862


During his recuperation, he traveled to Cincinnati and to Troy. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 169th New York Infantry (commanded by Colonel Clarence Buell) which was recruited in September and October 1862 in Troy and Staten Island. The regiment was stationed in the Washington Defenses until April 1863 when they were ordered to Virginia. They participated in the Siege of Suffolk in April/May 1863 and Dix's Peninsula Campaign in June/July 1863.

With the wounding of Colonel Buell in April 1863 at Edenton Road, Virginia, command of the 169th New York Infantry fell on John McConihe. He was appointed Colonel of the regiment on April 20, 1864.

In July 1863, the regiment was ordered to North Carolina where it participated in the Siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg as well as in operations against Fort Sumter and Charleston. In February 1864, the 169th New York went to Florida before being ordered back to Virginia in April 1864. The 169th New York participated in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign.

John McConihe's last battle was at Cold Harbor where his regiment was heavily engaged. He was shot on June 1, 1864. His last order was "Cease firing, fix bayonets and charge again." For gallantry and indomitable energy during the Siege of Charlestown and gallant charge at the Battle of Cold Harbor, John McConihe was brevetted Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers, dated the day of his death.

He had always planned on returning to Nebraska after the war, fondly remembering his time at the frontier.

"Oh; how I would like to go back and live over those pleasant days in Nebraska. But that cannot be. They are past and the old friends are separated scattered far & near. But I hope there is much pleasense [sic] in life yet for me & know there must be for you. So the clouds will clear away and there will be sunshine again."

Letter to J. Sterling Morton, 22 June 1862​

John McConihe is buried in Troy Oakwood Cemetery, together with his brothers Colonel Samuel McConihe and Major William McConihe.

Left to right, brothers John McConihe, William McConihe, and Samuel McConihe
courtesy of Shiloh Discussion Group​

Sources:
- UNL Libraries
- Find A Grave
- Civil War Voices Soldier Studies
- The New England Historical and Genealogical Registry: Volume 22 1868 (Google Books)
- wikipedia

 

[OldReliable1862]

Great article, @luinrina! No pressure, but I do hope there are more of these to come!

It's a pity, McConihe died so far away from his adopted Nebraska, like Sidney Johnston and Texas, and Patrick Cleburne and Arkansas.

 

[luinrina]

As a child John McConihe was always gentle, kind and patient, had a refined and sensitive nature, and always kept to the truth. He was never known to have deceived another. He early developed an interest in mechanics.

Contemporaries held him in high esteem. A few citations from his funeral services:

"Resolved, That in the early demise of our fellow-townsman, Col. McConihe, the nation has lost a brave and patriotic defender, his regiment an accomplished and efficient commander, and the city of Troy one of its best beloved and most popular sons, who had, by his known integrity, recognized scholarly attainments, and fine social qualities of head and heard, conquered the respect and won the confidence of the masses of his fellow-citizens, and particularly those whose happiness it was to have known him intimately."
The Common Council

"Resolved, That as a lawyer he had achieved an honorable position, and was rapidly rising into eminence. Deeply read in the theory of the law, he possessed every qualification to insure its successful practice; zealous and indefatigable in behalf of his clients, conscientious, high-minded, and fearless in the discharge of his duties towards them; and that in abandoning, at the call of his country, a profession he was so well fitted to adorn, and in sacrificing its fast-accumulating rewards of wealth and honors, we recognize the attributes of the hero, the self-denial, the sterling worth, and the enthusiastic zeal that proclaims the devoted patriot."
The Rensselaer County Bar​

When the 169th New York returned home after the war, former Lieutenant William H. Merriam (also a war correspondent of the New York Herald), alluded to Col. McConihe

"Foremost among the noble fallen, let us on this auspicious occasion not fail to remember the patriotic services of that fresh young child of the republic, whose honored remains to-day rest, in the silence of death, in yonder Oakwood. Let us not forget that to the gallant Col. John McConihe was accorded the immortal privilege of falling on the field of battle, 'in the front rank of the peril,' in defense of an indispensable principle, and let it be ours to see to it that the memory of one who, in life no less than in death, twined around the historic features of the good old One Hundred and Sixty-Ninth New York so many amaranths of sempiternal fame and glory and honor, be not forgotten in all the hours that are to come and go. Unselfishly offering his life upon the altar of his country and its cause, let fragrant memories every cluster around the grave of our young, daring, and heroic leader."​

Source:
History of Rensselaer Co., New York by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, 1880 (p. 276-278) - available for free online at archive.org

 

[luinrina]

Samuel McConihe was a younger brother of Col. John McCohine. He was born September 8, 1836 in Merrimac, New Hampshire, as sixth child of Judge Isaac McConihe and his wife Sarah Strong McConihe.

He graduated Union College in 1856 and chose to follow his father's footsteps: he studied law.

When the Civil War broke out, he raised Company K of 93rd New York Volunteers (commanded by Colonel John Crocker who was captured during the Peninsula Campaign and exchanged in January 1864) and joined the Union as its Captain. Four about four months, the 93rd New York remained in Albany, then they spent two more months at Washington.

When General McClellan embarked for the Peninsula Campaign, the 93rd New York headed for Fort Monroe, attached to IV Corps (General Keyes), 3rd Division (General Casey), 3rd Brigade (General Palmer). The regiment participated in the Siege of Yorktown and Battle of Williamsburg, and was then attached to Army Headquarters as Provost Guards for the next two years.

93rd New York, Company K in August 1863.
The officers in front are (left to right) Captain Samuel McConihe, 1st Lieutenant Robert Robertson, and 2nd Lieutenant William Ball.
Courtesy of Tales from the Army of the Potomac​

Samuel McConihe was promoted to Major on December 3, 1863.

In April 1864 with the beginning of the Overland Campaign, the 93rd New York was assigned to the front lines as part of II Corps (General Hancock), 3rd Division (General Birney), 2nd Brigade (General Hays). When General Hays was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness, Colonel Crocker took command of the brigade and Samuel McConihe commanded the 93rd New York.

The regiment took a heavy beating in the Wilderness, assaulted the Salient at Spotsylvania, and was also engaged at the North Anna, Totopotomoy and Cold Harbor. It fought during the Siege of Petersburg (e.g. Jerusalem Plank Road, 1st and 2nd Deep Bottom, Hatcher's Run).

When Colonel Crocker was discharged on September 7, 1864, Samuel McConihe took command of the 93rd New York as Colonel. He mustered out in mid-February 1865, missing the fall of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign.

A year after the war, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in the 14th Infantry. He received promotion to Brevet Captain for gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of the Wilderness, to Brevet Major for gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Spotsylvania and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel for gallant and meritorious services during the war, all three brevets received in March 1867. On February 25, 1876 he was commissioned Captain, his certificate signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.

Military Commission Certificate, To: Samuel McConihe, Captain, 14th Regiment Signed: Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States and Alphonso Taft, Secretary of War, April 6, 1876
courtesy of Villanova University Falvey Memorial Library​

He served both at forts in the Eastern States as well as out west in the Territories, for instance fighting against the Ute Indians. In a letter to his mother he wrote

"He who thinks that the life of an army officer is one of ease should be subjected to some of the hardships and dangers through which I have passed while in the service of my country."​

He was described as a conscientious, brave, and ambitious officer as well as a man of the fine physique.

Samuel McConihe died on September 9, 1897 – one day after his 61st birthday. He is buried in Troy Oakwood Cemetery, alongside his brothers John and William.


Sources:
- History of Rensselaer Co., New York by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, 1880 - available for free online at archive.org
- Tales from the Army of the Potomac
- The Civil War in the East
- wikipedia

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

Anyone ignorant enough to say that our country is more divided than ever before needs to look no further than McConihe's letter to Kellog in 1861.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

' A man of fine physique ', don't you love it? Also get a kick out of how no one honorable ever lied to their mother, which had to raise mothers' eyebrows from coast to coast. ( Not saying one of these brothers ever did because we don't know, but if you had a child who never resorted to a good fib to Mom, you'd worry about them )

Terrific bios, thanks very much!

 

[luinrina]

William McConihe was an older brother of John and Samuel McConihe. He was born July 6, 1832 in Troy, New York, as fourth child of Judge Isaac McConihe and his wife Sarah Strong McConihe.

In 1858, he married Augusta Hovey at Racine, Wisconsin where he worked as clerk and/or was on the board of directors of the City Bank.

When the Civil War broke out, he mustered in on May 14, 1861 as Captain of Company I, 2nd New York Volunteer Militia (commanded by Col. Joseph B. Carr) for two years. The regiment was sent to Fort Monroe and participated in the Battle of Big Bethel. In August the regiment was ordered to Newport News where it spent the winter.

On January 1, 1862, Captain McConihe and a couple of other men were detailed on recruiting service. William McConihe rejoined his regiment end of May. The 2nd New York participated in the Seven Days battles and 2nd Bull Run, being assigned to III Corps (General Heintzelman), 2nd Division (General Hooker), 3rd Brigade. During the Maryland Campaign, the corps was left at Washington to rest and refit but it rejoined the Army of the Potomac in time for the Fredericksburg Campaign, where the 2nd New York as part of General Sickles' Division formed part of the reserves.

At Chancellorsville, many if not all of the regiment were hard-pressed to continue fighting since the two years of enlistment had elapsed and no orders had been received for the regiment's return home. When hearing about the refusal to fight, Joseph B. Carr, now Brigadier General and in charge of the division after Major General Hiram Berry had been killed on May 3, 1863, rode to his former regiment and expressed confidence in officers and men, stating he

"would rather return to Troy on one leg than have the good name of the regiment tarnished in the coming engagement."

History of Rensselaer Co., New York by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, 1880, p. 88​

The regiment was assigned to the brigade's reserves but soon had to join the fighting in which William McConihe was severely wounded in the chest.

The regiment returned to Troy on and was mustered out of service on May 26, 1862.

I have found neither what William McConihe did after his service in the Civil War, nor his death date. He is, however, buried in Troy Oakwood Cemetery, alongside his brothers John and Samuel.


Sources:
- History of Rensselaer Co., New York by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, 1880 - available for free online at archive.org
- New York State Military Museum
- Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin by Fanny S. Stone (p. 235) - available for free online at archive.org
- Civil War Muster Rolls For New York, American Wars.org