Military officer; born in
Waterford, Ireland, Aug. 3, 1823; was educated in
Ireland and in
England.
In 1846 he became one of the leaders of the
Young Ireland party.
He was already distinguished for his oratory, and was sent to
France to congratulate the
French Republic in 1848.
On his return he was arrested on a charge of sedition and held to bail.
Afterwards charged with treason, he was again arrested, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death.
That sentence was commuted to banishment for life to
Van Diemen's Land, from which he escaped, and landed in New York in 1852.
Lecturing with success for a while, he studied law, entered upon its practice, and in 1856 edited the
Irish news.
When the
Civil War broke out he raised a company in the 69th New York Volunteers, and, as major of the regiment, fought bravely at
Bull Run.
Early in 1862 he was promoted brigadiergeneral of volunteers, and served in the Army of the Potomac in the campaign against
Richmond that year.
He was in
Richardson's division in the battle of
Antietam.
Engaged in the desperate
battle of Fredericksburg, he was badly wounded.
Immediately after the battle of
Chancellorsville (q. v.) he resigned.
He was recommissioned brigadier-general of volunteers early in 1864, and was assigned to the command of the district of Etowah.
In 1865 he was appointed secretary, and
[
151]
in 1866 became acting governor of
Montana.
While engaged in operations against hostile
Indians, he was drowned at
Fort Benton, Mont., July 1, 1867.
