Author and soldier; born in
Oldcastle, Ireland, Nov. 20, 1829; graduated at Trinity College,
Dublin, in 1846; emigrated to the
United States in 1850; was connected at various times with the Boston
Post, New York
Herald, New York
Times, New York
Leader, and New York
Tribune.
He enlisted in the 69th New York Infantry at
[
206]
the beginning of the
Civil War, and reached the rank of brigadier-general.
After the war he established the
Citizen.
He was best known under his nom de plume miles
O'Reilly.
He was the author of the well-known lyric beginning:
Tear down the flaunting lie!
Half-mast the starry flag!
He died in New York City, Aug. 3, 1868.
