The Irish in the American Civil War
Intended for adults.
The American Civil War is Ireland’s forgotten conflict. In 1860, about 1.5 million Irish were living in the United States. During the American Civil War, some 150,000 Irish men fought in the Union Army and about 20,000 joined and fought with the Confederacy. Although there are no exact figures of the Irish soldiers who died, it most likely ran to thousands. Sadly, the contribution and experiences of the huge number of Irish soldiers remains somewhat unknown. Join historical reenactor and lecturer Michael Jesberger for a presentation on these “Sons of Erin” who played a major role in the American Civil War.
Presenter: Michael Jesberger is an independent military historian who specializes in the American Revolution and Civil War time periods. He is a member of numerous history-based organizations and active in the reenactment community.