Thread by @irishacw

This is one of the very best images of Irish troops from the American Civil War. Surprisingly, it's not very well known, despite Thomas Francis Meagher's presence. Taken in the summer of 1861, it contains lots of fascinating details. A short🧵on some of them👇#IrishDiaspora

This is Meagher before he was a General, taken only a short time before he and the men around him - Zouaves attached to the 69th New York State Militia as Company K - would see action for the first time at the Battle of Bull Run on 21 July 1861.

The image offers incredible detail of some of the men. Many would have been born in Ireland, and many, if not most, would have been Famine emigrants. The “69” on their caps is clearly visible, as is a white Havelock (left), which some of the 69th NYSM wore at Bull Run.

Another detail of some of the Irishmen’s faces, with the “69” visible on their kepis. It is likely that a number of these men became casualties during the heavy fighting experienced by the unit at Bull Run.

A detail of one of the 69th New York State Militia drummer boys, a reminder of the age-ranges of some of those Irish who marched off to war. He may have been born in Ireland, or perhaps more likely into the Irish American community in New York.

A focus on one of the 69th Irishmen. His uniform is that of one of the Company K "Zouaves", so designated due to the Zouave craze that swept the U.S. just before the war. He is wearing a blue Zouave jacket with red embroidering, making him highly distinctive on the battlefield.

Another close-up of one the 69th Zouaves in his distinctive jacket. This image provides us with what is surely the best view of ordinary members of the 69th New York State Militia at the time of Bull Run.

The image is available through J. Paul Getty Trust Open Content Program. You can read the original post about it and it's contents here: irishamericancivilwar.com/2018/03/02/pho…