An Irishman in the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Memoirs of James P. Sullivan (Irish in the Civil War) [Paperback]

William J.K. Beaudot (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997 | Series: Irish in the Civil War (Book 3)

No soldier went off to the Civil War with quicker step than 17-year-old James Patrick Sullivan. A hired man on a farm in Juneau County, Wisconsin, he was among the first to anwer Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861. Sullivan fought in a score of major battles, was wounded five times, and was the only soldier of his regiment to enlist on three separate occasions. An Irishman in the Iron Brigade is a collection of Sullivan's writings about his hard days in President Lincoln's Army. Using war diaries and letters, the Irish immigrant composed nearly a dozen revealing accounts about the battles of his brigage-Brawner Farm, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg as well as the fighting of 1864. Using his old camp name, Mickey of Company K,Sullivan wrote not so much for family or for history, but to entertain his comrades of the old Iron Brigade. His stories-overlooked and forgotten for more than a century- are delightful accounts of rough-hewn Westernsoldiers in the Eastern Army of the Potomac. His Gettysburg account, for example, is one of the best recollections of that epic battle by a soldier in the ranks. He also left a from-the-ranks view of some of the Union's major soldiers such as George McClellan, Irvin McDowell, John Pope, and Ambrose Burnside. An Irishman in the Iron Brigade is in part the story of the great veterans' movement which shaped the nation's politics before the turn-of-the-century. Troubled by economic hardship, advancing age, and old war injuries, Sullivan turned to old comrades, his memories, and writing, to put the great experiences of his life in perspective.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William J. K. Beaudot has been a librarian in the Milwaukee Public Library system for nearly thirty years, and has nurtured an avid interest in the Civil War since the 1950's. He has published numerous articles, and with Lance J. Herdegen, has co-authored In the Bloody Railroad Cut at Gettysburg(1990.)

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Fordham University Press (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823215016
• ISBN-13: 978-0823215010
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,359,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JP, October 22, 2003

By 

Judith Sullivan Molzahn (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Irishman in the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Memoirs of James P. Sullivan (Irish in the Civil War) (Paperback)

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book for me, as I am the great-granddaughter of Mickey Sullivan, or "JP" as we Sullivans call him. I read this book before visiting Gettysburg and so was able to retrace his steps. Gettysburg has an surreal quality about it and still seems alive with the spirits of those who fought there. JP was fortunate to come home from that war. Books such as these that speak with the actual words of the soldiers help you to understand the times and the feelings of those who fought there.

Lance Herdegen brought my great-grandfather to life for me - an opportunity I would never have experienced if this book had not been written. I have also listened to Mr. Herdegen speak, telling stories about the Civil War, about the "Western" soldiers from Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Native Americans, who enlisted as "French-Canadians" since as native americans they were considered at that time to be "foreign" peoples...how incredible that seems to us now.

The Civil War will long hold interest and mystery. I think you will enjoy this book, as well as the others written by Lance Herdegen. He is a great authority on the Civil War

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful resource, December 9, 2003

By 

S. Ashford (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Irishman in the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Memoirs of James P. Sullivan (Irish in the Civil War) (Hardcover)

I must say I was thrilled to come across this book here. James Patrick Sullivan was my great-great grandfather and I knew little about my ancestors before. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a glimpse of a soldier's recollections of the War Between the States.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom, January 29, 2012

By 

Tom - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Irishman in the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Memoirs of James P. Sullivan (Irish in the Civil War) (Paperback)

I am very interested in the Iron Brigade, and this is one of the best books I have read on that subject. The book gives a lot of insight into what the life was like for a Civil War soldier.