The Civil War Person I Would Most Like to Converse with – Thomas Francis Meagher

Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage? Thomas Francis Meagher

By Terry McHale
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: The subject of the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate at the January 2025 Roundtable meeting was: “Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage?” Five members made presentations on the topic; the article below was one of those five presentations.


The date is May 20, 1863. The location is Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher’s quarters on the Rappahannock River outside Fredericksburg, Virginia. Several of us have gathered to mark the general’s last day in command of his famed Irish Brigade – a brigade that has proven its mettle at every battle fought by the Army of the Potomac since Bull Run. Aside from myself, there are a small number of somber “well-wishers” including Colonel Patrick Kelly, who will be promoted to lead the shell of this once proud brigade, and Father William Corby, who is on leave from his teaching position at the University of Notre Dame to serve as the brigade’s chaplain.

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