Lincoln and the Irish: The Untold Story of How the Irish Helped Abraham Lincoln Save the Union

When Pickett charged at Gettysburg, it was the all-Irish Pennsylvania 69th who held quick whereas the encircling regiments broke and ran. And it was Abraham Lincoln who, a yr earlier at Malvern Hill, picked up a nook of one of many Irish colours, kissed it, and mentioned, “God bless the Irish flag.”

Lincoln and the Irish untangles one of the crucial fascinating subtexts of the Civil Conflict: Abraham Lincoln’s relationship with the women and men coming to America to flee the Irish famine.

Famend Irish-American journalist Niall O’Dowd offers unprecedented perception right into a relationship that started with mutual disdain. Lincoln noticed the Irish as instinctive supporters of the Democratic opposition, whereas the Irish noticed the English landlord class in Lincoln’s Republicans. However that dynamic would evolve, and the Lincoln whose first political actions included intimidating Irish voters on the polls would ultimately rent Irish nannies and donate to the Irish famine fund. When he was voted into the White Home, Lincoln surrounded himself with Irish workers, a lot to the chagrin of a senior aide who complained in regards to the Hibernian cabal. And the Irish would repay Lincoln’s religion—their numbers and braveness would assist swing the Civil Conflict in his favor, and amongst them could be a few of his greatest generals and staunchest advocates.