An Irishman in the 61st Ohio - A Veterans Day Tribute

Recently, I restarted a research project I had started during my time at Gettysburg concerning the Union and Confederate Dead of that battle. I've been going through the Union pension files that can be found online at NARA. Usually, they are pretty standard things, but every once and awhile you can find some great documents, including letters the soldiers wrote home to their families (one such set of letters, those of Nelson W. Jones, have been periodically featured on this blog).

Thomas Gilleran was born in County Roscommon, Ireland around 1819. When he was approximately 21 years old, he married Honora on May 23, 1840. Eventually, the couple made their way to the States like many other Irish did during the Potato Famine and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. By 1860, Thomas worked as a day laborer in the city.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Thomas volunteered for the Union Army and was mustered in the 61st Ohio Infantry on September 18th, 1861, joining Company F. Thomas participated in many of the well-known battles of the Eastern Theater with the 61st, starting with the 1862 Shenandoah Campaign through 2nd Manassas and Chancellorsville. Moving north in Summer 1863, the 61st Ohio was part of Gen. Alexander Schimmelfennig's brigade in the Union Eleventh Corps.

On the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the 61st Ohio battled Confederates north of the Pennsylvanian town before being driven back through the streets to Cemetery Hill.

The 61st Ohio's Monument at Gettysburg (Stone Sentinels)

The next day, the 61st Ohio watched and waited on Cemetery Hill. As the day came to a close, soldiers cooked their dinners, and waited for the next fury of action. One of the regular cooks had fallen ill, so Thomas Gilleran had be detailed to help the cooks deliver coffee to the weary troops. On his way back to the mess, Gilleran was shot by the enemy fire and was mortally wounded. Filleran would linger three more days at the Eleventh Corps hospital at George Spangler's farm before dying on July 5th, 1863. His first resting place was the Spangler Farm before he was disinterred and buried in the new National Cemetery which is nearing its 150th anniversary in a few weeks. 

The Marker for Thomas Gilleran, located in Gettysburg National Cemetery, Ohio Plot C-9

When family and friends made inquiries regarding Gilleran's death, his captain, William H. McRoarty wrote the following letter:

                                August 17 of 63

                                Camp at Warrenton Junction

                W H Scott

                                Sir in answer to your

letter of the 15th inst in relation to the

death of Thos Gilleran the circumstances

are these he was killed on the 2nd of

July in the evening being detailed to help

the cooks bring coffee to the men he was

killed whilst carrying the kettles back to where

they were cooking after the men had finished

their supper the reason of his helping the cook at

the time was on account of one of them being sick

                                                I Remain yours

                                                Respectfully

                                                W H Mcroarty

                                                Capt Co F 61 Regt OVI

Honora Gilleran soon applied for a widow's pension due to her husband's death, which is where the majority of the information for Thomas Gilleran and the letter above was found. Mrs. Gilleran eventually was approved to recieve a $8 a month pension for her husband's "last measure of devotion" on the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Thanks to Thomas Gilleran, who gave his life in the service of his country on July 2, 1863, and all the other soldiers, known and unknown, who died fight for the cause of freedom. On this Veteran's Day, thank you for your service.

 

Sources:

Widows' Pension File for Thomas Gilleran (WC16221), National Archives

1860 Census, National Archives

John Busey, These Honored Dead: Union Casualties at Gettysburg, Longstreet House, 1989.