From Irish rebel to civil war general to governor of Montana
- the incredible story of Thomas Francis Meagher
It is quite a journey to come from being an Irish rebel to becoming governor of Montana. Yet, that is the story of the life of Thomas Francis Meagher who was born in the Mall, Waterford, Ireland on August 23rd, 1823, in what is today the Granville Hotel.
Meagher’s grandfather was a farmer from neighbouring County Tipperary who was evicted from his land for harbouring rebels after the 1798 rebellion against English rule. Forced to go on the run, he eventually ended up in the English colony of Newfoundland where he became a successful businessman trading with Waterford.
It is hard to believe, today, that a happening in a remote and beautiful Tipperary village in 1848, would connect and directly affect the outcome of one of the earliest true industrial wars. Namely the American Civil War (1861–1865), and the failed Irish Nationalist uprising just outside Ballingarry village, in Tipperary on July 29th, 1848, led by members of the Young Ireland movement, one of which was Thomas Francis Meagher, writer, patriot, convict, US general and acting governor of Montana
Ireland was at that time still under British rule which was bitterly resented by the Irish people and several rebellions (mostly unsuccessful until 1916) were launched over the years to drive the British out of Ireland.
Meagher could not return to Ireland as he was still wanted by the British, so he appointed his son Thomas (Thomas Francis Meagher’s father) to look after his business interests in Waterford in 1816. Thomas (Jnr) soon became an influential wealthy merchant and would later be elected twice as city mayor and later, spent ten years (August 1847 to March 1857) as a member of parliament for Waterford in British Westminster. He would also father a son and rebel, through his marriage to Alicia Quan (1798–1827).
This rebel, Thomas Francis Meagher, was born in the Mall, Waterford on August 23rd, 1823, in what is now the Granville Hotel.
Thomas Meagher was an outspoken critic of British rule in Ireland taking part in various acts of protest and attempts at armed rebellion and flying a new Irish flag, known as the tricolour, in Waterford. Meagher joined the Young Ireland movement, a radical group which published a seditious newspaper named The Nation, proclaiming Ireland’s right to independence. He soon came to the attention of the authorities and was tried for high treason and sentenced, along with his comrades, to be hung, drawn and quartered. However, due to public outcry the sentence was commuted to lifetime exile in Van Dieman’s land (now Tasmania) in July 1849.
STATESIDE
Meagher was held in an open prison along with many other Irish who had rebelled against British rule. This meant they had a certain amount of freedom provided they did not attempt to escape. In 1850, he managed to procure a boat and set out to sea leaving his wife, who was in poor health, behind. Picked up by an American whaling ship, he eventually landed in New Haven, Connecticut in January 1852.
From there, he travelled to New York in May 1852 to a great welcome from his fellow countrymen. Meagher had been well educated in Ireland and England before being deported, now he studied law and journalism and became a noted lecturer. Soon afterwards, Meagher became a United States citizen. He eventually founded a weekly newspaper called the Irish News.
His first wife died back in Ireland after giving birth to a son (whom Meagher would never meet) in 1854. Thomas married Elizabeth Townsend from Monroe, New York in 1856, a member of a wealthy family.
With the outbreak of the civil war, Thomas Francis Meagher made a major contribution to the Union side. Meagher raised men for the New York State Militia (the Fighting 69th) and would go on to raise the Irish Brigade and command it from 1862-1863. The Irish brigade fought at Fredericksburg and suffered huge losses at Antietam. At the Battle of Fair Oaks in May 31st/June 1st, 1862, Meagher first led the Brigade in battle. The Union won a defensive victory, and the Irish Brigade furthered their reputation as fierce fighters. Meagher’s brigade led the attack at Antietam where he was injured and fell off his horse.
The Irish represented the largest percentage of volunteers to fight for both the Union and the Confederacy, with an estimated 180,000+ Irish natives plus 400,000 Irish Americans taking part.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
After the civil war, Meagher was appointed secretary of Montana by President Andrew Johnson and later became acting governor of Montana Territory. He was involved in several assignments while serving in this role.
With sharply increased settlement in Montana Territory at the end of the American Civil War, incidents with Native Americans on Montana’s Benton Road and the Bozeman Trail increased dramatically. On May 4, 1867, G. S. Townsend of the U.S. War Department wrote to the acting territorial governor of Montana, Thomas Francis Meagher, on behalf of the U.S. Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, concerning raising a Montana Territorial Militia.
A volunteer militia of 80 men had already been recruited for service by the end of April 1867. This force had grown to 150 men by the end of May, mostly mounted horsemen. Acting Governor Meagher commissioned Thomas Thoroughman, an ex-Confederate lieutenant colonel, as brigadier general to command the Montana Militia in spring of 1867, and commissioned Walter W. De Lacy as colonel in May 1867, to assist in command.
Meagher left for Fort Benton, Montana sometime in June to receive a shipment of guns and ammunition sent by General William Tecumseh Sherman for use by the Montana Militia. On the way to Fort Benton, the Missouri river terminus for steamboat travel, Meagher fell ill and stopped for six days to recuperate. When he reached Fort Benton, he was reportedly still sick He disappeared under mysterious circumstances off the steamboat, the G. A. Thompson, at Fort Benton on July 1, 1867. Several theories exist to explain his disappearance. Was it an accident, murder or suicide? The two most discussed theories are accidental death by drowning. Meagher, who was now well and possibly had too much to drink, may have walked outside for a breath of fresh air before retiring and simply fell overboard.
Some historians argue that he was murdered and perhaps pushed overboard. Meagher had several political opponents in Montana at that time, one of his most vocal critics was Wilbur Fish Sanders, lawyer, future U.S. senator, founder and leader of the Alder Gulch Vigilante committee.
Eyewitness accounts swear that the two men spent that day together. Did they discuss politics? Did they have a serious disagreement that would provide a motive to have Meagher murdered? Whatever did happen on the night, his body was never recovered. The steamboat pilot described the waters that night as, “Instant death, water twelve feet deep and rushing at the rate of ten miles per hour”.
Either the accident or the murder theory are thought to be the most likely cause of his death. Historians argue over them to this day - we will never know the truth.
So ended the life of Thomas Francis Meagher at the age of 43, having lived a remarkable life as an Irish rebel, Union general and for a while acting governor of Montana.
Statues of Meagher on horse back were erected in his native city of Waterford in Ireland and in front of the state capitol building in Helena, Montana.