‘ A Soldier’s Tale’
SOME OF Sligo's most famous and forgotten soldiers are remembered in a new book by a local debutant author. Cian Harte, who was born and raised in Riverstown, released ‘ Soldiers of Sligo' last week. Harte, who has a masters in Ancient History, said the book was a gradual process.
“Over the years as I read general histories of Ireland and elsewhere I would randomly come across a Sligo born soldier or a soldier of Sligo ancestry. I remember randomly coming across one Captain Edward P. Doherty who was assigned to chase down the assassins of President Abraham Lincoln.”
Harte also pointed out how Sligo has taken part in some of the biggest battles in history.
“I found six Sligo born men fought alongside Custer against the Indians at the battle of Little Big Horn during my research. To find out that County Sligo had a role in such a pivotal and famous encounter spurned me on to research further and push this information out to as wide an audience as possible.”
The book also details some of the more well- known military figures that Sligo has produced including people such as Brigadier General Michael
Corcoran who led both the Fighting Irish 69th New York Regiment and Corcoran's Irish Legion during the American Civil War on the side of the Union.
Ambrosio O'Higgins, who was the Spanish colonial administrator/ viceroy of Peru in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, also features in the book.
As well as the more well- known figures is included ordinary rank and file soldiers who achieved extraordinary feats including Victoria Cross winners and Medal of Honour winners.
‘ Soldiers of Sligo' by Cian Harte is available in the Liber bookshop on O'Connell Street for € 14.99.