A commemoration to Colonel Thomas J. KELLY & the Manchester Martyrs. Originally produced for the Sesquicentennial procession and program, Sunday, April 23, 2017, 3:00PM at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY.

The careers of the senior Army officers at the end of the nineteenth century were highlighted by extreme self-sacrifice and devotion to duty and country, but history has largely forgotten these patriots. One of these officers was Brigadier General Samuel M. Whitside, a distinguished cavalry officer who faithfully served his nation from 1858 to 1902. He commanded at every level from platoon to department for thirty-two of his forty-three years in service, including Army posts, such as Camp Huachuca, Jefferson Barracks, and Fort Sam Houston, the Departments of Eastern Cuba and Santiago and Puerto Principe, Cuba, a provisional cavalry brigade, the 10th and 5th Cavalry Regiments, a squadron in the 7th Cavalry Regiment, and a troop and platoon in the 6th Cavalry Regiment. The pinnacle of his career was serving as the Commanding General of the Department of Eastern Cuba before retiring in June 1902 as a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. Despite his many contributions to the Army during his forty-three years of service, most history books record only two events during his career: the founding of Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and his role as a battalion commander at the Battle of Wounded Knee Creek. While these two events are arguably the most noteworthy in Whitside’s four decades in the U.S. cavalry, a look at his entire career provides an insight into the great personal sacrifices that the officers and their families made in the frontier Army in the later half of the nineteenth century. This thesis will show that a century after his retirement from the Army, Brigadier General Samuel M. Whitside’s lifetime in uniform stands as a hallmark of selfless service to not only his descendants, but more importantly, to all military officers serving and yet to serve.

The dissertation examines allegations that Fenians deliberately joined the Liverpool Irish Rifle Volunteer Corps (64th LRV) during the second half of the 1860s in order to gain access to military training and weapons. Chapter one examines the development and social compositions of the Irish community in Liverpool, the Fenian movement and the 64th LRV. Some common features are found in the Fenian and Rifle Volunteer movements, especially relating to the social class and aspirations of the membership which may have been as significant to them as political allegiance. Chapters two and three examine the progress of Fenianism in Liverpool and the repeated links found with the 64th LRV. The efforts made by Colonel Bidwill, the commanding officer, to prevent Fenian sympathies in his Corps are examined, as is the role which he saw for his unit in improving the political and social behaviour of his recruits. Chapter four examines Colonel Bidwill’s political career at a time when the influence of the Catholic Liberals which he represented was declining both nationally and more especially in the Irish community. Chapter five concludes that there is not evidence that the majority of members of the 64th LRV held Fenian membership but that the social role of the two organisations suggests that in both cases membership expressed as much social as political aspirations. The 64th LRV is offered as an organisation which contradicts the stereotyped view of the Liverpool Irishman.

Updated version of earlier paper. Including references to Resident Magistrates from Cork or who served there form c 1880 to 1922. Many entries updated.

Update of ealier paper.To my surprise it is cited a lot in academic papers as well as family history.

The Indian soldiers of the Second Battalion of the Twenty third Regiment and the First Battalion of the First Regiment of the Madras Native Infantry of the Army of the Madras Presidency of the Honourable East India Company mutinied on the night of 9th – 10th July 1806 at the Vellore fort, Tamil Nadu, India. The mutineers killed many British officers and soldiers. The mutiny was suppressed brutally by the British Dragoons. Short biographical sketches of the British officers who were present and information about history of the army units present is given as appendices.