Fervor in the Pulpit

Inspires Enlistment After Church

In Auburn [New York], an Irish company was enrolled by sturdy Owen
Gavigan, one of the fighting captains of old Cayuga. It was
obtained in one day, on that memorable Sunday, April 21st,
That day Auburn was filled with almost tumultuous excitement
and patriotic ardor. War meetings were held in the streets,
some old six-pound cannon in the Armory were dragged out
by Kennedy’s men and fired, and flags floated from stores, houses
and spires all over the city. The clergy preached strong ser-
mons on the duty of preserving the Union. At the Church of
the Holy Family, that true patriot and talented preacher, Father
Michael Creedon, made a powerful address, and exhorted Irish-
men to enroll themselves among the defenders of the Union and
upholders of Liberty. This was in the old church on Chapel
street. After mass, sixty-five men went to the new church and
enlisted, and afterwards marching to the Armory in a body they
elected officers and organized. Wm. H. Boyle and Luke Bran-
nick were made lieutenants.

From Cayuga in the Field by Henry Hall and James Hall.

Where an Irish company signed up - Auburn, NY's "new" Holy Family church

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Quote of the Week

President LINCOLN knows no more of War than he does of Sanscrit …

New-York Times editorial, April 17, 1861

Sanscrit, I guess

The point of the editorial was that Lincoln had the common sense to entrust military strategy to General Winfield Scott. It seems that Lincoln, at least eventually, got the big picture – find generals who would relentlessly press the North’s advantages in manpower and material resources. This seems to follow from Lincoln’s relentless will to keep the union together.

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Some bigger than Auburn: The great Union meeting in Union Square, New York, April 20, 1861 (LOC - LC-USZ62-77629)