Lieutenant 2nd & 88th NY Vols. Irish Brigade, and Head Centre Fenian Brotherhood

Captain Thomas Henry O'Brien
"Faugh-a-Bellagh" The 88th New York Vols.
THO: Research by Michael Kane & Chris Carroll

Lt. Thomas H O'Brien, Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, Ireland April 18, 1866…….
"I have, therefore, fought and bled for the maintenance and perpetuation of American institutions, and I, who have sealed my citizenship with my blood, am going to be denied the protection and respect of that country."

Thomas Henry O'Brien
Born in County of Waterford, Ireland in ca March 1841, the son of Michael and Mary O'Brien, his family immigrating to Troy, New York in 1848. O'Brien, age 21 years; enrolled April 24, 186I, at Troy to serve two years; mustered in as First Lieutenant, Company H, May 14, I861, in the 2nd NYS Vols. He was engaged in the 1st Land Battle Big Bethel, VA June 10, 1861, before resigning due to conflict with Colonel Carr Nov. 3, 1861. O'Brien age 22 years, enrolled at New York City, to serve three years, and mustered in as Private, Company F, 88th NY Vols. on January 7, 1862, and was promoted to 1st Sergeant on the March 1862 rolls. Mustered as 2nd Lieutenant on September 13, 1862. He was wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862 slightly in the breast and severely at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862. His jaw was shattered and windpipe partially severed. He was dragged off Marye's Heights by Lt. J.W.Byron and two enlisted men. He was promoted 1st Lieutenant, January 21, 1863, and in Command of Company K in April 1863. Transferred and in Command of Company A June through August 1863. After recovering, he rejoined the 88th and was present at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He resigned his commission January 28, 1864.
Most of 1864 he spent as a student at Notre Dame, probably on the recommendation of Father Corby. He became Official Head Centre of The Fenian Brotherhood (Irish Republican Brotherhood) at Peekskill, New York in 1865.
In January of 1866, he was arrested in Belfast and in Dublin in February of 1866, with brother formal Federal officers leading an insurrection against British rule of Ireland. He spent over a year in Mountjoy Prison, and Naas Jail, returning to the States in 1867.
He married (1) Kate O'Hare (died Chicago Nov 6, 1888, Chicago, Ill, buried Troy, NY and (2) Mary V Johnson Nov. 9, 1890, Boston with no surviving children. He moved to Boston, Ma in the late 1880's and was employed as an Expressman. He lived in Sarasota, New York, Chicago, and died of cancer of the Larynx caused by his wounding at Fredericksburg in Boston June 19, 1900. He is buried in unmarked grave in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Roslindale, Ma. Thomas H O'Brien was buried on June 20, 1900. Grave lot is owned by a Patrick Donegan.
Burial Plot is: Section 1, Range 42, Lot 15. Occupation at death, insurance.

His name is remembered on the Fenian Monument, Harbinson Plot in the Milltown IRA Cemetery, Belfast, Ireland

He had a brother Patrick, his mother's maiden name was Welch.


Letter of Captain W. J. Nagle, to his father, dated Fredericksburg, December 14, 1862, in the New York
Irish American, December 27, 1862. He states that he, and his brother, Edmund, were unhurt. "The 88th Regt. this morning numbers ten officers and forty-one men." "Irish blood and Irish bones cover that terrible field today." "Lieutenant O'Brien, of my company (Company F) is, I believe, mortally wounded.

Letter of John Madigan, dated December 14, 1862, in the New York Irish American, December 27, 1862.
"This morning the whole five regiments together only muster 250 men."
"Major Horgan and Lieutenants Murphy (Company A) and O'Brien (Company F), of the 88th, are killed……..

The Wounding of Lt. Thomas Henry O'Brien (Fredericksburg)
Lt. John W. Byron of the 88th NY Vols
" That after a retreat was ordered and while on the retreat I saw O'Brien lying on the field with a wound in the neck which at the time I believed to be a mortal wound—with the assistance of one or two men removed O'Brien to a house near the base of Maries (Marye's) Heights unfastened his sword belt neck tie and collar, O'Brien apparently unconscious. I gave him water and as he attempted to swallow it , it leaked out of the orifice in his neck made by the bullet which had struck him—after staunching the wound as well as be could with a rag gave direction to one of his assistance to remain with O'Brien under all circumstances. I then left O'Brien never expecting again to see him alive."


After the war, Fr. William Corby who was Regimental Chaplain to the 88th NY wrote this about 88th N.Y.at Fredericksburg in his MEMOIRS OF CHAPLAIN LIFE.


"Needless to say, our brigade was cut to pieces. Many were seriously wounded and recovered later on, but for a time we had only the remnants of a brigade. I saw one of the officers, Lieut. O'Brien, of the Eighty-eighth shot in the neck, the ball coming out near the jugular vein. When he tried to eat a piece of ginger cake it partly came out through the hole made by the ball. Strange to say he recovered." page 132

Later Fr. Corby was elected the president of Notre Dame...no doubt the connection of Thomas H. O'Brien to Notre Dame came thru Chaplin Corby.


From: Lt. Thomas H. O'Brien
"I lay upon the field (Fredericksburg) for some time as was then taken to some house at the base of Marie's Heights by the assistance of some friends where I remained some two days and was then removed to the Regimental Hospital where I remained 2or 3 days and then was sent by rail to Aquila Creek and from thence Mount Pleasant Hospital in Washington D.C. where I remained upwards of a month when I obtained a leave of absence 40 days to visit home at Troy where I went and remained until the furlough had nearly expired when I applied to Dr. Mason S Lagsworth? Dept. Surgeon I had the furlough extended for 40 days and near the expiration of said furlough I reported to Camp at Falmouth, Va and when there about one week I had an operation performed Dr. T Reynolds Surgeon of the Regiment neck was then swollen to an alarming extent and the ball was extracted I was then granted a leave of absence for 20 days when I again came home at expiration of furlough reported again to Regt at Camp Falmouth I remained with Regt until discharge" 24, Jan 1864


Here are the names of Fenian Prisoners held in Belfast prison as
related on the Fenian Monument in Milltown Cemetary, Belfast. The
monument was primarily the work of Jimmy Steele, the veteran Belfast
IRA leader.
"The following are the names of the sufferers in the jails of County
Antrim in the course of the year, 1866/67.
"Officers of the US Army

Colonel Kelleher, Captain John P Dunne, Peter Healey, Captain Thomas H.
O'Brien, Lieutenant Patrick Hassan, Mark O'Niell
"In memory of Willian Harbinson, died in Crumlin Road Gaol, 9th
September, 1867

No. 86. — Report of Capt. Denis F. Burke, Eighty-eighth New York Infantry.

CAMP NEAR MORRISVILLE, VA.,
August 3, 1863.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to forward the following report of the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers during the action at Gettysburg, Pa., on July 2 and 3:

On the morning of the 2d, this advanced in line, and took up position on the left of the town of Gettysburg, in conjunction with the other regiments of this brigade. We held this position until about 5 p.m., when, the enemy having massed his forces on the left of our position, we were ordered to advance, and support the troops already in position there. We made our advance in brigade line of battle, being exposed during this time to a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. We steadily drove the enemy, charging repeatedly, and finally caused them to retreat in utter confusion, though we were opposed by a greatly superior force.

Both officers and men displayed the greatest gallantry and bravery, cheering and encouraging their comrades during the thickest of the fight. We drove the enemy for over half a mile through a thickly wooded and rocky country, and held our position until relieved by the Third Brigade.

The strength of the regiment entering the fight was 90 men, all told. Out of this number we lost 1 officer and 7 enlisted men killed, 1 officer and 16 men wounded, and 3 enlisted men missing, supposed killed.

I would beg to recommend to your notice for bravery and excellent conduct on the field the following-named officers: Capt. Patrick Ryder, First Lieuts. Charles M. Granger and Thomas H. O'Brien, and Second Lieut. Patrick J. McCabe: but the conduct of Adjt. William McClelland–severely wounded, since dead–deserves particular notice. At all times in the hottest part of the fight, he kept encouraging the men and inciting them to still greater deeds of valor — a brave soldier and a good man, whom we can ill afford to spare.

Our division being outflanked on our right, we were ordered to fall back, which we did, and formed again to the left of the position we held in the morning and on the prolongation of our line.

We rested on our arms all night, and assisted, with the other regiments of the brigade, in throwing up breastworks, which we completed early on the morning of the 3d, and held until the close of the battle. The enemy shelled us at intervals during the morning, and at 10 a.m. opened with a severity which good military judges have pronounced to be the severest artillery fire of the war. Under cover of his artillery, the enemy advanced and charged upon our lines, but was everywhere repulsed with terrific slaughter, and finally compelled to retire dismayed and routed. Numbers of the enemy threw down their arms, and, rushing into our lines, surrendered as prisoners of war.

We were engaged in perfecting and repairing the breeches made in our breastworks on the evening of the 3d, and on the 4th in collecting arms and equipments left on the battle-field.

On the morning of the 5th, our pickets having discovered that the enemy was falling back, a reconnaissance was made, and found that the enemy was in full retreat toward the Potomac.

We held our position until the evening of the 5th, details in the meantime being engaged in burying the dead and attending to the wants of the wounded left on the battle-field. We then moved in the direction of Frederick, Md., under orders from headquarters.
In conclusion, I am proud to say that the Eighty-eighth acted in this fight as it has always done on former occasions when it has met the enemy.

DENIS F. BURKE,
Captain, Comdg. Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers.

Lieut. W. S. BAILEY,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade.

Thomas O Brien in household of Michael O Brien, "United States Census, 1860"
Name: Thomas O Brien
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1860
Event Place: 4th Ward Troy City, Rensselaer, New York, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Race: White
Race (Original):
Birth Year (Estimated): 1841
Birthplace: Ireland
Page: 371
Household ID: 2639
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M653
GS Film Number: 803846

Digital Folder Number: 004236782

Image Number: 00375
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Michael O Brien
M 45 Ireland
Mary O Brien
F 45 Ireland
Patrick O Brien
M 22 Ireland
Thomas O Brien M 19 Ireland
Wm O Brien
M 17 Ireland
Pierce O Brien
M 14 Ireland
Michael O Brien
M 6 New York
Bridget O Brien
F 10 Ireland
Ann S O Brien
F 4 New York


Thomas Obrien, "United States Census, 1870"
Name: Thomas Obrien
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1870
Event Place: New York, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 30
Race:
Race (Original):
Birth Year (Estimated): 1839-1840
Birthplace: Ireland
Page Number: 14
Household ID:
Line Number: 2
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M593
GS Film number: 000552514

Digital Folder Number: 004274859

Image Number: 00240

Thomas O'Brien, "United States Census, 1880"
Name: Thomas O'Brien
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1880
Event Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 40
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Expressman
Race (Original): W
Ethnicity: American
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birthplace: Ireland
Birth Date: 1840
Spouse's Name: Mary O'Brien
Spouse's Birthplace: Ireland
Father's Name:
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Name:
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Page: 356
Page Letter: A
Entry Number: 47
Affiliate Film Number: T9-0560
GS Film number: 1254560

Digital Folder Number: 004241642

Image Number: 00495
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self Thomas O'Brien M 40 Ireland
Wife Mary O'Brien
F 38 Ireland

Thomas C O Brien, "United States Census, 1900"
Name: Thomas C O Brien
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1900
Event Place: Precinct 3 South Boston city Ward 16, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
District: 1392
Gender: Male
Age: 59
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Number of Living Children:
Years Married: 10
Birth Date: Mar 1841
Birthplace: Ireland
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1890
Immigration Year: 1845
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother of how many children:
Sheet Number and Letter: 8A
Household ID: 176
Line Number: 15
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T623
GS Film Number: 1240683

Digital Folder Number: 004114452

Image Number: 00699
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Thomas C O Brien M 59 Ireland
Wife Mary C O Brien
F 50 Ohio
Thomas H. O'Brien, "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1841-1915"
Name: Thomas H. O'Brien
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 09 Nov 1890
Event Place: Boston, Massachusetts
Gender: Male
Age: 49
Marital Status:
Race:
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Registration Year:
Registration Place:
Birth Year (Estimated): 1841
Father's Name: Michael

Father's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Name: Mary

Mother's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Name: Mary V. Johnson

Spouse's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Race:
Spouse's Marital Status:
Spouse's Father's Name: Dennis

Spouse's Father's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Mother's Name: Mary Johnson

Spouse's Mother's Titles and Terms:
Certificate Number: 276
GS Film number: 1415228

Digital Folder Number: 4279733

Image Number: 00740
Number of Images:

Thomas H. O'Brien, "Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910"
Name: Thomas H. O'Brien
Gender: Male
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Death Date: 19 Jun 1900
Death Place:
Age: 59
Birth Date: 1841
Birthplace:
Occupation:
Race:
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Michael O'Brien

Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Mary Welch

Mother's Birthplace:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I00891-4

System Origin: Massachusetts-EASy
GS Film number: 595907

Reference ID: cn 5740

Thomas H. O'Brien, "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910"
Name: Thomas H. O'Brien
Birth Date: 1841
Birthplace:
Age: 49
Spouse's Name: Mary V. Johnson

Spouse's Birth Date: 1851
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age: 39
Event Date: 09 Nov 1890
Event Place: Boston, Suffollk, Massachusetts
Father's Name: Michael

Mother's Name: Mary

Spouse's Father's Name: Dennis

Spouse's Mother's Name: Mary

Race:

Chris Carroll
BA History NCWC