Howard Carroll

Howard Carroll, a relation to the Earl of Effingham on his mother’s side, was born in Dublin in 1827. He attended Dublin University where he studied law, medicine, and engineering. Around the year 1855, he moved to Albany, New York, where he worked as a civil engineer, designing iron bridges for the New York Central Railroad. On 27 October 1861 Howard Carroll voluntarily joined the Union Army after he was offered the position of Brigade Quartermaster in General Meagher’s Irish Brigade. He helped with organising the brigade of Irishmen, and after it had become a success, he left determined to joint the fighting where he could be of further use. On 27 March 1862 he became Lieutenant Colonel of the 105th Regiment, which was made up predominantly of Irishmen, and they left New York on 4 April 1862.

Howard Carroll is mentioned in the letter of another Irish soldier, Francis a surgeon of the 88th Regiment of the New York Infantry. Francis wrote to his father that he had sent his letters through his friend, Mr Howard Carroll of New York, and that Mr Carroll had enclosed his own letter introducing himself to Francis’ family and letting them know where to send further letters. This letter was written on 29 July 1862.

Four days later, on 2 August 1862, Howard Carroll was promoted to Colonel after the resignation of Colonel James M. Fuller, who had been charged with issuing improper orders while in command of Camp Upham, LeRoy, and enabling a contractor to defraud the United States Government of large sums of money. Before his resignation, Colonel Fuller spoke with the Governor and Adjutant General suggesting that Howard Carrol take his place as Colonel, due to his merit as, “One of the most accomplished officers, as well as one of the coolest and bravest soldiers in the volunteer service of the State” (Clarke, 237). Howard Carroll proved his worth at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, and he five days of fighting during Pope’s Retreat outside Washington DC. His regiment earned an honourable reputation under his command, and when their numbers dwindled to some four-hundred odd men, they were transferred to General Hooker’s division in the advance of the Army in Maryland, where they took part in all of the fighting that led up to the Battle of Antietam.

On 16 September 1862, Howard Carrol was ordered to cross Antietam creek and take the summit, in order to secure the advantage of the high-ground and gain a position from which the Union Army could attack the left flank of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. On 17 September 1862, under the instruction of Brigadier-General Abram Duryea, Thomas Carroll led what remained of his own 105th regiment as well as four others up the hill. They were under direct rifle fire from the Confederate forces, and

Over half of the New York Regiments were killed in the Battle of Antietam, and it is remembered as the bloodiest encounter of the American Civil War. This battle was the Union Victory that allowed President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves in the Confederate States. The Irish Brigade which Howard Carroll had helped organise lost over 4,000 Irishmen fighting for the Union Army, which was far more men than ever served in their regiment at any one time.

Howard Carroll was shot in the leg as he led his men up the summit. Due to how many men were wounded that day, he was sent back to Washington to receive care, and despite his objects, Carroll was carried in an ambulance on a trek of over one hundred miles back to the capital. On the way his wounded leg became infected, and he died of fever on 29 September 1862 at the age of thirty-five.

Dublin, Ireland
Dublin University, Dublin, Ireland
Albany, New York, United States of America
Antietam, Virginia, United States of America

Brigade Quartermaster, General Meagher's Irish Brigade of the Union Army (27 October 1861 - 27 March 1862)
Lieutenant-Colonel, 105th Regiment of the New York Infantry of the Union Army (27 March 1862 - 2 August 1862)
Colonel, 105th Regiment of the New York Infantry of the Union Army (2 August 1862 - 29 August 1862)

Jennifer Lee, July 2018.

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