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Thomas Francis Meaghen was an Irish Nationalist who, after the 1848 Rebellion was transported to Australia. He escaped his captivity and fled to the United States.
He joined the US Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. After fighting at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861 in the 69th Regiment, he returned to New York and was instrumental in the founding and creation of The Irish Brigade, which fought gallantly at many battles throughout the war.
An American Civil War legend !
A detailed account of the Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1862, which saw Confederate forces under “Stonewall” Jackson overwhelm a series of superior Union forces in a 48-day campaign.
The Civil war fought in Spain between 1936 and 1939 was one of the most bloody and bitterly fought military campaigns of the 20th century. Both the loyalist Republican troops and the Nationalists under General Franco used foreign volunteers to supplement their own forces. In the case of the Republicans the Comintern organised the International Brigades, eventually recruiting over 40,000 people. The International Brigades were the Republican forces elite and as such were stationed at the toughest sectors and often led the most desperate attacks. Ken Bradley details the history, recruitment, composition, organisation, uniforms and equipment these brigades.