did the irish fight in the civil war
Irish-American Catholics served on both sides of the American Civil War (1861--1865) as officers, volunteers and draftees. Immigration due to the Irish Great Famine (1845--1852) had provided many thousands of men as potential recruits although issues of race, religion, pacifism and personal allegiance created some resistance to service. A significant body of these Irishmen later used the military experience gained in the American Civil War to fight against the British Empire with the goal of establishing an Irish Republic as members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Fenian Brotherhood and Clan na Gael. In addition very large numbers of Scots-Irish Protestants were involved in the American Civil War, especially the Confederacy.
Irish Americans in the American Civil War