26R - 69th Pennsylvania Irish Volunteer Infantry, Backer Zouaves Companies I & K, 1861-1862

#26 in the Regimental Series

Available Format of Print:
350 Signed/Numbered (available)
Overall: 15.375" x 20"
Image: 11.375" x 14.5"
$75.00

Artist Proof (available)
50 Signed/Numbered
Overall: 15.375" x 20"
Image: 11.375" x 14.5"
$100.00

Canvas Giclee (printed as ordered)
15 Signed/Numbered
Overall: 16" x 20"
$600.00
                                                             

The 69th regiment was recruited mainly from men in the Philadelphia environs, and most of its recruits were Irishmen described as "robust and of fine physique." In fact more than 220 of its members' surnames began with "Mc" or nearly a fifth of the entire regiment. The regiment's first colonel, Joshua T. Owen, had commanded the 24th Pennsylvania as a three months regiment at the start of the war and was able to muster his new unit into federal service by August of 1861. He moved his new regiment, commonly called the "Irish Regiment," to Washington where it was engaged in work on fortifications and routine duties. In February of 1862, the citizens of Philadelphia presented this band of Irishmen with their own green flag, which they would soon bear into battle.