Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to the United States in 1851, working as a journalist and newspaper editor. When the Civil War began he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the 69th New York Militia, a pre-war unit that had it's ranks filled with many Irish expatriates. After being discharged after a three month enlistment, he received a commission of Major, Assistant Adjutant General, US Volunteers on September 5, 1861, and was assigned to the staff of Major General John A. Dix. In 1862 he started writing humorous articles, stories and poems of Army life under the pseudonym "Miles O' Riley", which were published in a number of newspapers and became very to both soldiers and civilians. Transferred to the staff of Major General David Hunter, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and served until poor eyesight caused his disability discharge on July 31, 1864. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "meritorious services during the war". He returned to the newspaper business, and died in 18686 from the effects of chloroform, which he used to break a cycle of insomnia caused by overworking himself.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to the United States in 1851, working as a journalist and newspaper editor. When the Civil War began he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the 69th New York Militia, a pre-war unit that had it's ranks filled with many Irish expatriates. After being discharged after a three month enlistment, he received a commission of Major, Assistant Adjutant General, US Volunteers on September 5, 1861, and was assigned to the staff of Major General John A. Dix. In 1862 he started writing humorous articles, stories and poems of Army life under the pseudonym "Miles O' Riley", which were published in a number of newspapers and became very to both soldiers and civilians. Transferred to the staff of Major General David Hunter, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and served until poor eyesight caused his disability discharge on July 31, 1864. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "meritorious services during the war". He returned to the newspaper business, and died in 18686 from the effects of chloroform, which he used to break a cycle of insomnia caused by overworking himself.
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