John Sullivan and John Langdon, in 1774, seized the military stores at Fort William and Mary at the entrance of the Harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and thus enabled the so-called rebels to fight the battle of Bunker Hill.
Richard Montgomery, who was born in the County of Donegal, Ireland, was the first general of the Continental Army to fall.
It is quite evident, even from the present surface survey of the part played by the Irish early in our history, that the Irish took a prominent part in the settlement of the original thirteen colonies. It seems strange, but yet it is true, that there is a paucity of recognition of the splendid services of the Irish emigrant on the part of some historians. Irish may be met with, however, everywhere in the early records. By hardy pluck and upbuilding, energy and sterling personality they made their way even in the face of prejudice and bigotry which were occasionally met with.
At the present day men of the Irish race and Irish ancestry are at the forefront in many lines of human endeavor, as might easily be shown by the quotation of names and achievements. I feel that in this glorious land of promise we have our eyes on the ideal and are ever improving, ever growing, doing our duty as we go, and leaving the world better, not only by deeds done and tasks performed, but better still by the cheering word and hearty sympathy, by the shedding of radiant happiness and buoyancy of spirit about us as the Irishman has been wont to do in all times and in all climes. We Americans of Irish descent can hold our heads high in the spirit of things done, in the fairness of our natures and the purity of our motives, seeking pure justice and asking but the favors that in all charity we give to others.
THE IRISH IN THE EARLY DAYS OF ST. LOUIS.
BY REV. CORNELIUS F. O’LEARY OF WELLSTON, MO.
“Quae regio in terris nostri non plena laboris?”
If our Mantuan bard could have looked into the not very distant future he would have beheld a people immeasurably more cosmopolitan than the Trojans, and infinitely more deserving of the above proud boast. Having in mind the scattered children of the Gael, could he not ask with greater truth: “What land on earth has not borne witness to our toil?”
Who has not heard of the military adventures of the ancient Gael pursuing his conquering march to the very walls of Rome and dictating to its proud citizens humiliating terms of surrender? It was on one of these occasions that a Roman general complained of the severity of the fine when the intrepid Gael added to the scale by placing thereon his sword, uttering the Vae Victis of the Conqueror.
Abandoning the course of horrid war, which is hell let loose, the men of Erin turned their minds and hearts to Christianity. The land became dotted over with churches and monasteries until the very place became Religion. Then a beautiful chapter opens to us—the exodus of Irish missionaries to foreign lands—to England and Scotland, to Germany and France, to Belgium and even Italy, in allusion to which Darcy McGee remarks that the sun rises in the West and sets in the East—“Ireland enlightens Rome by the light derived from Rome”—