The Real Story of the American Revolution
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The Irish Help the Cause of Freedom&nsp;

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Patriotism, the love for one's country is shown through the actions of one's people. The American Revolution involved a large percentage of patriots who were of Irish descent. These soldiers, privateers, generals and political leaders helped the cause of Independence. Important in the earliest defiance against British rule were Irish-Americans. John Sullivan, whose ancestors hailed from Limerick led the December 1774 raid on Fort William and Mary, New Hampshire, carrying off 100 barrels of gunpowder later used at Bunker Hill. Captain Maurice O'Brien of Cork and his five sons used their fishing boats to capture British ships as early as May 1775. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Americans were led by Captain John Stark, who helped smash the British column when he saw they would strike along the Mystic River. After Bunker Hill, Irish American Henry Knox gathered 42 sleds and brought guns and powder to General Washington for the siege of Boston. George Washington elevated to the position of general several men of Irish descent who proved important in key engagements. These new generals included John Shee, Richard Butler, William Thompson, William Irvine and Andrew Lewis. Washington's trusted aide, Stephen Moylan was born in Cork and his private secretary, Major Charles McHenry was born in Antrim. The man appointed as Father of the American Navy, John Barry, came to America from County Wexford. In addition to military leadership, the numbers of Irishmen who filled the ranks of soliders proved significant. Certain regiments in Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Carolinas show between 30% and 50% distinct Irish names among their rosters. American General Henry Lee dubbed the Pennsylvania regiment, where 70% listed Irish names, as "The Line of Ireland". He noted their special bravery under General Wayne at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown, when they held back Cornwallis for hours so Washington's army could escape. Irishmen distinguised themselves in Colonel Smallwood's Marylanders at the Battle of Long Island, Morgan's Riflemen at Saratoga in 1777 and General Francis Marion's South Carolina regiment at Savannah in 1780. Along with those Irish settlers who gave support to the War of Independence by their fighting spirit, there were thoses of Irish descent who assisted in the political arena. Among the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence the Irish-born included James Smith, Matthew Thornton and George Taylor. Others of Irish descent were William Whipple, Robert Treat Paine, John Hancock, John Hart, Philip Livingston, James Wilson, Thomas McKean, George Read, Charles Carroll, William Hooper, Thomas Lynch and Edward Rutledge. Charles Thomson of Derry served as permanent secretary of the Continental Congress. When supplies of food became a problem in 1780, the Philadelphia leaders of the Sons of St. Patrick stepped in to raise one third of the $300,000 needed to buy food for Washington's starving soldiers. Many of Irish descent made a definite contribution to the American Revolution. They fought to ensure economic, religious and political freedom in their newly adopted land. Bibliography O'Brien, Michael, A Hidden Phase of American History: Ireland's Part in America's Struggle for Liberty (Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1953) Reynolds, Frank, Ireland's Important and Heroic Part in America's Independence and Development (J.P. Daleiden Company, Chicago, 1963) Wittke, Carl, The Irish in America (Louisiana State Univ. Press, New Orleans, 1956)

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