Ninth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. 2010 © All rights reserved.
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Captain Charles Palmer |
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The following is from Murray’s History (Pages 329 – 331). [ Note: The spelling of his name is found as Richard Fitzgibbons in other sources]. FITZ GIBBON, LIEUT. COL. RICHARD, born, Oct. 6, 1836, in Montreal, Can.; is now a resident of Bridgeport, Ct. His parents were Edmond and Johanna, who, in 1832, emigrated from Ireland to Canada, later removing to Albany, N. Y., New York city and Bridgeport, Ct. Edmond, Lieut. Col. Fitz Gibbon's father, was born in 1810, at Youghal, County Cork, Ireland, where he wedded Johanna Lockhart of the same county. They had six children. The mother died in 1885 and the father in 1893, both at Bridgeport, Ct. Lieut. Col. Fitz Gibbon, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest of the six children. He was apprenticed to the firm of Harral & Calhoun, Bridgeport, to learn the saddler's trade. After serving some time in this business, he abandoned it to fill a position as storekeeper on the North Star and Ariel, of the Vanderbilt line of steamers, plying between New York, and Havre, France, and touching at Southampton, England. He remained with the line nearly three years and crossed the ocean many times. In i860, he accepted a position, as messenger, with the Adams Express Co., his "run" being between Bridgeport, Ct., and Great Bar-rington, Mass. He was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. He had long been interested in the Connecticut State militia, having served in the same for some years. He had commanded the famous Washington Light Guard, of Bridgeport, and was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Eighth Regiment of militia of the State. When President Lincoln's first call came for volunteers to defend the Union, Col. Fitz Gibbon promptly responded, and recruited Company H for the First Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers. He was commissioned captain of this company April 20, 1861. The regiment served in Tyler's department, of Northwestern Virginia, from May, 1861. It participated in the engagement June 17 and at Bull Run, July 21. It was mustered out of service at New Haven, Ct., July 31, 1861. On his return home, Fitz Gibbon assisted in organizing a second company, and was assigned to the Sixth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, as a captain. About this time, steps were under way to organize the Ninth, an Irish regiment. Fitz Gibbon decided to join this regiment and was mustered in as lieutenant colonel. He was in command of the Ninth from June 24, 1863, to Oct. 26, 1864, the colonel of the regiment, Thomas W. Cahill, serving on detached duty as commander of the defences of New Orleans and acting brigadier-general. Lieut. Col. Fitz Gibbon was, at one time during the war, honored by an appointment to the staff of Gen. Reynolds.
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Cpl John Alexander |
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