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Reply To: Reign of the Neckbeards (or why do historical re-fights).

August 20, 2019 at 10:01 pm #1428257

phaidknott

7023xp

@blinky465 Indeed, one of the most fascinating characters I came across was Thomas Meagher who formed the Irish Brigade in the ACW. An Irish Nationalist he was arrested initially sentenced to death in Ireland but was then given a life sentence and transported to Tasmania. He then escaped (after writing to the authorities giving 24 hours notice of his intent to escape) and travelled up through South America over a period of 4 months with the intent of reaching New York. He then went on the form the Irish Brigade (the intent was to form a cadre of hardened veterans who would then sail back to Ireland and “free” the country from English rule). His life reads more like something out of a Biggles novel than anything more mundane (as was true for lots of people during this period, it’s only now we don’t seen to have the “adventurers” in our ranks like we used to). I don’t impinge this history with current events and don’t wish to invoke any debate on his “crusade” and apologise if any take offence at me mentioning him. But his existence wasn’t something I went looking for, more it was found by chance on reading a book on the American Civil War.