Bio: Irish, Harley E.
Contact: Lani Bartelt

----Sources: Family Records

The Harley E Irish Family

Harley Irish was born at Wallington, Rutland Co. VT on 3 March 1820. His parents were Job & Sarah W (Sally) (Sales) Irish

Harley Irish served in the Civil War with Co. B of the 5th VT INF. He was mustered in as a Private on 17 Sept 1861 and was mustered out a Corporal on 21 July 1865. He had reenlisted when his first term expired.

5th Regiment, Vermont Infantry

Organized at St. Albans and mustered in September 16, 1861. Moved to Washington, D. C., and September 23-25. Attached to Brook's Brigade, Smith's Division, and Army of the Potomac, to March 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to June, 1865.

SERVICE

At Camp Griffin Defenses of Washington till March 10, 1862. Moved to Alexandria March 10, thence to Fortress Monroe March 23-24. Reconnaissance to Warwick River March 30. Young's Mills April 4. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Lee's Mills April 16. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Garnett's Farm June 27. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing till August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-24. Maryland Campaign September-October. Crampton¿s Pass September 14. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. At Hagerstown, Md., September 26-October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks¿ Ford May 4. Franklin's Crossing June 5-13. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Funkstown, Md., July 10-13. Detached from Army for duty at New York City and Kingston, N. Y., August 14-September 16. Rejoined army at Culpeper Court House, Va., September 23. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 6-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, Spottsylvania Court House, May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 23-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 18-19. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Siege of Petersburg till July 9. Moved to Washington, D. C., July 9-11. Repulse of Early's attack on Fort Stevens July 11-12. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Near Charlestown August 21-22. Gilbert's Ford, Opequan Creek, September 13. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. At Strasburg till November 9 and at Kernstown till December 9. Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 9-12. Siege of Petersburg December 13, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Fort Fisher, before Petersburg, March 25, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Farmville and Burkesville Station till April 23. March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there till May 18. Moved to Manchester, thence march to Washington, D. C., May 24-June 8. Corps Review June 8. Mustered out non-veterans October 14, 1864. Regiment June 29, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 202 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 124 Enlisted men by disease. Total 338.

He is also listed with these units:

Irish, Harley (Union) - Unassigned Veteran Reserve Corps

3 Irish Harley (Union) - 2nd Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps

He never affiliated with the local G.A.R. Post.

His first wife’s first name was Almina (no maiden name known) and with her Harley had the following children:

Andrew Irish of Longwood, WI; Ella, later married a Chapman and Lived Thorp, WI; Rosina, later married a Tallman and lived Chetek and Harley Irish, Springfield MN

His second wife was Elzina C (Effie)(Schoolcraft) whom he married 28 Feb, 1870 and with her Harley had the following children:

Effie, who later married a Case; George; Leon: Guy; Julia, who later married a Simington; Henry; and Jennie.

Harley died at his home 22 Jan 1901. He had been ill for several years and was confined to his home since the May before his death.

His second wife, Elzina (Schoolcraft) (Smith) Irish was born at Parrisville, St. Lawrence Co., NY; 14 June 1850. Her first marriage was to a John Smith. She married Harley Irish at Wrightsville, WI. Elzina died 25 Feb 1920 and at the time of death only sons, Leon & Henry and the three daughters were still alive

Harley & Elzina are both buried at the East Thorp Cemetery, Clark Co., WI; Both their services were conducted at the M.E. Church.

Their daughter, Julia married Frank E Simmington 27 Aug 1898 at the home of her parents Thorp, WI with George Burke J.P. officiating. Julia & Frank left the same day for Estella, Chippewa Co., WI; where they would live.

Their son, Andrew Irish and his wife, Mary are on the 1900 Longwood, Clark Co., WI census.

Their daughter, Jennie married Charles Hobbs 30 May 1908 at the home of her mother in Thorp, Clark Co., WI. with Rev J.B. Bachman officiating.

Their son, George Irish b about 1871 Hixon, Clark Co .WI died 14 Sept 1915 of heart disease at the age of forty-four. He left a wife and one child from his present wife and four children from a previous marriage.

Research

George Irish obit

Julia & Jennie’s marriage records

1893 List of Thorp, Clark Co, WI Civil War Vets

Harley Irish obit

Elzina Irish obit