Charles Graham Halpine
Encyclopedia
Charles Graham Halpine (pseud. Miles O'Reilly) (November 20, 1829 – August 3, 1868) was an Irish journalist
and author.
, he was son of the Rev. Nicholas John Halpin. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
, until 1846, was originally intended for the medical profession, but he preferred the law, and in his leisure wrote for the press. The sudden death of his father and his own early marriage compelled him to adopt journalism as a profession.
In 1851 he emigrated to America, and took up his residence at Boston, where he became assistant editor of the ‘Boston Post
,’ and, with Benjamin P. Shillaber, commenced a humorous journal called ‘The Carpet Bag,’ which was unsuccessful. He afterwards resided at Washington, where he acted as the correspondent of the ‘New York Times.’
Removing to New York he secured employment on the ‘Herald,’ and in a few months established relations with several periodicals. He undertook a great variety of literary work, most of which was entirely ephemeral. He next became associate editor of the ‘New York Times,’ for which paper in 1855 and 1856 he wrote the Nicaragua correspondence at the time of William Walker's filibustering expedition. In 1857 he became principal editor and part proprietor of the New York ‘Leader,’ which under his management rapidly increased in circulation.
At the beginning of the civil war in April 1861 he enlisted in the 69th New York infantry, in which he was soon elected a lieutenant, and served during the three months for which he had volunteered. He was then transferred to General David Hunter's staff as assistant-adjutant-general with the rank of major, and soon after went with that officer to Missouri to relieve General John Charles Fremont. He accompanied General Hunter to Hilton Head, and while there wrote a series of burlesque poems in the assumed character of an Irish private. Several of them were contributed to the ‘New York Herald’ in 1862 under the pseudonym of ‘Miles O'Reilly,’ and with additional articles were issued in two volumes entitled ‘Life and Adventures, Songs, Services, and Speeches of Private Miles O'Reilly, 47th Regiment New York Volunteers,’ 1864, and ‘Baked Meats of the Funeral, a Collection of Essays, Poems, Speeches, and Banquets, by Private Miles O'Reilly, late of the 47th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, 10th Army Corps. Collected, revised, and edited, with the requisite corrections of punctuation, spelling, and grammar, by an Ex-Colonel of the Adjutant-General's Department, with whom the Private formerly served as Lance-Corporal of Orderlies,’ 1866.
Halpine was subsequently assistant-adjutant-general on General Henry W. Halleck's staff with the rank of colonel in 1862, and accompanied General Hunter on his expedition to the Shenandoah valley in the spring of 1864. On his return to New York he resigned his commission in consequence of his bad eyesight, receiving the brevet of brigadier-general of volunteers.
He then made New York his home, and resuming his literary work became editor, and later on proprietor of the ‘Citizen,’ a newspaper issued by the citizens' association to advocate reforms in the civil administration of New York city. In 1867 he was elected registrar of the county of New York by a coalition of republicans and democrats. Incessant labour brought on insomnia. He had recourse to opiate
s, and his death in New York city on 3 August 1868 was caused by an undiluted dose of chloroform
.
Besides the books above mentioned he was the author of ‘Lyrics by the Letter H,’ 1854.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author.
Biography
Born at Oldcastle, County MeathCounty Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, he was son of the Rev. Nicholas John Halpin. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, until 1846, was originally intended for the medical profession, but he preferred the law, and in his leisure wrote for the press. The sudden death of his father and his own early marriage compelled him to adopt journalism as a profession.
In 1851 he emigrated to America, and took up his residence at Boston, where he became assistant editor of the ‘Boston Post
Boston Post
The Boston Post was the most popular daily newspaper in New England for over a hundred years before it folded in 1956. The Post was founded in November 1831 by two prominent Boston businessmen, Charles G...
,’ and, with Benjamin P. Shillaber, commenced a humorous journal called ‘The Carpet Bag,’ which was unsuccessful. He afterwards resided at Washington, where he acted as the correspondent of the ‘New York Times.’
Removing to New York he secured employment on the ‘Herald,’ and in a few months established relations with several periodicals. He undertook a great variety of literary work, most of which was entirely ephemeral. He next became associate editor of the ‘New York Times,’ for which paper in 1855 and 1856 he wrote the Nicaragua correspondence at the time of William Walker's filibustering expedition. In 1857 he became principal editor and part proprietor of the New York ‘Leader,’ which under his management rapidly increased in circulation.
At the beginning of the civil war in April 1861 he enlisted in the 69th New York infantry, in which he was soon elected a lieutenant, and served during the three months for which he had volunteered. He was then transferred to General David Hunter's staff as assistant-adjutant-general with the rank of major, and soon after went with that officer to Missouri to relieve General John Charles Fremont. He accompanied General Hunter to Hilton Head, and while there wrote a series of burlesque poems in the assumed character of an Irish private. Several of them were contributed to the ‘New York Herald’ in 1862 under the pseudonym of ‘Miles O'Reilly,’ and with additional articles were issued in two volumes entitled ‘Life and Adventures, Songs, Services, and Speeches of Private Miles O'Reilly, 47th Regiment New York Volunteers,’ 1864, and ‘Baked Meats of the Funeral, a Collection of Essays, Poems, Speeches, and Banquets, by Private Miles O'Reilly, late of the 47th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, 10th Army Corps. Collected, revised, and edited, with the requisite corrections of punctuation, spelling, and grammar, by an Ex-Colonel of the Adjutant-General's Department, with whom the Private formerly served as Lance-Corporal of Orderlies,’ 1866.
Halpine was subsequently assistant-adjutant-general on General Henry W. Halleck's staff with the rank of colonel in 1862, and accompanied General Hunter on his expedition to the Shenandoah valley in the spring of 1864. On his return to New York he resigned his commission in consequence of his bad eyesight, receiving the brevet of brigadier-general of volunteers.
He then made New York his home, and resuming his literary work became editor, and later on proprietor of the ‘Citizen,’ a newspaper issued by the citizens' association to advocate reforms in the civil administration of New York city. In 1867 he was elected registrar of the county of New York by a coalition of republicans and democrats. Incessant labour brought on insomnia. He had recourse to opiate
Opiate
In medicine, the term opiate describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant.-Overview:Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of constituents found in opium, which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy,...
s, and his death in New York city on 3 August 1868 was caused by an undiluted dose of chloroform
Chloroform
Chloroform is an organic compound with formula CHCl3. It is one of the four chloromethanes. The colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid is a trihalomethane, and is considered somewhat hazardous...
.
Besides the books above mentioned he was the author of ‘Lyrics by the Letter H,’ 1854.