Patrick O'Rorke
Encyclopedia
This article is about an Irish-American colonel. For the Meath
footballer from Skryne
, see Patrick O'Rourke (footballer)
Patrick Henry "Paddy" O'Rorke or O'Rourke (March 25, 1837 – July 2, 1863) was an Irish-American immigrant who became a colonel in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
and was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg
.
, Ireland
. He was a year old when his parents emigrated to the United States. His parents died in transit. O'Rorke was sent to an orphanage in Rochester, New York
, where he attended the public schools, and in 1853 went to work as a marble cutter. Shortly after he was appointed a cadet in the U.S. Military Academy
at West Point, graduating first in his class in June 1861.
of Fort Pulaski, on Cockspur Island near Savannah, Georgia, causing its surrender on April 11, 1862. He was appointed colonel
of the 140th New York Infantry
, which he led in the Battle of Fredericksburg
. At Chancellorsville
, he commanded the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, V Corps.
At Gettysburg, O'Rorke was back in command of his regiment; Brig. Gen.
Stephen H. Weed
commanded the 3rd Brigade. Brig. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren
was desperately searching for units to defend Little Round Top
, and he encountered O'Rorke's New Yorkers, the rearmost regiment in Weed's brigade, on their way to reinforce the III Corps. O'Rorke initially declined Warren's request for assistance because he was under orders to follow his brigade. Warren told him, "Never mind that, Paddy. Bring them up on the double-quick and don't stop for aligning. I'll take the responsibility." O'Rorke rushed his men to the crest of the hill and plunged down its western face without pause, driving the attacking Confederates back down the slope. During the counterattack, O'Rorke caught up his regimental colors and, mounting a rock to urge on his men, was struck and fell dead. The Comte de Paris
in his Histoire de la guerre civile en Amérique (VI, iv, 379) says this was one of the most striking and dramatic episodes of the battle. O'Rorke's widow became a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart
and one of the most successful educators in their New York convents.
After the war, Rochester area veterans founded O'Rorke Post 1 of the Grand Army of the Republic
veterans society, the second post formed for the society.
In 2004, a bascule bridge
in Charlotte
(Rochester
), New York, known as the O'Rorke Bridge, was dedicated to the memory of Colonel O'Rorke.
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
footballer from Skryne
Skryne
Skryne, officially Skreen , is a village with apopulation of 1403 , situated on and around a hill between the N2 and N3 national primary roads in County Meath, Ireland. It is situated on the far side of the Gabhra valley from the Hill of Tara. This valley is sometimes referred to as the Tara-Skryne...
, see Patrick O'Rourke (footballer)
Patrick O'Rourke (footballer)
Patrick 'Paddy' O'Rourke is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a Forward for Senior Football Championship team Skryne and the Meath intercounty team. O'Rourke is the nephew of former Skryne and Meath player Colm O'Rourke and first cousin to current Meath player Shane O'Rourke...
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
.
Early life
O'Rorke was born in County CavanCounty Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was a year old when his parents emigrated to the United States. His parents died in transit. O'Rorke was sent to an orphanage in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, where he attended the public schools, and in 1853 went to work as a marble cutter. Shortly after he was appointed a cadet in the U.S. Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, graduating first in his class in June 1861.
Civil War
Commissioned a lieutenant in the regular army, O'Rorke first distinguished himself in the Civil War as a staff officer in the Corps of Engineers. He provided vital engineering support to the Union bombardment and siegeBattle of Fort Pulaski
The Battle of Fort Pulaski was fought April 10–11, 1862, during the American Civil War. Union forces on Tybee Island and naval operations conducted a 112-day siege, then captured the Confederate-held Fort Pulaski after a 30-hour bombardment. The battle is important for innovative use of rifled guns...
of Fort Pulaski, on Cockspur Island near Savannah, Georgia, causing its surrender on April 11, 1862. He was appointed colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 140th New York Infantry
140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a Federal Regiment that was mustered on September 13, 1862 and was mustered out on June 3, 1865. Citizens of Monroe County comprising the majority of its members...
, which he led in the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. At Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
, he commanded the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, V Corps.
At Gettysburg, O'Rorke was back in command of his regiment; Brig. Gen.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Stephen H. Weed
Stephen H. Weed
Stephen Hinsdale Weed was a career military officer in the United States Army. He was killed defending Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
commanded the 3rd Brigade. Brig. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren
Gouverneur K. Warren
Gouverneur Kemble Warren was a civil engineer and prominent general in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
was desperately searching for units to defend Little Round Top
Little Round Top
Little Round Top is the smaller of two rocky hills south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was the site of an unsuccessful assault by Confederate troops against the Union left flank on July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg....
, and he encountered O'Rorke's New Yorkers, the rearmost regiment in Weed's brigade, on their way to reinforce the III Corps. O'Rorke initially declined Warren's request for assistance because he was under orders to follow his brigade. Warren told him, "Never mind that, Paddy. Bring them up on the double-quick and don't stop for aligning. I'll take the responsibility." O'Rorke rushed his men to the crest of the hill and plunged down its western face without pause, driving the attacking Confederates back down the slope. During the counterattack, O'Rorke caught up his regimental colors and, mounting a rock to urge on his men, was struck and fell dead. The Comte de Paris
Philippe, Comte de Paris
Philippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris was the grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French. He was a claimant to the French throne from 1848 until his death.-Early life:...
in his Histoire de la guerre civile en Amérique (VI, iv, 379) says this was one of the most striking and dramatic episodes of the battle. O'Rorke's widow became a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart
Society of the Sacred Heart
The Society of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic religious congregation established in France by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1800. It has presence in 45 countries. Membership to the Society is restricted to women only. Its members do many works, but focus on education, particularly girls'...
and one of the most successful educators in their New York convents.
In memoriam
A funeral for Colonel O'Rorke was held on July 15 in Rochester drawing hundred of attendees, both Catholic and Protestant and across a range of ethnic groups. The event is credited with bringing unity to the community.After the war, Rochester area veterans founded O'Rorke Post 1 of the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
veterans society, the second post formed for the society.
In 2004, a bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
in Charlotte
Charlotte, New York
Charlotte is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,713.The Town of Charlotte is centrally located in the county, north of Jamestown and south of Dunkirk.- History :...
(Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
), New York, known as the O'Rorke Bridge, was dedicated to the memory of Colonel O'Rorke.