Birth: August 15th 1840
POB; Tipperary, Ireland
Lived most of his life in Kings County, New YorkDeath: March 16th, 1926
POD: Phoebus Virginia
Entered as a Pvt., one month later promoted to Cpl., then 2 months later promoted to Sgt.
Company" E" 88th New York State Volunteer (The Irish Brigade)
He was white, black hair, blue eyes, 6' 1" tall, slender build
Commanded by Capt. Patrick Clooney
Enlisted: about December 10, 1861 at Fort Schuyler , NY
Discharged September 30, 1862
Disabled July 1, 1862
Shot through left hand, musket ball took off ring finger and permanently paralyzed 2 other fingers, damaged tendons in hand and arm to make it useless.
Contracted Malaria poisoning, life long illnesses, lung infections and heart troubles for the rest of his life
Treated at Lincoln Hospital, Washington, DC
Here are a few notes taken from his obituary:
Cornelius O'Leary, Civil War Hero and Irish Patriot Buried at Holy Cross
A survivor of Meagher's Irish Brigade and the only
survivor of the Irish Papal Brigade. Funeral service was held at Holy
Ghost in Fort Hamilton.. He was appointed postmaster of Lincoln
Hospital in Washington, and was subsequently made a doorkeeper for
President Lincoln at the White House. In about 1867 he was employed
at the Wheeling W. VA. Custom House. Later in life he was employed at
the Brooklyn City Railroad and stationed in the Fort Hamilton
section.
