The Corrigan Brothers

The Corrigan Brothers

Suzanne Marsh

March 3, 1861

“Pa, hey Pa, Sam Houston’s been replaced as governor, Edward Clark is the new governor.

Hope we secede soon.” James Corrigan shouted excitedly. “Big” Tom Corrigan, his pa, smiled; he wished Oliver were as enthusiastic. He noted Oliver striding toward the house in a blue uniform. “Big” Tom felt the bile rising in his throat:

“Oliver, you gonna fight for the bluebellies?”

“Yep, Pa, I am.”

“No son of mine is gonna fight for the bluebellies, not now, not ever, do you understand me

boy?”

I understand, pa, I’m goin anyway. Maybe someday I will come back to Corrigan’s Landing.”

Oliver could feel the cold steel of his pa’s distaste for his joining the union; he hoped the second rebellion would end soon.

Jim Corrigan, when he discovered what his brother Oliver had done, exclaimed:

“I’m gonna join the Confederate Army, Hood’s Brigade.” “Big” Tom

felt a lump in his throat:

“James, you be careful, son.”

“I sure will, pa, I asked Fiona to marry me first leave I git.”

“Congratulations to you both, this here spread is gonna be yours.”

“Pa, Ollie should be inheriting the spread, not me. This war done divided a lot of houses,

ours is just one. In time, maybe Ollie will think things through better.”

“Big” Tom strode away; he had no intention of ever mentioning Oliver again; obviously, James did.

Oliver road north, following the directions given to him by a Captain in the Union Army; he did not experience any disillusionment; his loyalty was to the Union. He prayed a silent prayer that he and James would never meet on a battlefield; he knew he could never take his brother’s life.

Oliver found the unit he had been assigned to; most of these men were from East Texas. The following morning, Sergeant Mark Maten stood before the recruits:

“Today, y’all are bein sworn into the Union Army. Y’all must pay attention;

In the next few weeks, you are gonna learn to march, most of you can ride a horse, so that

ain’t gonna be a problem. We are fightin to preserve the union. President Abraham Lincoln

wants y’all to know that he has high hopes for y’all. Dismissed.”

Oliver could feel the sergeant’s eyes piercing his. What did the man see? Oliver was a soldier now. The red sky bespoke of a nice day. Sergeant Maten approached Oliver:

“Corrigan, are you any relation to 'Big' Tom?

“Yes, sir, that is my father.”

“I served with him in Mexico, good man.”

“Yes, sergeant.”

James waited patiently for Fiona; she flew into his arms:

“James, your uniform? You joined the Confederates?”

“Fiona, it is the only way Texas can be free of the union. I have been assigned to Hood’s

Brigade. General John Bell Hood has a fine reputation, and Pa knows him from his time

in Mexico. I have something I want to give you.”

James got down on bended knee, looking into Fiona’s blue eyes, the color of her favorite flower, the Bluebonnets. He slipped the small garnet ring on her finger: “Will you marry me, Fiona?”

Tears began to well up in her eyes as she smiled, giving him her answer: “Yes”. James talked Fiona into waiting until he got his first leave; she objected, but then, reluctantly, agreed.

Summer 1862

Fiona MacIntosh's head ached, and she had chills and a fever. She sent word to 'Big' Tom Corrigan that she would be unable to attend dinner. The thought of food nauseated her, and her muscles and joints ached. 'Big' Tom rode his favorite horse, Golden Girl, over to the MacIntosh place. Fiona’s maid stopped him at the door:

“Mister Corrigan, Fiona, is very ill; we have sent for the doctor.” 'Big' Tom felt his stomach tighten as he stood there:

“What is wrong with Fiona?” The maid glared at him: “We ain’t sure, looks like Yellow Fever.

Like I told you, we sent for the doctor, and he should be here shortly. The doctor arrived, and the maid showed him to Fiona’s room. He entered the room, and one look at Fiona told him everything he needed to know: yellow fever. Three days later, Fiona passed away. “Big” Tom began to write James:

Dear son,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. Fiona passed away from yellow fever. I am

so sorry she was a lovely girl.

Love,

Pa

The letter arrived three weeks later, and Corporal James Corrigan sat on a stump, read the letter. Tears began to flow down his dirty, thin face. He thought about Fiona, her beautiful face, her alabaster skin, eyes the color of the bluebonnets; he felt alone, useless. He volunteered for the most hazardous missions; his only thought was to join his beloved in heaven.

James began to hear rumors about all of the Confederacy going up north, under General Robert E. Lee, commanding general. Several days later, orders were received for Hood’s brigade to move out; they were part of the Second Corps under General James P. Longstreet. Horses were loaded onto freight cars, saddles and tack were numbered and placed with the horses. The train let out a piercing whistle as it began to wind its way toward the top of the Mason-Dixon line. The Texas weather was a dry heat. When the train arrived at the railroad cut in Gettysburg, the heat was magnified by the humidity.

July 2nd, 1863

Sergeant James Corrigan disembarked first, followed by his squad. The men lined up at attention. General John Bell Hood waited until his brigade was fully assembled:

“Men, we of the Confederacy are all here today. In a few moments, I am going to ride over to

General Longstreet, we have been assigned to take that small rocky hill over yonder.”

Hood was a good as his word. He rode over the ground they were to hold. He informed Longstreet that the small rocky hill all the enemy had to do was toss rocks down on them. Hood wanted to take the large rocky hill; however, there was no time to put weapons up on the hill. Hood objected, and Longstreet lost patience, telling Hood to go take the hill.

Several attempts were made to capture Little Round Top, the Devil’s Den, which Hood said was a good name for it changed hands several times between the Union and Confederate forces.

Spangler Spring

The sun began to set on the horizon of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Sergeant James Corrigan and two members of his squad made their way to Spangler Spring. They had fought long and hard at Devil’s Den; now they needed water. They brought canteens for the entire squad and began filling them with precious water. The three men heard loud voices close to the brush that concealed them. James was filling the last canteen when he found himself facing his brother Oliver. Neither brother made a move for their pistols; both were too stunned. Oliver made a croaking noise before he cleared his throat:

“My God, James! I never thought to see you again. I suppose Pa is still angry with me. Have you

married Fiona yet?” The sadness in James’ eyes spoke volumes to Oliver.

“Fiona passed on in 1862 from Yellow Fever, pa contracted it and died during the epidemic.”

I had no way to locate you; I had no idea where you were or what brigade you were with.”

Oliver bowed his head, then looked at James:

“I am sorry to hear about Fiona, she was a right special girl. Pa was really angry with me

because I believed that Texas should remain in the union. James, you got anythin to eat? I can

Get you some grub, there is plenty.” James, whose stomach was completely empty, nodded:

“I will meet you back here tonight after the sun goes down. I can bring hardtack, jerky,

and whatever the cooks make for supper. James, keep your head low.

Oliver vanished; his corporal asked who he had been speaking with:

“My brother James is a rebel. We were just catchin up on family business. His unit is

starving. I know I should not have offered, but he is my brother.”

Sundown Oliver began to gather food for James. He explained to the cook that he was plenty hungry. He had extra rations of hardtack and jerky. He returned to Spangler Spring, and he waited. James returned to the spring, took the food:

“Oliver, when this war is over, can we be brothers again? The Corrigan brothers' ranch will

prosper. Long horns are plentiful; we can take them to market. I hear Kansas City has

a big call for beef. Pa left me the ranch, but I think we can run it provided you will

return home to help me.”

Oliver was surprised by James’ actions. James, on a cold September morning, rode into the town of Fate, Texas. He was coming out of the saloon when he bumped into a girl. The girl looked exactly like Fiona MacIntosh. James bent quickly to help her pick up the packages he had knocked out of her hands. He just stood and stared; Mary MacIntosh thought he was having an attack. He asked Mary if she was related to Fiona, since they looked identical. Mary laughed:

“Yes, I am Fiona’s twin. Fiona did not tell you she had a twin; she wanted it that way. I

run a boarding house here in town.”

James stared, then asked Mary if she would like to go for a drive. James married Mary a year later, with Oliver as his best man.