John O'Brien
John O'Brien was born in Connaught Leitrim in 1839 to William O'Brien and Mary Rutledge.
He enlisted as a private in May 1861 in the 4th Connecticut Volunteers in company F, the first three year regimen which became the 1st CT Heavy Artillery. He was 22 years old at the time of enlistment. He was promoted to Corp. in April 1862, then to Serg. in June of 1863, and later to First Serg. in August
of 1863. He re-enlisted as a veteran in December of 1863 and was again promoted to Second Lieut. of Company A until his promotion in Feb. 1863 to First Lieut. of Company M in November 1864. He was finally promoted to Capt. by Brevet in April 1865.
John traveled west, working as a newspaper man. He eventually landed in Oregon to settle as a farmer sometime before 1880. He started his own paper there, and also became a prominent person in the American Federation of Labor -AFL-, serving as its president for a few years. He died in 1931.
He enlisted as a private in May 1861 in the 4th Connecticut Volunteers in company F, the first three year regimen which became the 1st CT Heavy Artillery. He was 22 years old at the time of enlistment. He was promoted to Corp. in April 1862, then to Serg. in June of 1863, and later to First Serg. in August
of 1863. He re-enlisted as a veteran in December of 1863 and was again promoted to Second Lieut. of Company A until his promotion in Feb. 1863 to First Lieut. of Company M in November 1864. He was finally promoted to Capt. by Brevet in April 1865.
John traveled west, working as a newspaper man. He eventually landed in Oregon to settle as a farmer sometime before 1880. He started his own paper there, and also became a prominent person in the American Federation of Labor -AFL-, serving as its president for a few years. He died in 1931.
“The Army of the Potomac have now lost their chief General McClellan – a man whom the army almost idolized. I know and believe there is no officer who can do what he has done.”
- John O'Brien, November 16, 1862
- John O'Brien, November 16, 1862