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The Irish Brigade monument is at the Fredericksburg City Dock. It is not part of the Fredericksburg Battlefield Auto Tour but is just a three block side trip from the route. (38°17’47.4″N 77°27’13.2″W; map on the main city dock page)

The monument is a low stone set just above the ground and surrounded by boxwood, which the soldiers of the Irish Brigade wore in the hats when they made the charge at Fredericksburg. The stone is surround by five posts inscribed with the five regiments of the irish Brigade, linked by a chain.

Monument to the Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg

From the monument:

Irish Brigade

2nd Brigade, 1st Div., II Corps
Army of the Potomac

While posted here in the early morning of Dec. 13, 1862, the men of the Irish Brigade placed sprigs of boxwood in their caps in honor of their Irish heritage. Later in the day, they took part in the futile assaults against confederate positions on Marye’s Heights. After the battle, the Union dead closest to the Confederate positions wore sprigs of boxwood in their caps.

 

  killed wounded missing
69th NY 10 95 23
88th NY 17 97 13
63rd NY 2 38 4
28th MA 14 124 28
116th PA 7 67 14

To the sons of Erin
who put God, country, and duty before self,
we must never forget
the sacrifices they made for our freedom.
Erin go braugh.Monument to the Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg(below) Each of the posts is inscribed with one of the five regiments that made up the Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg:

28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
63rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
69th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
88th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
116th Pennsylvania  Volunteer Infantry Regiment
(click any of the regiments to see more on its history in the Civil War)

Monument to the Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg

The Irish Brigade is also honored by monuments at Antietam and Gettysburg.