Civil War Illustrations

Col. Cameron, Col. Hunter and Col. Corcoran

Caption: [Portraits of] the late Col. Cameron, Seventy-ninth N.Y. State Militia; Col. Hunter, U.S.A.; Col. Corcoran, Sixty-ninth New York State Militia.

Source: Illustration and text from Harper's Weekly, August 10, 1861, page 509.

The Late Colonel Cameron

On this page we give a portrait of the late Colonel Cameron, who was killed at the battle of Bull Run. The Times gives the following sketch of his career:

The country mourns the loss of the gallant Cameronian chieftain – the Colonel of the New York Seventy-ninth Highlanders – who fell at the head of his regiment in the bloody battle of Bull Run. Colonel Cameron was a man of dauntless valor, of a sterling and generous spirit, high personal honor, and fine intellectual parts – at once a gentleman, a Christian, and a hero. He also had the most commanding physical proportions, a dignified presence, and a noble countenance.  Like his brother, the Secretary of War, he had been a printer, a journalist, and lawyer, and has also taken an active part in forwarding the agricultural and railroad interests of Pennsylvania, his native State. In military affairs he had always taken grant interest, having for years commanded a regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers. Latterly, however, he had retired from active life to his beautiful estate on the banks of the Susquehanna, intending to pass the remainder of his days in peaceful quiet. Only about a month ago was he induced to accept a command of a thousand patriotic and gallant Highland clansmen from this city, natives of the land of his sires, which he loved so warmly and well. The chief fear of his friends was that on the battle-field he would be too heedless of his own life, and these forebodings have been sadly realized. In his very first charge he fell – fell like a hero, with his face to the foe. At the head of his valiant Highlandmen he dashed into the thickest of the fray, and shouting the inspiring war-cry, "Scots! follow me!" he passed from the gory battle-field to Paradise.

 

Colonel Corcoran

On this page we publish a portrait of Colonel Corcoran, of the Sixty-ninth N.Y.S.M., who is supposed to be wounded and a prisoner at Manassas Junction. Colonel Michael Corcoran was born in Ireland some forty years ago. His father was a British officer who left no means to his son. At a very early age young Corcoran came to this country, obtained employment from the proprietor of Hibernian Hall in this city, and subsequently succeeded him in the establishment. Latterly, we believe, he occupied a desk in the Post-office. Colonel Corcoran joined the Sixty-ninth as a private, and served successively as orderly, lieutenant, and captain, finally rising to the rank of colonel. Let us hope that his captivity will not be of long duration, and that he will have an opportunity of pursuing the career he has so gloriously commenced. The Sixty-ninth returned to the city under the command of Captain Kelly, of Company A, the Colonel being, as we said, wounded, and a prisoner.