ePub Escape from Elba: The Fall and Flight of Napoleon 1814-1815 by Norman MacKenzie in History

Description

On the eve of the American Civil War 1.6 million Irish-born people were living in the United States. The majority had emigrated to the major industrialized cities of the North; New York alone was home to more than 200;000 Irish; one in four of the total population. The research for this book has its origins in the pension records of the Civil War; which included birth and baptismal certs; medical records; and letters and private correspondence between family members. The treasure trove of material made available by the widows and dependent files comes; however; at a cost. In every instance; the file only exists due to the death of a soldier or sailor. From that as its starting point; colored by sadness; the author has crafted the stories of 35 Irish families whose lives were emblematic of the nature of the Irish emigrant experience.