Patrick O'Rorke was born on this day (March 28) in Ireland, emigrating as an infant to Rochester, NY. He graduated first in the West Point class of 1861 (George Armstrong Custer came in at the bottom).
On July 2, 1863, the second day at Gettysburg, Col. O'Rorke was commanding the 140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Ordered by Brig. Gen. Gouverneur Warren (whom he knew) to assist in the defense of Little Round Top, he at first objected that he was supposed to be following his brigade led by Brig. Gen. Stephen Weed (another upstate New York West Pointer).
"Never mind that, Paddy," said Warren. "Bring them up on the double-quick and don't stop for aligning. I'll take the responsibility."
O'Rorke led a counter-attack charge on his own responsibility which stabilized the Union line, during which he was killed. His brigade commander Weed was mortally wounded a little later on top of the hill (as directed by Warren), as was the commander of another brigade, Col. Strong Vincent. One of Vincent's regiments was the 20th Maine, led by Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Little Round Top was held, protecting the left flank of the Union army. The three-day battle had higher casualties than any other in the war. It was also, along with the simultaneous capture of Vicksburg a thousand miles away, the war's military turning point.
Weed was 31 years old at the time of his death. Vincent and O'Rorke were both 26.
No comments:
Post a Comment