General Thomas Wilberforce Egan (1834-1887)

Today marks the death of another Civil War general who was Catholic: Major General Thomas Wilberforce Egan (1834-1887). Born to Irish immigrants in Watervliet in upstate New York, he enlisted at the start of the war and was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the 40th New York Volunteers. He served in nearly in nearly every major battle in the war’s eastern theater. The New York Times wrote of him : “He scorned to dismount under fire, and the result was that eight horses were shot under him during the war.” In the summer of 1864, when General U.S. Grant had General Robert E. Lee bottled up in the city of Petersburg, Colonel Egan was severely wounded. When he returned to active duty a few months later, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He served until the end of the war, and he was awarded the brevet (honorary) rank of Major General for his wartime services. After the war General Egan worked in the New York Customs House as deputy collector. In 1881 he retired and lived in relative obscurity. His funeral Mass was held at St. Rose of Lima Church, located on Cannon Street near Delancey Street in Manhattan. He was buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery.