Some More on Alpheus T. Budlong-- Part 1: Sherman Takes Command Before Bull Run

From the book "Sherman:  Lessons in Leadership" by Steven E. Woodworth.

General William T. Sherman, while still a colonel and before the First Battle of Bull Run, found himself appointed to command the newly formed   13th U.S. Infantry Regiment on May 14, 1861.    By June 11, he was in Washington, D.C.,  and by the end of the month, commanded  the Third Brigade  of Brigadier general  Daniel Tyler's 1st Division of the field army of Gen.  Irvin McDowell, who was preparing for the march on Richmond to end the war.

One of the regiments of his brigade was the 2nd Wisconsin which included Alpheus T. Budlong.  The 2nd was not a part of the famed Iron Brigade at this juncture of the war.  The other three regiments were from New York 13th, 69th and 79th Militia.

The 69th Mew York was an Irish Regiment which was supposedly dubbed by none other than Robert E. Lee as "The Fighting Sixty-Ninth."

Three of the four regiments of his new brigade were composed of volunteers.  And, it became his job to turn them into soldiers.  Not an easy task, especially since he didn't exactly look to be an officer.  His uniform, when he bothered to wear one,  was old and ill-fitting, his appearance gangly and  disheveled.  Under a broad-brimmed hat, he looked more agrarian than martial.

--Old Secesh

The Famed Irish Brigade

Of course, this consisted mostly of men of Irish descent.

It consisted of five regiments, but originally was made up of three regiments:

69th New York
63rd New York
88th New York

It was later joined by the 29th Massachusetts who disliked having to fight alongside Irish and after the Battle of Antietam was replaced by the 28th Massachusetts and then the 116th Pennsylvania were added.

--Old Secesh