Patrick O'Rorke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Henry O'Rorke
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| Born | March 25, 1837 County Cavan, Ireland |
| Died | July 2, 1863 (aged 26) Gettysburg, Pennsylvania |
| Place of burial |
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Rochester, New York)
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| Service/ |
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| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held |  140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
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| Signature |  |
Patrick Henry "Paddy" O'Rorke (March 25, 1837 – July 2, 1863) was an Irish-American soldier. He moved to the United States from Ireland. During the American Civil War, he became a colonel in the Union Army. He was killed during the famous Battle of Gettysburg.
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Early Life and Education
Patrick O'Rorke was born in County Cavan, Ireland, on March 25, 1837. When he was just one year old, his family moved to the United States. In 1842, they settled in Rochester, New York. Patrick went to public schools there.
In 1853, at age 16, he earned a scholarship to the University of Rochester. However, his father passed away before he could attend. To help his family, Patrick took a job as a marble cutter.
Later, in 1857, he was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was an excellent student and graduated first in his class in June 1861. After graduating, he joined the Corps of Engineers as a second lieutenant.
Service in the Civil War
Patrick O'Rorke quickly joined the war effort. In July 1861, he served at the Battle of Blackburn's Ford. He also fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, where his horse was shot from under him. After these battles, he helped build defenses around Washington, D.C.
In October 1861, he joined the Port Royal Expedition. He did important scouting and engineering work. He helped build gun batteries on islands like Tybee Island. These batteries were used to attack Fort Pulaski. After the fort was captured in April 1862, O'Rorke was chosen to accept its surrender.
After the battle, O'Rorke returned to Rochester. He married Clara Bishop on July 9.
In September 1862, O'Rorke was made a colonel. He took command of the 140th New York Infantry. This regiment was made up mostly of volunteers from his hometown of Rochester. Many of them were also Irish-Americans. He led the 140th New York at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December. At Chancellorsville in May 1863, he temporarily led a larger group of regiments.
Heroism at Gettysburg
At the Battle of Gettysburg, Colonel O'Rorke was back commanding his 140th New York regiment. The battle was fierce on July 2, 1863. A Union general, Gouverneur K. Warren, urgently needed soldiers to defend Little Round Top. This was a very important hill.
General Warren found O'Rorke's New Yorkers marching to another part of the battle. Warren asked O'Rorke to bring his men to Little Round Top right away. O'Rorke was under orders to follow his brigade. But Warren told him, "Never mind that, Paddy. Bring them up on the double-quick and don't stop for aligning. I'll take the responsibility."
O'Rorke quickly led his men up the hill. They rushed down the other side, pushing back the attacking Confederate soldiers. During this brave charge, O'Rorke grabbed his regiment's flag. He stood on a rock to encourage his men. At that moment, he was shot in the neck and died. His actions on Little Round Top were very important. Many historians believe his courage helped save the Union's position at Gettysburg.
Burial and Legacy
Colonel O'Rorke was first buried near Gettysburg. Later, his wife Clara traveled to retrieve his body. It was brought back to Rochester by train.
His funeral was held on July 15 in Rochester. Hundreds of people attended, from different religions and backgrounds. His funeral helped bring the community together. He was eventually buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester.
O'Rorke's widow, Clara, later became a successful educator.
Remembering Colonel O'Rorke
After the war, veterans in Rochester formed a group called O'Rorke Post 1. This group was named in his honor.
In 1889, New York built a monument to the 140th Infantry on Little Round Top. The monument has a carving of Colonel O'Rorke.
In 2004, a bridge in Rochester, New York, was named the O'Rorke Bridge. It was dedicated to remember Colonel O'Rorke's bravery and service.
