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Background
In the early 1860s, the U.S. found itself on the brink of civil war. On the one hand, escalating pressure to guarantee 'state rights,' coupled with the increased threat of succession had taken hold in some southern states. Northerners, by contrast,
saw the South as trying to break away from the Union in an attempt to gain greater political and economic power--and to secure an institutionalized policy of slavery. In the months and years leading up to the war, both sides began organizing in
anticipation of the first civil war in the U.S. The North and South had one thing in common: a need for healthy, young men to fight a battle which would doubtless result a tremendous loss of lives. Back in Ireland, the economy was still recovering
from the famine but the exodus to North America continued: many of these young Irish men would take up arms, as fighting in a war presented a promise of land and opportunity.
Research Notes
A cursory examination of the Civil War enlistment, casualty and benefit lists indicate that the Cullinans and Cullinanes were among the many Irish families who took an active part in the War. They fought on both sides--in a war which divided
families along religious, economic and social lines. One of the men who fought for the North was Bartholomew Cullinan, a native of County Limerick, Ireland. He was known as 'Uncle Batty'. According to my records, he was the older brother of Dennis
Cullinan (1830-1908) who was born in the Parish of Rathkeale, County Limerick. Dennis arrived in the States just before the war, and helped construct the Erie Canal, eventually settling in Dunkirk, New York.
I first learned about 'Uncle Batty' in a letter from Mrs. Virginia (n‚e Montgomery) Cullinan (1905-1990), the widow of Edmund P. Cullinan (1905-1971), former Chief Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. Mrs. Cullinan wrote,
"There was as family tale about Uncle 'Batty' who fought in the Civil War. Mrs. McCarthy, when she was living, let me read the endearing letters he wrote to his sister (I don't know who she was). The last one he wrote he had been
discharged in Washington, D.C. and was on his way home to Dunkirk and could hardly wait to get there. They never heard from him again. It is a mystery. I looked him up in the files at the War Department and his record was Bartholomew Cullinan - all
his history - fought at the Bull Run 1st and 2nd Battles. Was in other combat and was paid off in Washington, D.C. Must have met with foul play because he was never heard of again. Sad. It was not like this young man who wanted to get home to his
family so badly."
Can you Help?
Although I have tried on numerous occasions to find living relatives of this branch from Dunkirk, New York, it appears that the line is now extinct. It is possible, however, that Bartholomew Cullinan, if he survived, may have lived elsewhere in the
United States or may have returned to Ireland (purely my own speculation), an he may have had children of his own. Bartholomew as a first name is found in some Massachusetts Cullinan(e) lines. If this story, or any of the above names are familiar to
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