Col. James D Brady Camp #63
Maryland Department / Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
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Recent History
April 4th 2009: Battlefield Tour of Dam #1 at Lee's Mill in Newport News, Va.
May 23rd 2009: Fort Hayes Cleanup
May 24th 2009: Memorial Day Observation at Yorktown National Cemetery, Va.
Camp History
"Bill Rose of Petersburg formed the 63rd NY reenactors after he discovered that Col. James D. Brady of the 63rd was a native Virginian and lived and died in Petersburg after the war. Neil Hanlon of Williamsburg heard of Bill's efforts and since his ancestor was in the 63rd NY, teamed up to help recruit for the unit. Neil and Bill were members of the Sons Of Union Veterans, Neil as a member of the Army of the James Camp of Richmond, VA; and Bill as a former Camp Commander of the Col. E. D. Baker Camp 101 of Warminster, PA. This led to their idea of forming a new Camp to cover the Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Petersburg areas to be named in honor of Col. Brady and the 63rd NY as the Col. James D. Brady Camp 63 Department of Maryland, Sons Of Union Veterans of the Civil War, with Neil Hanlon serving as the first Camp Commander, and Bill Rose as the first Secretary/Treasurer and Captain of the Camp Guard."
History of the 63rd NY Regiment
Mustered in: September to November 1861.
Mustered out: June 30, 1865.
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
"This regiment, Col. Richard C. Enright, was organized at New York City, for Meagher's, the Irish, Brigade, and received its State numerical designation November 2, 1861. It was mustered in the service of the United States for three years in September, October and November, 1861. June 12, 1863, the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of two companies, A and B. January 12, 1864, the men enlisted for the Kings County Volunteers, a regiment Col. Michael Murphy received authority to recruit, June 2, 1863, were assigned to the battalion as Company C; this company was mustered in September 21, 1863. In April, 1864, new Companies D and E, and in June, 1864, new Company F, joined the battalion. At the expiration of its term of service the men entitled thereto were discharged and the battalion retained in service.
The original companies of the regiment were recruited in New York City, portions of Companies A and E, however, came from Boston, Mass., and Company K — Faugh-o-Ballagh — from Albany; new Company C was recruited principally at Brooklyn, the other new companies mostly in New York City.
The regiment left the State November 28, 1861; served in the Irish, Meagher's, Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac, from November 30, 1861; in same, 2d, Brigade, Richardson's 1st Division, 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March 13, 1862, and, commanded by Col. James D. Brady, it was honorably discharged and mustered out June 30, 1865, at Alexandria, Va.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 8 officers, 70 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 7 officers, 72 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 94 enlisted men; total, 16 officers, 236 enlisted men; aggregate 252; of whom 31 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy."
History is from the New York Military Museum Website
History of Col. James D Brady
Colonel James D. Brady was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on April 3, 1843, the son of Irish immigrants. His parents died in the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1855, and James was sent to live with relatives in New York City. At the outbreak of war he enlisted as a private in the 37th NY "Irish Rifles," then transferred to the 63rd NY as a 1st lieutenant and adjutant on Dec. 7, 1861. He was wounded in the leg at Fair Oaks, and received a slight wound in the mouth at Malvern Hill during the Seven Days Battles. At Fredericksburg he was wounded in the head while leading the color company in the charge up Marye's Heights, for which he was commended by Gen. Meagher for heroism and gallantry and promoted to captain. In Mar. 1863 he was appointed assistant inspector-general of the 3rd Brig; 1st Div; 2nd Corps, then on Apr. 9, 1864 to inspector-general of the 4th Brig; 1st Div; 2nd Corps. At Cold Harbor on Jun. 3, 1864, while riding perilously close to Confederate lines a bullet traversed through Brady's arm, chest, and abdomen. It continued a path into the back of the commander of Irish Brigade, Col. Byrnes, and lodged in his spine. Brady survived, but Byrnes was not as fortunate. On May 26, 1865 James D. Brady was promoted to colonel of the 63rd NY; and was at the head of his regiment for the Grand Review in Washington D.C. Following the war, Col. James D. Brady decided to remain in Virginia and live in Petersburg. He started a short lived grocery store in this city, but removed to Portsmouth after being appointed Naval Storekeeper, then later as Chief Acccountant at the Norfolk navy-yard. A year later he was appointed Clerk of the Courts for Portsmouth. During this period he married Maggie Campbell of Portsmouth, and to them were born six children. The political life of Col. James D. Brady started on Feb; 27, 1869, when he gave a speech for the Republicans of Portsmouth., then later in 1875 he received the Republican nomination to senate, but lost the election due to fraud. On Apr. 23, 1875 he assumed command of the Department of Virginia, "Boys in Blue," with the rank of Major General issued by President Garfield. During annual Memorial Day services Brady was usually the featured speaker, and was one of the first to offer his support for total reconciliation with the former Confederates. On May 13, 1877 he was appointed by President Hayes to Collector, Internal Revenue Service for the Eastern Division of Virginia, a position he held under the administrations of Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, and McKinley. At the start of this new position he moved to Petersburg, where he remained the rest of his life. In 1884 Brady was nominated by the Republican Party as Congressman for the 4th District of Virginia. Besides the support of Blacks, he was also supported by many former Confederates, and he was elected to Congress. After his term of office in 1888, he went into law practice for a short time in Washington D. C. with his old friend Brig. Gen. O'Beirne. He devoted his final years in the affairs of the old veterans and attended reunions of the Irish Brigade, also as President of the 2nd Corps Association. Through all these years following the war, Col. Brady at the request of the men of the 63rd NY; was given the safekeeping of their 2nd Irish Brigade flag. In 1896 Brady was assured by the former Chaplain of the Irish Brigade, Father Corby, that the flag would be kept safe and be a cherished relic at Notre Dame, where it remains today, treasured and restored. When war was declared with Spain in 1898, Col. Brady was recommended for the position of Brigadier General of Virginia Volunteers, but with old age and feeble from war wounds, he had to decline. James Dennis Brady died at his home in Petersburg on Nov. 30, 1900 and is buried at St. Joseph cemetery.
