Sepia Saturday: Father Quinn

I love Civil War photographs and images from that era. TheY speak of such a time of upheaval, of unspeakable loss arising because men believed that war was the answer even when they weren't sure what the question was.

I love the images even more when I can learn a little bit about the subject of the photograph.

 Photo from Library of Congress Civil War Collection.

This is Father Thomas Quinn in his military uniform. He was a chaplain with the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery for a brief period of time, during which this photograph was captured. He mustered into the unit on November 8. 1861 and was discharged by special order effective January 3, 1861.

Prior to his tenure in the 1st R.I. Light Artillery, he had been chaplain to the Ist Rhode Island Infantry, serving with them at the first Battle of Manassas. After their service commitment ended, he joined the 3rd Rhode Island Infantry Regiment.  Several Irish Catholics enlisted in this unit and two of them were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of bravery during the war.

Some sources say that Fr. Quinn was Canadian-born, but the 1870 census lists his place of birth as Maine. He was born about 1820.  I can't find an entry for him in the 1880 Census, so he may have died fairly young.