Poor Paddy

Paddy O'Rorke: The Forgotten Hero of Little Round Top





A little history on Patrick Henry O'Rorke he was born March 28, 1836 in County Cavan Ireland.

His parents Mary and Patrick Sr. immigrated to America when Paddy was just a year old. The family finally settled in Rochester NY in 1842 in the Irish section of town known as Dublin. Patrick Sr.was killed in a work accident in 1850, having three older brothers he was able to continue his schooling. He was offered a scholarship to the University of Rochester but turned the opportunity down at his mother's behest because the family was strictly Catholic and the University's administration was Baptist.

Ultimately Paddy was recommened to attend West Point after graduation in June 1861 he saw his first action at the first Battle of Bull Run in July 1861 as a line officer. He was subsequently assigned to the Engineer Corps and helped in the defense of Washington and Fort Monroe, Virginia.

In the fall of 1962, he was offered the command of the newly formed 140th
New York Volunteer Infantry assigned to the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. In December the regiment was involved in a minor action at Fredericksburg. For a short period in the beginning of "63" he led the brigade in which the 140th served during the battle of Chancellorsville, Va

O'Rorke was a skillful leader of his brigade during the epic Chancellorsville campaign and for his performance gained the rank of a brevet promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army. A reorganization in June, Brigadier General Stephen Hinsdale Weed, took command of the brigade. O'Rorke resumed command of the 140th New York as the Army of the Potomac under its new commander, George G. Meade, began its foray north into Pennsylvania in pursuit of Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.

Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren, the Army's Chief Engineer, together with some signalmen on the crest of Little Round Top, spotted the movement of Confederate General James Longstreet's Corps, which threatened to turn the left flank of the Union Army, and rushed to find Union troops to guard Little Round Top against this action. Warren found the brigade commanded by Strong Vincent, who posted his troops on the ridge of the southern slope of Little Round Top, in front of the advancing Confederates.

On the opposite end of the battle line a gallant leader, Joshua Chamberlin in command of the 20th Maine put up a heroic man to man bayonet counterattack. Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine has become legend and verse for the bravery displayed on that fated rocky crag July 2, 1863.

While the 20th Maine was holding Vincent's left, two Texas regiments were on the verge of breaking through his right, Vincent had been cut down while attempting to rally his men. Seeing the problem Warren rushed down the north slope of Little Round Top and found O'Rorke and his 140th New York on the Wheatfield Road awaiting orders. Warren demanded that O'Rorke move his troops to the summit of Little Round Top. O'Rorke, seeing that there was no time to clear the movement with Weed, led the 140th up Little Round Top. As Paddy and the boys reached the top of the hill, he assessed the situation, dismounted and drew his sword and lead the attack head long into the Texans advance. As the tale goes according to O'Rorke's adjutant, Lieutenant Porter Farley, "His sword flashed from its scabbard into the sunlight," and O'Rorke commanded, "Down this way, boys!" running down to meet the advancing rebels. As he lead Companies A and G of the 140th New York down the slope O'Rorke was shot through the neck and fell at the head of his troops, the 140th continued the attack, just in time to save the right flank of Vincent's Brigade, the summit of Little Round Top, the left flank of the Army of the Potomac, and the day for the Union.

For all his bravery Paddy is favored with a monument on the field where he gave his life for his country. It is said to bring Good Luck if one rubs ol' Paddy's nose on the 104h monument where the forgotten brave Paddy fell July 2 1863.