April 18, 2025
Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about Father Cooney celebrating Easter Mass for the Army of the Cumberland on a Civil War battlefield during the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. Melissa is a genealogist who has a website, americana-archives.com, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.
In 1864 during the Civil War, Union soldiers celebrated Easter with the Rev. P. P. Cooney (1822-1909), chaplain for the 35th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, also known as the First Irish Brigade.
Here is an illustration of Catholic Chaplain Rev. P. P. Cooney celebrating Easter Mass on the battlefield in 1864. Several famous generals and service men are present, including Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman, Surgeon George W. Parson, Lieutenant Colonel Augustus G. Tassin, and Union Army General David Sloane Stanley. The lower left image shows a soldier receiving holy communion in a battle scene, and in the lower right holy sisters are in a field hospital. Title: “Atlanta Campaign. Army of the Cumberland. Divine Service by Rev. P.P. Cooney, C.S.C. Chaplain Gen. of Ind. Troops in the Field.”
In a letter to his brother dated 26 April 1864, Father Cooney wrote:
“There is an artist in our brigade who took the picture of our regiment at Mass on Easter Sunday – my tent, etc. It was sent to Cincinnati to be engraved. It makes a most beautiful picture. It will cost about $500 and when finished I will send you a copy.” (Notre Dame Archives)
Father Peter Paul Cooney (one of seven children) was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1822 to Peter and Winifred “Winnie” (Mulheran) Cooney. He was five years old when his family immigrated to America from Ireland.
Father Cooney was well-loved by many and was held in high esteem. He forged a lasting friendship with Union General William Starke Rosecrans.
In the same letter mentioned above dated 26 April 1864, Father Cooney wrote:
“The Commanding General [Rosecrans] has become a fervent Catholic convert, and his example is powerful over the men of his command.” (Notre Dame Archives)
Scores of letters, diaries, books, and military accounts reveal the chaplain’s enduring qualities which include humility, grace, compassion, and deep patriotism. Here are just a few…
In “Indiana’s Roll of Honor,” published in 1864, the following is noted (p. 561):
“Father Cooney, Chaplain of the Irish Regiment. Possessing all the elements of a soldier, he is endowed with the virtues of a good priest. Cool and brave under fire, he is kind and compassionate in the hospital. In the sluggish and dull monotony of the camp, he is energetic and active.”
A report on an engagement filed by Lieutenant Colonel Augustus G. Tassin, Thirty-Fifth Indiana Infantry, of operations 15-19 December 1864 in the field, near Rutherford’s Creek, Tennessee, 19 December 1864:
“My officers and men behaved gallantly. Although the majority of the men of my regiment are recruits, they did well. Great praise is due to Father Cooney for his constant presence in the field, attending to the wants of the wounded and cheering us all by his presence.”
Credit: “Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,” Volume 45, Part 1. Chapter 57, pp. 202-203.
Here is a photo of the mess kit that Father Cooney used while serving as the beloved chaplain of the 35th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War.
Father Cooney wrote a heartfelt letter of condolence to Mrs. Garfield after President Garfield’s death. Credit: National Park Service. His letter to her, dated 19 October 1881, begins:
Dear Madam:
I beg leave to send you lines of condolence to the afflicted wife of him whom I have always held in the highest esteem – Jas. A. Garfield – late President of the United States, & whose virtues & merit I tried to express in an address delivered in South Bend, Ind., Sept. 26th, 1881 – the day appointed for his obsequies.
In 1915 an Indiana newspaper article featured a long-time Notre Dame cobbler who was married by Father Cooney back in 1868.
John Peter Drum (1844-1917) married Mary Ellen Moriarity (1846-1905) on 28 June 1868 in St. Joseph, Indiana.
This article reports:
On the wall of the ancient cobbler’s shop is a well-worn print commemorating the life and labors of the Rev. P. P. Cooney, C.S.C., who served as chaplain to the 35th Irish veteran regiment, which was made up of survivors of the Irish Brigade during the Civil War, and others who claimed Erin as their native land. This regiment was formed in 1861 [correction] and Mr. Drum points to Father Cooney as the man who married him.
Father Cooney was a member of a unique part of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) formed in Notre Dame, Indiana, on 6 October 1897. It was known as Post 529 and was composed of priests who served as chaplains during the Civil War.
Here is a photograph of the priests who formed this unique G.A.R. post and their companies and regiments.
In this photo we see (sitting left to right): Rev. William Corby, Chaplain of Eighty-eighth N. Y. Volunteers, Irish Brigade; Rev. Peter P. Cooney, Chaplain Thirty-fifth Medina and 1st Irish 35th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Rev. James McLain, Company B, Twenty-fourth United States Infantry; Rev. William A. Olmstead, captain and lieutenant-colonel, Second New York Volunteers, colonel Fifty-ninth New York Veteran Volunteers, brigadier general by brevet, commanding First Brigade, Second Division. Second Army Corps, Army of Potomac; Rev. Mark A. Willis, Company I, Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers; (second row, left to right): Rev. James Mantel, Company A, First Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery and Sixth United States Cavalry; John McInerny, Company H, Eighty-third Ohio Volunteers; Rev. Joseph Staley, Company C, Eighth Indiana Regulars; Rev. James C. Malloy, Company B, 138th Pennsylvania Volunteers; Rev. Nicholas A. Bath, Company D, Second United States Volunteers; Ignats Mayer, Company B, 133rd Pennsylvania Volunteers; and Rev. Edward F. Martin. United States Navy.
Happy Easter!
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Note on the header image: close-up of Rev. Peter P. Cooney. Credit: Notre Dame Special Collection.
