Thomas Francis Meagher - Legacy and Honors

Legacy and Honors

• A statue of Meagher, on horseback with sword raised, was erected in 2004 on the Mall in his home city of Waterford, Ireland.
• A similar statue honoring him is on the front lawn of the Capitol grounds in Helena, which was erected several decades ago.
• The military fort at camden near Crosshaven Co Cork (now being restored) is officially named Fort Meagher.
• Meagher County, Montana was named for him.
• A monument at the Antietam battlefield was dedicated in his honor. The inscription on the granite monument reads:

"The Irish Brigade commander was born in Waterford City, Ireland on August 23, 1823; a well educated orator, he joined the young Ireland movement to liberate his nation. This led to his exile to a British Penal Colony in Tasmania Australia in 1849. He escaped to the United States in 1852 and became an American citizen. When the Civil War broke out, he raised Company K, Irish Zouaves, for the 69th New York State Militia Regiment, which fought at First Bull Run under Colonel Michael Corcoran. Subsequently Meagher raised the Irish Brigade and commanded it from February 3, 1862 to May 14, 1863 til later commanded a military district in Tennessee. After the War Meagher became Secretary and Acting Governor of the Montana Territory. He drowned in the Missouri River near Fort Benton on July 1, 1867. His body was never recovered."

• In the spring of 1867, the U.S. Army established a post near Rocky Creek, east of Bozeman, Montana and named it Fort Elizabeth Meagher in honor of Meagher's second wife.

• At the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, a statue depicting Meagher in uniform was dedicated near the Brooklyn bridge directly facing the Las Vegas strip.