Sons of Leitrim
Clancy
James
Soldier Profile: James Clancy
Co. F, 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
James Clancy's story is written in fragments: a birth in Ireland around 1836, enlistment in Boston in 1861, and death from fever in a hospital near Falmouth on December 12, 1862—one day before his regiment was thrown into the slaughter at Fredericksburg.
Early Life and Family
Born: Circa 1836, Ireland (location unknown)
Emigration: Unknown date
Occupation: Driver
We know little about James Clancy beyond what his military records preserve.
Military Service
James enlisted as a private in Company F of the 28th Massachusetts Volunteers on November 28, 1861, at Boston, Massachusetts. His regimental descriptive book provides the only physical description we have of him: twenty-four years old, five feet four and one-half inches tall, with blue eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion. His occupation was listed as driver—likely meaning he drove teams of horses for hire or worked as a teamster.
With the 28th Massachusetts
Between June 1861 and December 1862, the 28th Massachusetts fought in some of the war's bloodiest engagements:
Secessionville (June 16, 1862): A failed Union assault on Confederate fortifications near Charleston, South Carolina
Chantilly (September 1, 1862): A confused, rain-soaked battle fought in a thunderstorm in Fairfax County, Virginia
South Mountain (September 14, 1862): The mountain passes in Maryland that opened the way to Antietam
Antietam (September 17, 1862): The bloodiest single day in American military history—nearly 23,000 casualties in twelve hours of fighting at Sharpsburg, Maryland
Fredericksburg (December 13, 1862): The disastrous Union assault on Marye's Heights
Which of these battles James participated in, we cannot say with certainty. What we know is that somewhere between Antietam in September and Fredericksburg in December, James Clancy fell ill.
Death from Fever (December 12, 1862)
James died of fever in a hospital near Falmouth, Virginia, on December 12, 1862—one day before his regiment was sent into the meat grinder at Fredericksburg. He never saw Marye's Heights. He never had to charge up that slope into Confederate fire from behind the stone wall. He died in a hospital bed the day before, consumed by fever.
Fever and disease killed more soldiers in the Civil War than bullets did. James Clancy was one of them.
Service & Life Timeline
Date Event Detail
c. 1836 Birth Ireland
Nov 28, 1861 Enlistment Boston, MA (28th Massachusetts)
June 16, 1862 Battle Secessionville, South Carolina
Sept 17, 1862 Battle Antietam, Maryland
Dec 12, 1862 Deceased Died of fever at Falmouth, VA
