Sons of Leitrim
Layden
Thomas
Soldier Profile: Thomas Layden
Co. D, 15th New York Volunteer Engineers
Thomas was a builder by trade and by service. As a member of the 15th New York Engineers, his war was not just one of musketry, but of axes, shovels, and transit levels. His regiment was essential to the Army of the Potomac, responsible for the vital pontoon bridges that crossed the Rappahannock and the massive earthworks that eventually broke the siege of Petersburg.
Early Life and Family
Born: December 11, 1828, in Fenagh, County Leitrim.
Parents: Farrell Layden and Mary O'Brien Layden.
Baptism: He was baptized in Fenagh on the day of his birth, a common practice for the time.
Emigration: Thomas brought his skills as a carpenter across the Atlantic, eventually settling in New England where his family ties remained strong.
Military Service: The Engineers
Thomas entered the service in June 1863. Unlike many volunteers, records indicate he was drafted—a testament to the Union's need for skilled tradesmen as the war reached its peak.
Engineering Feats: The 15th Engineers were involved in some of the war's most complex operations. They were at Gettysburg in July 1863, and their expertise was crucial during the long Siege of Petersburg through 1864 and 1865.
The Pontoniers: These men were often the first to face fire, laying pontoon bridges under sharpshooter glare so the infantry could advance.
Mustering Out: Having seen the war through to its conclusion, Thomas was mustered out with his regiment on July 5, 1865.
Post-War Life: New Haven
After the war, Thomas moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where he lived with his sister, Catherine Layden Quirk, and her husband William.
Change of Trade: By the time of the 1880 Census, Thomas had transitioned from carpentry to the skilled trade of a harness maker, contributing to the bustling horse-drawn economy of industrial New Haven.
Pension: As the years took their toll, he applied for an Invalid Pension on February 5, 1884, seeking support for the physical labor he had given to his adopted country.
Final Resting Place
Thomas died between 1910 and 1911, having lived a long life that spanned from the Famine years in Leitrim to the dawn of the twentieth century in America.
Burial: He is buried in Saint Bernard Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut.
Family Plot: He rests in the Quirk family plot, alongside his father, Farrell, and his sister, Catherine, keeping the family together even in death.
Service Timeline
DateEventLocation / Detail
Dec 11, 1828 Birth & Baptism Fenagh, Co. Leitrim
June 1863 Drafted into Union Army New York / ConnecticutJuly
1863Battle of Gettysburg Support Operations
1864–1865 Siege of Petersburg Earthworks & Engineering
July 5, 1865 Honorably Mustered Out New York
Feb 5, 1884 Applied for Pension New Haven, CT
