09/25/2026
.... about our Camp's namesake, By Tim Wilver
I was reading up on Col. Brady today. I didn't realize his indirect link to the 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, my old reenacting regiment. Brady was friends with Gen. Samuel Zook, who commanded the Brigade that the 53rd was part of at Gettysburg at the Wheatfield.
In the Civil War, like many wars, men had certain eccentric behaviors, whether it be for luck or habit. Perhaps carrying a crucifix or personal Bible, or a spent bullet from before that hit their gear or clothing. A.P. Hill had his 'red battle' shirt he always wore. Stonewall Jackson rode the battlefield chewing on fresh lemons. Gen. Zook always wore a red head bandana in combat, which he said was so his men could see him. At Gettysburg, he wore a black one. His men were puzzled and worried. The usual gregarious Zook was quiet and kept to himself at Gettysburg. Finally some of his staff asked him about it. He responded, "Boys, this is my last battle." Hours later he was killed at the Wheatfield. Col. James Brady was with Zook when he died.
After the war Col. Brady wrote a book, "Blue for the Union, Green for Ireland" and donated it and the regimental flag to Notre Dame.
"The flag was donated to Notre Dame after the war as a result of the friendship between Father William Corby,CSC, the chaplain of for the Irish Brigade, and James D. Brady, the last colonel of the 63rd. Corby became president of the University after the war."
- 'The green of the Union', Notre Dame Magazine
Father Corby is best known as giving general absolution rites of the Catholic Church to the men of the Irish Brigade before they went into action at the Wheatfield at Gettysburg.
Timothy L. Wilver
Department of the Chesapeake
Col James D. Brady Camp #63 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW)
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