History of the Catholic Church In Indiana Charles Blanchard, Bowen 1898

PATRICK BREEN, a familiar personage in the city of Vincennes, Ind., and a trusted watchman for the B. & O. S. W. Railroad company, has had a varied and interesting life's experience, and a record of twenty-two years active service in the United States army, a full recital of which and its countless attendant thrilling incidents would make in itself an interesting volume. He is an adopted son of the country in whose service he has endured so many hardships, being born in county Kerry, Ireland, February 20, 1840. When eleven years old he came to America, joining his parents at New York city, whither they had preceded him, and he was for some time employed as call-boy in a large metropolitan hotel. He afterward worked as a farm hand, and in 1855 joined the United States army as a musician in general service, and was stationed at Governor's island. It may be said that our soldier was a great and a notable fifer. He was in the recruiting service at Trenton, N. J., and Syracuse, N. Y., for two years, and in 1859 was attached to company C, Second United States infantry, stationed at Fort Ripley. After a couple of years of frontier service this company was ordered to Chambersburg, Pa., to report to Gen. Patterson. Here he re-enlisted for five years. After the battle of Bull Run and actual warfare had begun he voluntarily requested to be relieved from musician's duty and to be given a musket. This request was granted, and he was appointed a non-commissioned officer in company C, Second United States infantry. All of his Civil war experience was with the army of the Potomac, and he was a participant in all the principal engagements of that illustrious army, beginning with Bull Run, then Yorktown, Gaines' Mills, Chickahominy Swamp, Malvern Hill, second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (where our soldier was color guard), Gettysburg, (where he was severely wounded), Rappahannock, the three days in the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor. Here the regiment was so depleted that the remnant of the Second was constituted headquarters guard of the Second division, serving in this capacity until December, 1864. It was then sent to Elmyra, N. Y., to guard the rebel prisoners, of whom there were ten thousand.

Our veteran re-enlisted in 1864, and was made orderly-sergeant of his company, and after the close of the war was on guard duty at Rochester and Fort Hamilton until the fall of 1865, when he was sent to Louisville, Ky., on reconstructive service. He remained in Kentucky four years, election riots, moonshiners and the ku-klux requiring the presence of troops. In 1869 the Second was sent to Atlanta, Ga., for consolidation with the Sixteenth United States infantry, and our soldier's company was stationed at Montgomery, Ala., where he remained until 1871, when he was promoted to the office of ordnance sergeant, on the non-commissioned staff of the army. He was given charge of the ordnance supplies at Fort St. Philip, on the left bank of the Mississippi river, an onerous and responsible position. Here he remained several years, and then, feeling the weight of advancing years and the continual wear of twenty-two years of army service, resigned in 1877 and was discharged. In May of that year he located in Vincennes, coming up the river from New Orleans. Upon his arrival here Mr. Breen was employed by the O. & M. Railway company as night watchman with police powers. For twelve years he held this position and for the past eight years has occupied the position he now holds. He is an ardent republican and takes a great interest in local politics, frequently holding precinct offices. He is a member of Jeff C. Davis post, G. A. R. ,of which he is past post commander. Though deprived of early educational advantages, Mr. Breen has been a close observer and constant reader, and is clearly and intelligently posted on current affairs. Mr. Breen was married in Louisville, Ky., January 10, 1865, to Miss Mary Charlotte Fine, a native of St. Louis, who followed him through all the changes and vicissitudes of camp life. Their first child, Mary Rosanna (Mrs. F. M. Smith, of Indianapolis), was born at Montgomery, Ala. ; Walter Patrick, now a clerk in the office of the C. &. N. W. Ry., at Chicago, was born at Atlanta, Ga. ; John J, a prominent attorney at Vincennes, was born at Fort St. Philip, La.; Margaret, born in the same place, died in infancy; Clara Frances and Harry J., students in the city high school, were born in Vincennes. Mr. Breen's family is warmly attached to the Catholic church, and during his army life he was zealous in his labors for Christianity, and was often instrumental in securing religious services in the field where a man of less zeal would have despaired of accomplishing this good.

Patrick Breen