They made an attempt with the 69th New York to form an Irish Brigade, but Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin of Pennsylvania opposed the idea, which led to the proposal being dropped.
The regiment was raised during August and September 1861 from companies raised in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Berks counties by Richard H. Rush, who had been authorized to do so by Governor Curtin.
In addition to the ~15,000 spectators, attendees included 6 state governors: Andrew Gregg Curtin of Pennsylvania, Augustus Bradford of Maryland, Oliver P. Morton of Indiana, Horatio Seymour of New York, Joel Parker of New Jersey, and David Tod of Ohio.
Andrew Jackson | Andrew Lloyd Webber | Andrew Carnegie | Andrew Johnson | Hurricane Andrew | Andrew Wyeth | Prince Andrew, Duke of York | Curtin University | Andrew Marvell | Andrew Sullivan | Andrew | Andrew W. Mellon Foundation | Andrew Lang | Andrew Loog Oldham | Andrew Davies | Andrew Cuomo | Saint Andrew | Andrew Rosindell | Andrew Motion | Andrew Weil | Andrew Stevens | Andrew Hill | Jane Curtin | Andrew Young | Andrew Lincoln | Andrew Kötting | Andrew Hamilton | Andrew Davies (writer) | Gregg Allman | Andrew W.K. |