Calvin Irish, a 32 year old resident of Burlington, Vt., enlisted as a private in Company M of the 1st Vermont Cavalry in 1862, and served until the end of the war. In 1865, the 1st Vermont was assigned to the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, under the command of Sheridan (and Custer). Irish records remarkably little of his experiences, although he did participate in Sheridan's operations in the Shenandoah Valley in the Spring of 1865. He was apparently in the rear guard during the Appomattox Campaign, but joined in some minor mopping up operations in late April, 1865. On May 3rd or 4th, he received an emergency furlough to return home to attend to his ailing wife, and never returned to the service. He received his discharge when the regiment mustered out on August 9th, 1865.
From the description of Diary, 1 January 1865-31 December 1865. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 122566764
