Today may be Friday the 13th, but in historical context it’s far from unlucky. On this day in Boston history in 1861, volunteer infantry units began recruiting in The Hub to form the 28th Massachusetts Regiment, comprised almost solely of Irish-Americans to help the Union cause in the Civil War.

According to the regiment’s commemorative website, the embarrassing Union defeat at the Battle of Bull Run prompted Governor John A. Andrew, with the help of influential Irish Catholic newspaper publisher Patrick Donahoe, to start the enlistment process and mobilize volunteers. Then, on this day 152 years ago, the 28th Massachusetts was officially mustered into federal service.

The volunteers would go on to fight valiantly in the second Battle of Bull Run as well as other notorious eastern theatre engagements such as Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. They served under General Thomas Francis Meagher, a native Irishman, rushing into skirmishes while yelling their signature battle cry “Faugh a Ballagh!” or “Clear the Way!”

Exemplifying just how significant the 28th Mass. was to the North, the regiment was present when Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant.

For more information and in-depth details about the 28th Massachusetts, check out their website or follow them on Twitter