Miss Last Night’s ‘Copper?’ Here’s Where to Watch ‘La Tempête’

The writers’ portrayal of Maguire mourning Molly had me scratching my head awhile – it seemed his character was back on his feet pretty fast. But then his obvious need for companionship was demonstrated by jumping into something with the Lockwood woman so soon.

How did I know the writers would commit the historical blunder about Corcoran’s service in the “71st Regiment”? And how much did I hope they’d do their research and avoid it? Shucks, I posted on this weeks ago, the moment I heard the script saying Corcoran was in the 71st.
There were two “71st New York” infantry regiments in the Civil War. There were very, very different units.
The 71st NY Volunteer Infantry, of the Excelsior Brigade, was organized at the start of the war, with many enlisted men from immigrant Irish Catholic backgrounds. Historically, this must have been Corcoran’s “71st.” This regiment fought at Gettysburg, and later in the (rather slow) pursuit of Lee southward (July 5 to 25, 1863). This 71st was not, repeat not, in NYC during the Draft Riots. Therefore, Morehouse’s remark that he saw Corcoran firing on the rioters is absolutely impossible.
The “other” 71st was the 71st New York national guard (or “militia”). That regiment was organized in about 1850. All of its members were native-born New York Protestants. In fact, it was organized at the behest of the “Know-Nothing Party,” which was virulently anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic. Corcoran could not possibly have been in that 71st regiment: he’d have been rejected out of hand, and possibly thrashed for even applying. The 71st NYNG was in NYC during the Draft Riots, and did fire on the rioters. It is absolutely impossible that Corcoran was in that regiment. He was in Virginia, chasing Lee.