Father Leo arrived in the U.S. on September 5, 1860. Shortly thereafter, he was assigned to the Hartford diocese and made a curate of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven by Bishop McFarland. Less than a year from his arrival date, Father Leo would find his newly adopted country in a civil war. Father Leo would enlist near the end of the war and see several battles during his three months of service.

On April 15, 1864 Connecticut’s ninth volunteer regiment had returned to New Haven from Louisiana on furlough. The Regiment had lost their chaplain, Rev. Daniel Mullen, two years earlier (resigned due to illness). Father Leo enlisted in New Haven on July 15, 1864. He was mustered on the same day and joined the Connecticut’s ninth (known as the Irish regiment) as chaplain. On July 18, 1864 the regiment and their new chaplain boarded the steamer Elm City and were headed for Louisiana. But orders were abruptly changed and they set off for the James River. They disembarked at Bermuda Hundred, VA. In Virginia the regiment had three engagements with the Confederate troops: Deep Bottom, Virginia in July, 1864; Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864; and Fisher’s Hill, Virginia on September 22, 1864. Father Leo witnessed some decisive victories by the Ninth regiment during these engagements. A month later Father Leo was honorably discharged on October 26, 1864. (The information above and the photos are from: History of the 9th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, the Irish Regiment, in the war of Rebellion, 1861-1865, by Thomas Hamilton Murray, 1903.)

The school archives indicate that Father Leo was injured during his service, presumably of a minor nature, about which he was kidded through the many years that followed.