Turning Points
in Wisconsin History
The Iron Brigade recalled by a veteran, 20 years after the war
The Iron Brigade. A Member of It Tells Some of Its Experiences
The "Iron Brigade" was one of the most famous military units in the Civil War. A brigade consisted of 2,000-5,000 men organized in regiments of a few hundred soldiers each; a regiment contained several companies of 100-300 soldiers, many of whom would have enlisted together from the same vicinity. The Iron Brigade was made up of five infantry regiments, and one of artillery: Wisconsin's 2nd Infantry, 6th Infantry, and 7th Infantry; Indiana's 19th Infantry; Michigan's 24th Infantry; and Battery B of the 4th U.S. Light Artillery. It gained a reputation for unusual courage and tenacity in the battles at Bull Run, Gainesville, Antietam (the Civil War's bloodiest battle), and Gettysburg. In this 8-page article from 1887, the writer looks back on its history when memory was still fresh and not yet heavily colored by nostalgia.
| Related Topics: |
Wisconsin in the Civil War Era The Iron Brigade, Old Abe and Military Affairs |
| Creator: | anonymous |
| Pub Data: | Milwaukee Sunday Telegraph, Sept. 11, 1887. |
| Citation: | "The Iron Brigade. A Member of It Tells Some of Its Experiences." Milwaukee Sunday Telegraph, Sept. 11, 1887. Online facsimile at: http://wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=990; Visited on: 4/23/2024 |
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