[New Group] The Iron Brigade

Falkenhorst · Post by **Falkenhorst** » 2002-12-19 04:48pm

I'm a fan of Civil War history, and I have been reading about the exploits of the Iron Brigade of the West, which consisted of Regiments from Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. It was an illustrious formation which covered itself in glory in the Civil War and was widely regarded as the toughest unit in the Union army.

I and others from the Midwest have conceived the idea of forming a fraternal group, to be named the IRON BRIGADE in honor of these brave midwesterners, open to SD.net members from the midwest, including:

Wisconsin
Indiana
Michigan

Illinois
Ohio
Minnesota
Iowa
Missouri

Considering the current delineation of the Midwest, it seems only right to extend our hand to our midwestern brethren in the latter 5 states as well.

Any good Midwesterners who are interested, feel free to post here!

For info on the Iron Brigade, go here:

http://www.cc.edu/civilwar/ib.html

irishmick79 · Post by **irishmick79** » 2002-12-19 04:57pm

In my youth, I was a reenactor with Company K in the 2nd Wisconsin. Went out to Virginia a few times. It was a blast. I'm in.

Falkenhorst · Post by **Falkenhorst** » 2002-12-19 05:11pm

Welcome! Spread the word, so that all other loyal midwesterners here heed our call and flock to our banner!

johnmarkley · Post by **johnmarkley** » 2002-12-20 12:09am

Sounds cool. Count me in.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2002-12-20 12:15am

Count me in as well.

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-12-20 12:27am

I drop off for a while and usergroups start popping up left and right.

I still haven't figured out what this 'Mess' group is about.

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2002-12-20 12:38am

IG-88E wrote:I drop off for a while and usergroups start popping up left and right.

I still haven't figured out what this 'Mess' group is about.

I think they're in the military.

Falkenhorst · Post by **Falkenhorst** » 2002-12-20 01:58am

Excellent!

Since Stormbringer helped me pioneer this idea, he will be issued member number 2. I will be #1, Irishmick #3 and John Markley will be member #4. Seniority is not measured by your membership number, but date of joining. The Iron Brigade was created on Thursday, December 19, therefore all of us are of equal seniority.

What ideas are to be had for organizing our group and appointing leaders and officers? I am open to suggestion.

Post by **Coyote** » 2002-12-20 02:13am

"The Mess" is a collection of current and former military on the board, basically a vets' club. We're also putting together the WarWolves fanfic, some of us will be active in that. I've posted my character intro in the Fanfics already and Rob Wilson will be plotting up something soon as well...

And I put in my "Empires" original story, "Kette's Story", which is an almost week-by-week account of my own basic training, retold through the character Kette' Barona, an alien girl I thought up years ago and I decided to put her in the meat grinder. I used my own experiences to add some color to her.

This Civil War thing sounds cool, but out here in the West (Idaho) we had little to do with it...

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2002-12-20 01:12pm

I was born near Minneapolis and lived there until 1989..?

irishmick79 · Post by **irishmick79** » 2002-12-20 01:44pm

Here's a brief history of the Iron Brigade I found on the 'net....

Prominent Commanders
Rufus King
John Gibbon
Solomon Meredith

Major Battles Gainesville (Brawner's Farm) 1862
South Mountain 1862
Antietam (Miller's Cornfield) 1862
Gettysburg 1863
Wilderness 1864
Cold Harbor 1864

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initially composed of the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin and the 19th Indiana regiments, the Iron Brigade was organized at Washington, D. C. in the fall of 1861. Brig. Gen. Rufus King, former editor of Milwaukee's Sentinel and Gazette served as its first commander until Brig. Gen. John Gibbon assumed command in May 1862. A regular Army officer, Gibbon was keen on training and discipline and did much to improve the brigade's efficiency. To bolster morale and foster a sense of esprit de corps, Gibbon outfitted them with the black felt Army hat and canvas gaiters. The hats in particular became a source of pride and ultimately provided the distinctive sobriquet of the "Black Hat Brigade."

The Brigade saw its first serious action at August 28, 1862, at Groveton, VA. Along with Battery B, 4th US Artillery, it destroyed a third of the attacking Stonewall Brigade in a sharp firefight known as Brawner's Farm. Groveton was costly for the Iron Brigade as well, resulting in 751 casualties for the Mid-westerners. A few weeks later, at South Mountain, the brigade lost another 318 men. It was there that Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker referred to the hard-fighting Westerners as his "iron brigade."

A few days later at Antietam, as a part of Hooker's I Corps, the Iron Brigade saw fierce action in the west woods and in Miller's cornfield. A determined charge momentarily displaced Jackson's surprised Confederates, but a blistering counterattack by Gen. Hood's division forced the Iron Brigade back through the cornfield and into the west woods. Resultant losses for the Iron Brigade amounted to 348 men.

After Lee's failed Maryland Campaign, the Iron Brigade was strengthened with the addition of the 24th Michigan. It remained a Western brigade amongst a sea of Eastern units, and no doubt served as another source of pride for its battle hardened veterans. The brigade saw limited action at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville but it bore a heavy burden at Gettysburg.

On the first day's fighting, the brigade was deployed on McPherson's and Seminary Ridge. In their dogged defense of that ground, the Iron Brigade suffered enormous casualties but managed to slow the Confederate advance thus enabling the timely deployment of fresh federal troops. Casualties for the brigade numbered approximately 1,212 out of 1,883 effectives. The 24th Michigan lost 80% of its number, while the 2nd Wisconsin suffered 77% casualties. The battle at Gettysburg essentially destroyed the original Iron Brigade. Although the name continued in use, the brigade lost some of its original character. The 2nd Wisconsin was disbanded in July 1864, and Eastern regiments were added to the brigade, altering its formerly all-Western composition. However the Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin Infantry units served until the end of the war earning the honored "Veteran Infantry" designation.

General G · Post by **General G** » 2002-12-20 06:21pm

Well i'm from Missouri so i'll join

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2002-12-21 02:39pm

There are American Civil War re-enactment armies here in Northern Ireland. A guy i know if a full confederate officer. Apparently it's quite a big thing here.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-12-21 03:18pm

Darth Pounder wrote:There are American Civil War re-enactment armies here in Northern Ireland. A guy i know if a full confederate officer. Apparently it's quite a big thing here.

Irish did play a big part in the war. Then a bunch of them tried to invade Canada after it was over.

Falkenhorst · Post by **Falkenhorst** » 2002-12-22 03:14am

Phong, as you have lived in the midwest for a time, we will welcome you into our ranks. General G, you are admitted as well. Phong will be member #5 and General G #6.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2002-12-22 03:17am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Darth Pounder wrote:There are American Civil War re-enactment armies here in Northern Ireland. A guy i know if a full confederate officer. Apparently it's quite a big thing here.
Irish did play a big part in the war. Then a bunch of them tried to invade Canada after it was over.

Really?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2002-12-22 03:44am

Not a midwesterner, but I am a former SCA er (You know dresses up in chainmail goes fighting with swords, then I on another weekend dress up in blue or grey, or deerskin and have at it.

General G · Post by **General G** » 2002-12-22 05:50pm

and General G #6.

Cool