Civil War History - The Eastern TheaterDiscuss any and all battles, movements, and events occuring in the Eastern Theater here! This includes any actions in tha area east of the Appalachian Mountains in the vicinity of the river capitals of Richmond and Washington D.C.
There is some confusion as to how the Iron Brigade got it's name. Popular legend says that Hooker and McClellan watched the brigade advance up South Mountain and exclaim "those men are like iron" (or something of that nature). This is highly improbable because Hooker was not in a position to observe the brigade's actions on that day. On September 21st, 1862 a captain in the 7th wrote that McClellan had given the brigade the name "Iron Brigade". Probably due to their action at South Mountain. But the men were unaware of the sobriquet until after Antietam. However, after Antietam, the brigade was always known as "The Iron Brigade". However, they were probably not the original Iron Brigade. That honor would go to Walter Phelp's New Yorkers who had a steadfast reputation for hard marching. None-the-less the Western brigade of three Wisconsin, one Indiana and later a Michigan regiment have gone down in history as THE Iron Brigade for their courage and fortitude in battle. The Iron Brigade suffered the highest casualties of any Union brigade during the war.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
Well yeah if you are talking about the "yankee" Iron Brigade. If you come from my part of the country, when you talk about THE Iron Brigade you are talking about Gen. Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade. Shelby was one of the CSA best Calvary leaders. He started as a captan rasing a company of calvary for Sterling Price's Missouri State Guard. He fought at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Independance and Pea Ridge. He stayed with Price when most of the MSG transfered to the Confederate State's Army. He was promoted to Colonel when he brought 1,000 recruits back from a raid into Missouri. He was later promoted to Brigader. His raid into Missouri in September of 1863, with only 600 troopers, is credited with keeping at least 10,000 union soldiers from Roscrans after the defeat at Chickmauga. He led a division in Price's 1864 infasion of Missouri and his Iron Brigade covered the retreat from the Battle of Westport. Shelby and his Brigade never surrendered crossing into Mexico after Kirby Smith surrendered the Trans-Mississippi. Shelby buried his colors after crossing the Rio Grande. They are not and have never been among the captured Confederate colors in the possession of the US Army. Shelby offered his services to Maximelian but was not accepted due to fear of offending the United States. The Iron Brigade was disbanded in Mexico City. Shelby returned to Missouri in 1867 after the defeat of Maximelian. He never surrendered.
Well yeah if you are talking about the "yankee" Iron Brigade. If you come from my part of the country, when you talk about THE Iron Brigade you are talking about Gen. Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade. Shelby was one of the CSA best Calvary leaders. He started as a captan rasing a company of calvary for Sterling Price's Missouri State Guard. He fought at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Independance and Pea Ridge. He stayed with Price when most of the MSG transfered to the Confederate State's Army. He was promoted to Colonel when he brought 1,000 recruits back from a raid into Missouri. He was later promoted to Brigader. His raid into Missouri in September of 1863, with only 600 troopers, is credited with keeping at least 10,000 union soldiers from Roscrans after the defeat at Chickmauga. He led a division in Price's 1864 infasion of Missouri and his Iron Brigade covered the retreat from the Battle of Westport. Shelby and his Brigade never surrendered crossing into Mexico after Kirby Smith surrendered the Trans-Mississippi. Price buried his colors after crossing the Rio Grande. They are not and have never been among the captured Confederate colors in the possession of the US Army. Price offered his services to Maximelian but was not accepted due to fear of offending the United States. The Iron Brigade was disbanded in Mexico City. Shelby returned to Missouri in 1867 after the defeat of Maximelian. He never surrendered.
Thanks for the info on another "Iron Brigade". Goes to show that if you've got the name...you'd better be tough. Wasn't Price at Pea ridge?
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
Yes, he was severly wounded in the arm. He was in command of the Missouri State Guard. I can't remember if the MSG had been asorbed into the CS Army at that time or shortly later. Gen. Earl VanDorn was in overall command. Another example of what happens when a president appoints his buddies to high office.
The Burial of Shelby's Flag
By Alonzo W. Slayback, Piedras Negras, on the Rio Grande, July 4, 1865
A July sun, in torrid clime, gleamed on exile band, who in suits of gray
Stood in mute array On the banks of the Rio Grande.
They were dusty and faint with their long, drear ride, And they paused when they
came to the river side;
For its wavelets divide
With their glowing tide
Their own dear land of youth, hope, pride And comrades graves, who in vain had
died, From the stranger's home, in a land untried.
Above them waved the Confederate Flag, with its fatal cross of stars, That had
always been
In the battle's din
Like a pennon of potent Mars.
And there curved from the crest of their leader a plume
That the brave had followed in joy and gloom That was ever in sight
In the hottest fight
A flaunting dare for a soldier's tomb, For the marksman's aim and the cannons
boom, But it bore a charm from the band of doom.
Forth stepped that leader then and said to the faithful few around:
"This tattered rag
Is the only flag
That floats on Dixie ground;
And this plume that I tear from the hat I wear
Of all my spoils is my only share; And brave men! I swear
That no foe shall dare
To lay his hand on our standard there. It's folds were braided by fingers fair, "Tis
the emblem now of their deep despair.
It's cause is lost. And the men it led on many a glorious field In disputing tread
Of invaders dread, Have been forced at last to yield
But this banner and plume have not been to blame, No exulting eye shall behold
their shame;
And-----these relics so dear
In the waters here,
Before we cross, shall burial claim;
And while you mountains may bear name
They shall stand as monuments of our fame.
Tears stood in eyes that looked on death in every awful form Without dismay;
But the scene that day Was sublimer than mountain storm!
"Tis easy to touch the veteran's heart
With finger of nature, but not of art, While the noble of soul
Lose self control, When called on with flag, home and country to part, Base bosoms are ever to callous to start
With feelings that generous natures can smart.They buried then that flag and plume in the river's rushing tide, Ere that fallent few
Of the tried and true Had been scattered far and wide.
And that group of Missouri's valiant throng, Who had fought for the weak against the strong-Who had charged and bled where Shelby led- Were the last who held above the wave
The glorious flag of the vanquished brave, No more to rise from it's watery grave!
__________________ "Any people with contempt for their heritage have lost faith in themselves and no nation can long survive without pride in its traditions"
Winston Churchill
It had always been my assumption that the Iron Brigade came from Minnesota and was named for the rich iron ore deposits in the Mesabi Range in that state. I have absolutely no sources to back me up on this - as I say, it was just my assumption.
Of course, if the Iron Brigade came from Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan exclusively, that shoots a gigantic hole in my theory right there.
Anyone know if any parts of the Iron Brigade came from Minnesota? If so, was iron ore mining a sufficiently big industry in the middle of the 19th century to justify naming a group of soldiers after the source of that ore?
There is a possibility that some in Minnesota found it easier to cross the river and join a Wisconsin unit than to travel to where they could join a Minnesota unit. Besides, there's a very great chance that the Minnesota man was born in Wisconsin anyway. (There were very, very few native-born Minnesotans of military age in 1860)
I'm taking a giant leap here in supposing that the Mesabi Range was not yet opened in 1860. In any event, given the historian you read, the Iron Brigade earned its name at 1) Second Manassas, 2)Antietam, or 3) Gettysburg ... none of which pertain to iron ore.
A favorite story takes place at Brawner's Farm. Jackson and his boys have reached the area (after Cedar Mountain) and were waiting for advance troops. A likely target marched in front of them and was promptly fired upon. To the surprise of the confederates, their targets did not scatter. They turned in the direction of the firing, formed up and moved on that annoyance. Yep. First Brigade, First Division, later known as the Iron Brigade or ... them dam Black Hats.
Yes, he was severly wounded in the arm. He was in command of the Missouri State Guard. I can't remember if the MSG had been asorbed into the CS Army at that time or shortly later. Gen. Earl VanDorn was in overall command. Another example of what happens when a president appoints his buddies to high office.
Price was the only bright spot for the Rebs at Prarie Grove (I used to live in Fayetteville and went to the site several times). Van Dorn was flat out out-generaled there. There was a young fellow who joined Price's unit, didn't like it and deserted within a month. His name was Samuel Clements. Later to be known as Mark Twain
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
There is a possibility that some in Minnesota found it easier to cross the river and join a Wisconsin unit than to travel to where they could join a Minnesota unit. Besides, there's a very great chance that the Minnesota man was born in Wisconsin anyway. (There were very, very few native-born Minnesotans of military age in 1860)
I'm taking a giant leap here in supposing that the Mesabi Range was not yet opened in 1860. In any event, given the historian you read, the Iron Brigade earned its name at 1) Second Manassas, 2)Antietam, or 3) Gettysburg ... none of which pertain to iron ore.
A favorite story takes place at Brawner's Farm. Jackson and his boys have reached the area (after Cedar Mountain) and were waiting for advance troops. A likely target marched in front of them and was promptly fired upon. To the surprise of the confederates, their targets did not scatter. They turned in the direction of the firing, formed up and moved on that annoyance. Yep. First Brigade, First Division, later known as the Iron Brigade or ... them dam Black Hats.
Ole
Although the story as to how they got their name is nebulous. It is most likely that McClellan was very impressed with their behavior at South Mountain and gave them the name due to that battle
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
Price was the only bright spot for the Rebs at Prarie Grove (I used to live in Fayetteville and went to the site several times). Van Dorn was flat out out-generaled there. There was a young fellow who joined Price's unit, didn't like it and deserted within a month. His name was Samuel Clements. Later to be known as Mark Twain
Calicoboy
Yeah, Van Dorn might have done wonderfull things with a regiment or possibly a brigade of calvery. He was just out of his depth as an army commander. But, he was Jeff Davis' buddy.
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