Trivia 2-7-17 Big Losses

[Trivia Master]

On July 1.1863, what two opposing regiments suffered 70% losses at McPherson / Herbst farms?

credit: @JOHN42768

 

[kholland]

24th Michigan and 26th North Carolina

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

"Two regiments were especially hard hit- the 24th Michigan Infantry and the 26th North Carolina Infantry both suffered losses of 70%. Twenty one year-old Colonel Henry Burgwyn Jr., commanding the 26th North Carolina, was mortally wounded while leading one of the last charges against the 24th Michigan, shot, "through both lungs. He fell with the colors (of the 26th) wrapped around him."

http://www.conservapedia.com/Battle_of_Gettysburg

 

[hughes]

24th Michigan
26th North Carolina

 

[Study the Past]

24th Michigan (Go Blue!) & the 26th North Carolina Regiments.

 

[Reb]

26th North Carolina Infantry
24th Michigan Infantry

http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg_(first_day)

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

24th Michigan and 26th North Carolina
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/gettysburg-2011/the-battle-for-herbst-woods.html (Final two paragraphs)

 

[Stony]

Two regiments were especially hard hit- the 24th Michigan Infantry and the 26th North Carolina Infantry both suffered losses of 70%. Twenty one year-old Colonel Henry Burgwyn Jr., commanding the 26th North Carolina, was mortally wounded while leading one of the last charges against the 24th Michigan, shot, "through both lungs. He fell with the colors (of the 26th) wrapped around him."
source-http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg_(first_day)

 

[ErnieMac]

24th Michigan and 26th North Carolina.

 

[Brenal]

The fight between the 24th Michigan and the 26th North Carolina proved to be the bloodiest regimental engagement of the bloodiest Civil War battle. The 24th Michigan and the 26th North Carolina each suffered the greatest number of regimental casualties in their respective armies at Gettysburg. The 26th North Carolina entered the battle with 843 soldiers and incurred 687 casualties, including its colonel and lieutenant colonel. The 24th Michigan would lose 363 of their 496 soldiers at Gettysburg - a staggering 73% casualty rate. These two units suffered more casualties than any other regiments in their respective armies

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/gettysburg-2011/the-battle-for-herbst-woods.html?

 

[Wallyfish]

There were 3 regiments that incurred extraodinary % losses in the McPerson/Herbst Woods areas.

But the answer is 24th Michigan and the 26th North Carolina as they directly met.

On the Union side.
The 2nd Wisconsin had a 79.5 % casualty rate. [302] 29k, 16mw, 135w, 18w-c, 42m = 240 79.5%
The 24th Michigan had 74.8% casualty rate. [496] 71k, 25mw, 186w, 13w-c, 76m = 371 74.8%

On the Confederate side.

The 26th North Carolina had an 81% casualty rate. [839] 172k, 332w, 72m = 687 81.0%

I recognize the pitfalls of casualty reporting during the CW. Plus the 26th NC had the misfortune of participating in the PPT day 3 charge which elevated their casualties. Plus the Iron Brigade incurred casualties from Archers brigade prior to the arrival of the 26th NC.

The 24th Mi had the 19th Indiana and the 2nd Wisconsin to their immediate north. Their successful delaying action set the stage for the battle.

I frequently take the path behind the 26th NC monument down to Willoughby Run to walk in their foot steps. I just posted this in the Gettysburg board. I believe that this fight is one of the most important acts in the battle.

I would love to see a higher combined casualty rate than these regiments saw in any CW battle. Their actions are remarkable.

For those interested, a nice read resides here.

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/gettysburg-2011/the-battle-for-herbst-woods.html

 

[DBF]

The 26 North Carolina & the 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry (Iron Brigade).

 

[MRB1863]

24th Michigan Infantry and the 26th North Carolina Infantry both suffered losses of 70%

 

[lelliott19]

According to wiki, the 24th Michigan Infantry and the 26th North Carolina both suffered 70% casualty rates on day 1 at Gettysburg.

The Civil War Trust provides more detailed numbers: "The 24th Michigan and the 26th North Carolina each suffered the greatest number of regimental casualties in their respective armies at Gettysburg. The 26th North Carolina entered the battle with 843 soldiers and incurred 687 casualties (81.5%), including its colonel and lieutenant colonel. The 24th Michigan would lose 363 of their 496 soldiers at Gettysburg - a staggering 73% casualty rate." http://www.civilwar.org/battlefield...t-woods.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

 

[1stMN]

24th Mich and 26th NC

Source: http://thomaslegion.net/battle_of_gettysburg.html

 

[LibertyAndUnion]

26th North Carolina and 24th Michigan.

Edit - Correct, LibertyAndUnion. Welcome to the trivia game and to CivilWarTalk.

Hope you'll come back and play again.

Hoosier

 

[FarawayFriend]

Union: 24th Michigan
Confederate: 26th North Carolina

"Heth renewed his attack against the Union positions on the McPherson Farm between 1:30 and 2 o'clock. Supported by Maj. General William Pender's division, Heth sent his two remaining brigades forward to hit a re-enforced line posted behind strong farm fences and in the woods above Willoughby Run. Doubleday's line was stretched thin, but his division and brigade commanders shifted troops around to strengthen weak areas of the line. Determined to stand their ground. the Union troops would not budge no matter how much pressure the Confederates applied. On the McPherson Farm and adjacent Herbst Farm, the Iron Brigade fought toe to toe with Brig. General James J. Pettigrew's North Carolina Brigade. At one point in the battle, opposing lines blazed into one another barely twenty paces apart. Two regiments were especially hard hit- the 24th Michigan Infantry and the 26th North Carolina Infantry both suffered losses of 70%"
http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg_(first_day)

 

[JOHN42768]

Credit for Question. The 24th was not the regiment you would want to be in that day. Michagan and No. Carolina

 

[adisciu9]

24th Mich. and 26th NC

 

[sarladaise]

24th Michigan Infantry Regiment
26th North Carolina Infantry Reg.