Trivia 9-21-2020 They Made Their State Proud

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When President Lincoln called for troops, this governor was eager to get his men into action. This brigade was formed in the Fall of 1861 with strong encouragement from a native son and graduate of West Point. It was the only brigade that was entirely composed of troops from one state that began with 5 regiments in 1861, and 5 regiments marched together at the Grand Review in 1865. Even after enlistments expired in 1864 - men re-enlisted to preserve the unit. This brigade suffered more casualties than any other brigade during the Civil War, and their bloodiest battle was May 5-6, 1864 in the Wilderness. It was also the only brigade in the Army Of the Potomac to be known by the name of it’s state.


  1. What is this brigade with it’s state name?
  2. What general (and native son) was tasked with organizing this unit?
credit: @DBF
 
King's Wisconsin Brigade.
Brig. General Rufus King


Edit - While King's brigade was called the Wisconsin Brigade, only three of the five original regiments were from Wisconsin. One was from Indiana and one from Michigan. Though King lived in Wisconsin before the Civil War, he was born in New York, so could not be considered a native son.

hoosier
 
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When President Lincoln called for troops, this governor was eager to get his men into action. This brigade was formed in the Fall of 1861 with strong encouragement from a native son and graduate of West Point. It was the only brigade that was entirely composed of troops from one state that began with 5 regiments in 1861, and 5 regiments marched together at the Grand Review in 1865. Even after enlistments expired in 1864 - men re-enlisted to preserve the unit. This brigade suffered more casualties than any other brigade during the Civil War, and their bloodiest battle was May 5-6, 1864 in the Wilderness. It was also the only brigade in the Army Of the Potomac to be known by the name of it’s state.


  1. What is this brigade with it’s state name?
  2. What general (and native son) was tasked with organizing this unit?
credit: @DBF

First New Jersey Brigade
Philip Kearney


Edit - The First New Jersey Brigade began with four regiments, all of which were assembled prior to the Fall of 1861. Kearny was a fine soldier, but he was born in New York and graduated from Columbia, so he was neither a West Point graduate not a native son of New Jersey.

hoosier
 
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Although Wikipedia says that the Iron Brigade took the highest casualties in the Civil War, I think in this case we should answer:

1) First Vermont Brigade or "Old Brigade" (and Wikipedia also says: "The First Vermont Brigade, or "Old Brigade" was an infantry brigade in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. It suffered the highest casualty count of any brigade in the history of the United States Army, with some 1,172 killed in action."

2) William Farrar "Baldy" Smith, born in St. Albans, VT
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3) in case question no 3 should have asked for "this governor", then that eager follower of Lincoln would have been Erastus Fairbanks
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All sources (exept for the one sentence from Wikipedia for no. 1) coming from:
Vermont in the Civil War / by Howard Coffin
 
  1. What is this brigade with it’s state name? First Vermont Brigade.
  2. What general (and native son) was tasked with organizing this unit? William Farrar 'Baldy' Smith.

It was also the only brigade in the Army Of the Potomac to be known by the name of it’s state.
The men of the First New Jersey Brigade might have taken exception to this statement.
 
It's the First Vermont Brigade (consisting of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Vermont regiments) - or also sometimes called "Old Brigade". It was primarily organized by William Farrar "Baldy" Smith (February 17, 1824 – February 28, 1903).

Source: Wikipedia (Vermont Brigade, Smith)

Not sure if there was supposed to be a third question. I see a 3. but no question… 🤔
 
When President Lincoln called for troops, this governor was eager to get his men into action. This brigade was formed in the Fall of 1861 with strong encouragement from a native son and graduate of West Point. It was the only brigade that was entirely composed of troops from one state that began with 5 regiments in 1861, and 5 regiments marched together at the Grand Review in 1865. Even after enlistments expired in 1864 - men re-enlisted to preserve the unit. This brigade suffered more casualties than any other brigade during the Civil War, and their bloodiest battle was May 5-6, 1864 in the Wilderness. It was also the only brigade in the Army Of the Potomac to be known by the name of it’s state.


  1. What is this brigade with it’s state name?
  2. What general (and native son) was tasked with organizing this unit?
credit: @DBF
  • What is this brigade with it’s state name? First Vermont Brigade (aka Vermont Brigade, Old Brigade).
  • What general (and native son) was tasked with organizing this unit? William Farrar "Baldy' Smith (1824-1903).
 
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