Toughest Brigade

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

Wilder when he was present
The CSA Missouri Brigade that defended Grand Gulf, MS

 

[Cavalier]

The Irish Brigade!

John

 

[Luke Freet]

You have to establish a position and hold the ground at all costs... what brigade do you call on?

Iron Brigade
Stonewall Brigade
Pennsylvania Reserves
Texas Brigade
Irish Brigade (US)


Etc...

What was the best brigade?

Granbury's Texans, maybe Liddell's/Govan's Arkansans, heck, CLeburne's/Polk's Brigade; Cleburne's division in general is probably the best unit of defensive troops out there.

 

[Cycom]

Not sure of the official name, but I'll take Patrick Cleburne's brigade. Amazing fighters.

 

[Irishtom29]

Opdyke's brigade was quite formidable. Suckers and Buckeyes.

 

[leftyhunter]

You have to establish a position and hold the ground at all costs... what brigade do you call on?

Iron Brigade
Stonewall Brigade
Pennsylvania Reserves
Texas Brigade
Irish Brigade (US)


Etc...

What was the best brigade?

I will go along with the school of thought that there weren't any" toughest brigades" . As others mentioned way to many variables go into a particular military units performance. Yes some units overall were somewhat better then other's but military performance is based on many factors. An elite unite with poor logistics or that has been severely fatigued won't do all that well against a better equiped and supplied enemy.
Leftyhunter

 

[jackt62]

If the criteria is "toughest" I'm going with the Louisiana Tigers (originially the 9th Louisiana Infantry, Major Wheat commanding). They were hard fighting but undisciplined, composed of roughnecks from the New Orleans dock yards.

 

[Cycom]

I will go along with the school of thought that there weren't any" toughest brigades" . As others mentioned way to many variables go into a particular military units performance. Yes some units overall were somewhat better then other's but military performance is based on many factors. An elite unite with poor logistics or that has been severely fatigued won't do all that well against a better equiped and supplied enemy.
Leftyhunter

Good point. I would add that poor logistics could decrease morale, thus decreasing the fighting ability of that unit. That said, there are many examples of poorly supplied units fighting with immense bravery. Also, if the leadership was rotten, I would assume that would affect the men doing the fighting.

 

[leftyhunter]

You have to establish a position and hold the ground at all costs... what brigade do you call on?

Iron Brigade
Stonewall Brigade
Pennsylvania Reserves
Texas Brigade
Irish Brigade (US)


Etc...

What was the best brigade?

I will go along with the school of thought that there weren't any" toughest brigades" . As others mentioned way to many variables go into a particular military units performance. Yes some units overall were somewhat better then other's but military performance is based on many factors. An elite unite with poor logistics or that has been severely fatigued won't do all that well against a better equipe awwd and supplied enemy.

Good point. I would add that poor logistics could decrease morale, thus decreasing the fighting ability of that unit. That said, there are many examples of poorly supplied units fighting with immense bravery. Also, if the leadership was rotten, I would assume that would affect the men doing the fighting.

Certainly morale or fear of being executed and captured or extreme hatred of the enemy is part of the equation. In the modern era all armies spend a certain amount of time on indoctrination and morale which was not unknown in the ACW era with dances , patriotic speechs and local folks having local folks give feasts . Based on @GwilymT s senario any of the better known ACW brigades could do the job if of course they were at full strength ,well supplied and their leadership is intact.
Leftyhunter

 

[BronxYankee]

Tough one but the Iron Brigade, Stonewall Brigade, and Texas Brigade.

 

[nc native]

For the Confederacy, the Orphan Brigade, the Laurel Brigade and Maxey Gregg's South Carolina Brigade haven't been mentioned yet. For the Union, ditto for the Vermont Brigade, the Philadelphia Brigade and Custer's Michigan Brigade.

 

[Cycom]

I will go along with the school of thought that there weren't any" toughest brigades" . As others mentioned way to many variables go into a particular military units performance. Yes some units overall were somewhat better then other's but military performance is based on many factors. An elite unite with poor logistics or that has been severely fatigued won't do all that well against a better equipe awwd and supplied enemy.

Certainly morale or fear of being executed and captured or extreme hatred of the enemy is part of the equation. In the modern era all armies spend a certain amount of time on indoctrination and morale which was not unknown in the ACW era with dances , patriotic speechs and local folks having local folks give feasts . Based on @GwilymT s senario any of the better known ACW brigades could do the job if of course they were at full strength ,well supplied and their leadership is intact.
Leftyhunter

Agreed, not just intact leadership but competent leadership. So many times I've read of vain, arrogant, and flat out incompetent leadership and how that lack of professionalism filtered down the ranks.

Just finished listening an account of Fort Pillow. The Federal commander, a Major whose name I forget, allowed his men to get **** drunk, which was merely one of his many deficiencies.

 

[TSJ]

You have to establish a position and hold the ground at all costs... what brigade do you call on?

Iron Brigade
Stonewall Brigade
Pennsylvania Reserves
Texas Brigade
Irish Brigade (US)


Etc...

What was the best brigade?

I'll take the Stonewall Brigade.

 

[WScott]

I'ld have to go with the Louisiana Tigers! They were a hand full even before they got to Richmond and when the going got tough, the tough got going; Millers Cornfield, East Cemetery Hill, the Mule Shoe, etc.

 

[Cycom]

Wish this was a poll. I'm seeing some names stand out.

 

[Saphroneth]

The Brigade of Guards, consisting of the 1st Grenadier Guards, 2nd Coldstream and 1st Scots Fusilier Guards.

Yes, I know they were British and didn't get involved in the historical Civil War, but they were sent to Canada with the express purpose of participating if a Trent war developed. They were also an elite unit stuffed full of expert marksmen.


If that one isn't valid, I think one of Cleburne's brigades deserves points simply for actually having some long range training for their ordinary line troops. Though Minty's saber brigade also has to be worth considering, albeit not the best at holding ground.

 

[The Walking Dead]

As stated previously a unit's fighting capabilities varied during the course of the War.

With that being said, leadership is the key to a Civil War unit's performance since it affects everything (recruiting, training, morale, logistics, fighting prowess, etc.). Keep in mind the physical and psychological affect of a warm meal in a soldier's belly, mail from home, good equipment and uniforms (even if used), and proper leadership.

While I didn't serve in the Civil War, I was taught it was my responsibility to bring as many of my men safely home as possible.

 

[JeffBrooks]

For the Confederacy, the Orphan Brigade, the Laurel Brigade and Maxey Gregg's South Carolina Brigade haven't been mentioned yet. For the Union, ditto for the Vermont Brigade, the Philadelphia Brigade and Custer's Michigan Brigade.

Ah yes, the Orphan Brigade! I loved the unit history of the Orphan Brigade written by William C. Davis.

 

[gettysburgerrn]

Lots of great units here - it should be a poll. That would be interesting. I would do it myself if I could figure out how to make one.....lol

Ken

 

[The Walking Dead]

The term toughest is relative and some folks might be overlooking specialty units such at the 1st and 2nd USSS since they were deployed differently.