Your Brigade of Choice?

[dlavin]

There is a lot of talk about Hood's Texas Brigade, and the Stonewall Brigade. So I was wondering who would be your brigade of choice to take into battle?

I gave two examples, but it could be any brigade, Union or Confederate, East or West. And if you would oblige with a reason why, that would be even better.

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

Fire Brigade (OK, all you English out there?)

 

[Rio Bravo]

Orphan Brigade, Kentucky, C.S.A.

Gibbon's Iron Brigade, U.S.

 

[TinCan]

Texas Brigade!

 

[rpkennedy]

One variable that has to be taken into consideration is time period. As time went on, a lot of the elite brigades' effectiveness dwindled to a shadow of what it had been earlier in the war. For example, the post-Gettysburg Iron Brigade was a very different animal than the Iron Brigade up to Gettysburg.

That being said, I'd throw units such as the Iron Brigade, Irish Brigade, Gordon's Georgia Brigade, and the Texas Brigade.

R

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

The Michigan Brigade, sometimes called the Wolverines, the Michigan Cavalry Brigade or Custer's Brigade - those were the lads.

From Gettysburg to the end, they gained the bulge on Confederate cavalry and rode them down to nothing. They were part of the Judson/Kilpatrick raid and mostly survived it. At Yellow Tavern the 5th Michigan robbed the CSA of JEB Stuart. They went to the Valley with Sheridan and took part in the defeat and destruction of Early. They were part of Sheridan's grand sweep below Petersburg to the left that trapped Lee and it was mobility that in the end brought him to bay. Ex-brigade members joined Custer's 7th Cavalry and took part in the battle of the Greasy Grass.

 

[AUG]

Ok, first choice would of course be Hood's Texas Brigade, but if not them then either Cockrell's Missouri Brigade, Taylor's/Hays' Louisiana Brigade, Granbury's Texas Brigade, or Liddell's/Govan's Arkansas Brigade. The best from west of the Mississippi!

And as for why? First, because these were some of the best brigades in the Confederacy; these men would willfully run into any storm you commanded them to, as long as you are leading them from the front! Two, if I'm gonna to lead a brigade it best be from Texas or somewhere nearby. And three, these brigades and the regiments in them are some of my favorites to study.

 

[Chattahooch33]

Give me Wofford's Georgia boys any day of the week. After that I'd take Lewis' Orphan Brigade, Granbury's Texans, Pettus' Alabamans, Cockrell's Missourians, Barksdale's Mississippians, Hay's Louisianans, and Gordon's Georgians.

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

And if you would oblige with a reason why, that would be even better.

Not getting much from this bunch, are you?

 

[AUG]

One variable that has to be taken into consideration is time period. As time went on, a lot of the elite brigades' effectiveness dwindled to a shadow of what it had been earlier in the war. For example, the post-Gettysburg Iron Brigade was a very different animal than the Iron Brigade up to Gettysburg.

The same could also be said for the Stonewall Brigade; they did pretty good in the first half of the war but weren't the same after Jackson's death. Then the brigade was all but destroyed - nearly captured to a man - at the Mule Shoe at Spotsylvania, and what was left was consolidated with two other Virginia brigades.

In the ANV I think G.B. Anderson's/Ramseur's/Cox's NC Brigade and Rodes'/O'Neal's/Battle's Alabama Brigade both had quite the record but often get overlooked. Both contained regiments that had served from the Peninsula Campaign on throughout most of the major campaigns in the East, including the 1864 Valley Campaign. And both remained pretty well effective until the end. Same could be said for the others I listed, though very few men remained by late '64 and '65.

 

[Frito]

Cause I like them. Hoods Texas Brigade and Ramseur,s North Carolina Brigade.

 

[TheBloodySixthMS]

For Confederate it's a no brainer. Cleburne's Brigade. Ancestors fought with and for him so I would feel obliged.

As for Federal probably which ever brigade the 18th Wisconsin rotated with throughout the war. Too many to count. Only because they are my Federal impression and Those boys were tough.

 

[Billy Yank]

IRON BRIGADE

 

[Klaudly]

Confederate 'Iron Brigade' aka Shelby's Cavalry Brigade

 

[Desert Kid]

For Confederate it's a no brainer. Cleburne's Brigade. Ancestors fought with and for him so I would feel obliged.

As for Federal probably which ever brigade the 18th Wisconsin rotated with throughout the war. Too many to count. Only because they are my Federal impression and Those boys were tough.

Well since Cleburne was bumped up to Division? Which brigade in Cleburne's division?

Personally I'd go with Granbury's Texas Brigade, The Orphan Brigade, or even somewhere in Hindman's Division.

When it comes to the Union, it's a no brainer for me, Vincent's Brigade (with the 20th Maine) or the Iron Brigade.

 

[Podad]

Another vote for Wofford's Georgia Brigade.

 

[Lt R. Blackwell 4th Texas]

Greene's New York Brigade
Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade

Both were tough, effective units on defense or offense

 

[JeffBrooks]

I'd have to go with either the Orphan Brigade or Granbury's Texas Brigade.

 

[AUG]

Well since Cleburne was bumped up to Division? Which brigade in Cleburne's division?

Personally I'd go with Granbury's Texas Brigade, The Orphan Brigade, or even somewhere in Hindman's Division.

When it comes to the Union, it's a no brainer for me, Vincent's Brigade (with the 20th Maine) or the Iron Brigade.

Cleburne's old brigade became Lucius Polk's, though some regiments were transferred out after Shiloh.

Liddell's/Govan's Arkansas Brigade, Wood's/Lowery's Brigade, and the Mississippi High Pressure Brigade were also among the best in the AoT. And of course Cheatham's Tennessee Division had some good regiments in it as well.

 

[Desert Kid]

Cleburne's old brigade became Lucius Polk's, though some regiments were transferred out after Shiloh.

Liddell's/Govan's Arkansas Brigade, Wood's/Lowery's Brigade, and the Mississippi High Pressure Brigade were also among the best in the AoT. And of course Cheatham's Tennessee Division had some good regiments in it as well.

I was going to choose Cheatham's division, but Cleburne's pre-war friendship with Hindman edged it out.

I do have to admit though, the drinking parties with Cheatham would have been legendary.