The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-10-22

Facing a heavy volley Of musketr7,
the Second staggered on up the hill,
forming q line at IS PAGES from the en-
envy. Colonel Edgar O'Connor was kill
ed instantly, and the major who sue
ceeded him in command was twice
wounded, but remained in action till
the end, which came over an hour later.
jackson did not seize Warrenton pike.
that night. Gibbons brigade received
the force Of Jackson's attack, and the
Second was the front and center of Glib
bon's line. In fact, it opened the ball,
and by showing a heroic front deter
mined the result.
During the fighting of the two days
following the Second was slightly en-
gagged, but the battle casualties of the
field were almost wholly confined to the
chance fight on Warrenton pike, which
continued an hour and a half. The regi-
ment marched up the hill on it's first
charge with 511 men and officers in line.
There were Sc killed or mortally wound
ed and 100 wounded who recovered.
Two months after second Bull Run the
Second lost 10 killed in a ragged up
hill fight at South Mountain and then
marched to the bloody field of Antietam.
1t was on that occasion that the Iron
Brigade was given it's unique title
through the mistake Of an excited CORE
spondent who COMPOUNDED it with
Hatch's, the original Iron Brigade.
Gibbons brigade went into action at
Antietam with Hooker's First corps
early in the day, Sept. II. Hooker was
executing a flank movement. on Stone
wall Jackson's line along the Sharps-
burg pike. The ground was very decep-
tive and caused many surprises for both
sides. In a charge asross an open field
the Second marched in front of the
brigade battery q of the Fourth United
States). While the Iron Brigade was
surging forward a Confederate column
charged the battery, and the Second
rallied to it's aid. Fighting soon became
very hot, and Gibbon helped serve the
guns. Jackson's men rushed up within
canister range. The captain Of the bat
terry and 40 Of his men, also 80 horses,
were shot down. The commander Of the
Second, Lieutenant Colonel Allen, was
severely wounded, the third time in
three weeks, and 80 Of the regiment fell
to rise no more. Gibbons four regi-
ments and six guns held the key to the
position, the pivot upon which Rockers
line swung during the most deadly four
hours struggle Of the war. To have
fought on either side that day was glory
enough for one regiment during it's
whole career, but for the Second it was
the third great occasion when it played
a brilliant part.
At Gettysburg the ranks of the regi-
ment numbered but 800 men. Small as
it Was, it had the fortune to reap further
l~aurels, for the Iron Brigade was among
the first to encounter the C~onfederates
and to score a triumph. The Second
went into battle that day under Colonel
Lucius Fairchild. When the opposing
lines met on the banks of Willough-
by run and Archer's Tennesseeans
crossed the stream alone, Fairchild
moved his little phalanx around Arch
er's flank, cutting him off from the
creek and capturing nearly all the bri-
gade, with it's leader.
For hours the Iron Brigade fought in
defense Of the ridge east of the creek,
losing in quick succession three com.
manders and over SO per cent Of it's ef-
fective strength in killed, wounded and
missing. The Second suffered the heavi-
est and added 46 to it's roll Of heroes
46 dead out Of 800 in line. With it's
other casualties the loss was ~ per
cent. Colonel Fairchild got his we'll
known badge Of courage, an empty
sleeve, that day. The NEXT in command,
Lieutenant Colonel George Fl. Stevens,
was killed, and Major John Mansfield
was wounded.
With the terrible carnage at Gettys-
burg to swell the number Of killed and
disabled, the regiment was reduced to a
nullity. It mustered less than 100 men.
Some addition to it's strength was gain
ed during the winter, and it entered the
Wilderness a small battalion. In the
Wilderness battle II were killed, and
after further loss at Spottsylyania, it's