Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-09-24
IRON BRIGADE HEROES.
Surviving NJ embers of Bragg's Fam
Gus Command Gather at
Devils Lake.

Devils Lake, Wis, Sept. 16.-[Spe-
cial. For the first time in many years
the surviving heroes of Wisconsin's IA
nous Iron brigade have gotten together
for the purpose Of clasping hands and re-
hearsng "reminiscences of Antietam.
Appropriately enough this is the ami
yersary of the bloodiest battle of the
war, and on the banks of the most beau
tiful of Wisconsin's lakes a handful of
the 1000 that survived of the original
5000 are fraternizing, many probably for
the last time. Gen. e. S. Bragg, the old
commander, is here, and so is Gov. Up
ham, who was left on the field for dead
and bu!letined as killed in battle. 9th
ers of the party az Congressman Jenk-
ms, Gen. Thomas S. Allen, Gen. Rufus
r. Dawes of Marietta, o.; Col. w. w.
Robinson, in command of the brigade
for some time; ex-Congressman Harrles
of st. Paul. M. r. Baldwin of Duluth,
Gilbert n Woodward of La Crosse, Col.
J. A. Watrous and Col. d. X. Noyes.
After the bugle had been sounded and
Watrous read the call for the reunion
that had been issued by Gen. Bragg, and
which ran in this inspiring strain:
Gen. Bragg's Call.
Men of the Iron brigade, our next re-
union will be held on the shores of Devils
lakeAntietam time. Rally! kasly on 4hir tne
four years ago! Rally from Wisconsin, In
diana and Michigan. Rally from nearly
every state in the Union f and come pre-
Let us touch elbows again. Let us look
into each others faces; let us hear each
others voices; let us talk over En-, ana q I'VE i've
over the old days once more. Fail In ana
answer to roll call. Allow me to give this
order as I gave it when commanding the
brigade in se battle and gf give me as tne used
to obey when we were younger
There was no set programme for today.
Some of the members caught fish, others
did the cooking, more sang songs and
told stories. Tonight there will be big
campfire at which each of the participants
will give his "reminiscences of Antletam.
While on his way here yesterday, Gen.
Bragg met with an annoying but not seri-
Gus accident He had to change cars at
Jefferson junction and there was de-
lay of an hour OF more. While. strolling
up and down the platform with some
Friends he got SO warmed up IN orator.
ally humping the free silverites that
he stumbled over crate of peaches and
got a bad fall. He was uninjured save
for bump on the forehead which gave
him as black an eve as he ever had in
his happy boyhood days. The time
honored beefsteak treatment was used
and the general was quite presentable
today.
The Iron Brigade's Strength.
The famous Iron brigade consisted of
the Second, Sixth and Seventh regiments
of Wisconsin Volunteer infantry, the
Nineteenth Indiana and Twenty-fourth
Michigan regiments, and Battery B of
the Fourth Regular artillery 1t had
the distinction of sustaining the heaviest
percentage of loss of any brigade in the
roll. 1151 were either killed outright
or died of wounds, while 612 died dur
ing the war from diseases and other
causes. Less than 1000 of the original
members now survive.
Baraboo, Wis, Sept. 17.-[Special.1-A
perfect September day dawned in the
Iron brigade reunion at Devils lake.
Gen. Bragg spoke for half an hour and
wildly described the battle of Antietam,
in which the Iron rigade figured so con-
spcuously thirty-four years ago today.
Capt. J. d. Wood of st. Paul, who
was acknowledgement of the brigade
longer than any other man, met with
the boys for the first time and broke
down in tears Visitors and veterans
alike wept as he tenderly talked of for
mer scenes. DR.. Eaton of Madison also
spoke.
The afternoon was spent in Baraboo
in carriage riding and reception by the
w. r. G.. The following officers were
elected: J. A. Watrous. Milwaukee. sec
Ietary: Capt. Otto Schorse, Milwaukee,
treasurer; Capt. DR.. S. w. Eaton, Ros-
coc. ILL.,, captain. The brigade will meet
at La Crosse next year.