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

=:szsz s s Wisconsin, the
Second, Seventh
and Sixth. The high sounding SYNONYM
attached to the Iron Brigade was not
bestowed by fattery; it was won in bat
tie and stuck to the command because it
wa a good fit. One would look for a
great record in a body of men whose
name recalls Cromwe]l's Ironsides, and
the search would not be a vain one.
Fighting in that brigade throughout it's
three years Of service, the Second Wis
consin suffered more from the enemy's
fatal bullets than any other regiment in
the Federal army.
Fifteen battles, beginning at the first
Bull Run and ending at Petersburg,
proved fatal to the ranks Of the regi-
ment. At the first Bull Run, second
Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam,
Gettysburg and the Wilderness it's losses
were heavy, but there were scores Of
regiments which lost a greater O
tion Of their men in some one Of these
particular engagements and in others as
well. The Seconds highest loss in any
Il Of the six battles named was at Sec
ond Bull Run, where sc were killed or
mortally wounded, and the lowest death
roll was at South Mountain. In the last
10 Of its number were killed in &C.
ton.
Among the 800 fighting regiments
whose histories appear in Colonel Fox's
work On. 'Regimental Losses In the
Civil War" the Second Wisconsin heads
the list with the highest percentage
killed in action during its whole term
Of service. The regiment entered the
army in June, 1861, and was disband-
ed at the end of three years. In estimat-
ing the percentage Colonel Fox usedsas
a basis the total number borne upon the
regimental roles. Including noncom-
batants and those who left the colors
without going into action at all, the
muster during three years was 1908
men. Out Of that number 49, per cent
were killed-namely, 1913. One piece Of
good fortune attended the regiment in
spite Of its ~sanguinary record. It was
never caught in a slaughter pen on. some
disastrous field with a sacrifice of half
its numbers. The highest loss in a sin
gle battle was the result of a long and
spirited fight, and in every one of it's
great actions the regiment gained prom
lnence through it's daring achievements
as well as on account of it's heavy death
roll.
At the first Bull Run the Second
fought under Sherman, on the Henry
house plateau, when a desperate attempt
was made to recover that field after dis
aster had overtaken a portion Of the
army. There occurred the most stubborn
of the line of battle fighting of that
day. In his official report General Sher-
mar said, "This regiment assembled to
the brow of the hill steadily, received
the severe fire Of the enemy, returned it
with spirit and advanced delivering it's
fire.. After one repulse Of the column
the Second charged again with equal
spirit, but without success. The loss
that day was "a killed outright and IS
wounded, the heavy proportion of the
wounded showing the severity Of the
encounter.
Upon the reorganization Of the army
the Second changed it's brigade ana in
its next battle was led by General John
Glbbon in the command which earned
the valorous title later bestowed upon
it, the Iron Brigade. If ever new SOL
diers displayed iron nerve, Gibbons men
did at second Bull Run. On the 28th of
August, in the course of the maneuvers
incident to formation for battle, the op-
posing troops of Pope and Stonewall
jackson were countermarching on par
allel routes within range of each other.
Gibbons brigade had the center in
Kings division column. Hatch's bri-
gade was in front, and while crossing a
stream on the Warrenton pike it en-
countered a strong force of the enemy.
Hatch deployed his men on both sides
Of the road to attempt forcing a passage
for the division. Gibbon halted his line
on the~road to await the issue in front
and support Hatch if necessary.
Kings division, unsupported and IN
warned, had u into Stonewal] Jack
sons army. Having learned through a
captured Federal courier that the enemy
was marching along the pike, Stonewal]
gave orders for attack on sight. He in
tended to destroy the isolated division
at a blow, and while Hatch was headed
off at the crossing of the stream bat,
teries with infantry supports went into
position on the high ground north of the
pike to intercept the column following.
One Of these batteries opened suddenly
on Gibbon. Not wishing to break con.
nection with Hatch, Gibbon left his ad-
n regiment intact and ordered the
second in line to face left and charge
Jackson's guns. This regiment was the
Second Wisconsin. There was a hill
between the pike and the guns, and
while rushing up the slope with a cheer
the Wisconsin men stirred up a nearer
enemy, for Jackson had filed the little
hollows between the ridges with infan,
try. Several brigades, in fact, were in
hiding along the pike.