The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-22
THE Iron BRIGADE"
A Review OF the History Of the Brigade and
the Circumstances by witch II Cot It,
Name.

A Review Of the History Of the Brigade and
the Circumstances by which II cot lts
Name.
Ind, writes There has perhaps been
no brigade in the United States army
which has been more discussed and more
frequently mentioned in newspaper articles
and histories of the war of the rebellion
than the Iron Brigade, and during all
this time there has been continually go
ing on n contention between certain New
York and Wisconsin comrades as to the
identity of the brigade, its number and
components. Now, in this contention both
parties are correct for. previous to June,
1868, the First Brigade of the First Divi-
sion of the First Corps, Army of the po-
tomac, was composed of the 14th Brook
lyn Tor S4th y. Y.), I'D, oath and Both
\. u, and I'd Berdan Sharpshooters, COM
manded in the order named by Gems. f..
ID. Keys. L. &. Augur. John Z. Hatch and
Walter Phelps; while the Fourth Brigade,
in the same division was composed of the
I'd, 18th and 9TH Wis. and 10Th Ind, from
the Fab of 1861 to Oct, 1862, at which
time the 9th Mich. was added to it, which
five regiments constituted the brigade dur
ing its entire organization, or until June,
1864, when the I'd Wis. was mustered out
by expiration of service. and the 10Th Ind.
was at it's expiration of service and reen-
listment consolidated, with certain other
Indiana regiments. with the 10Th Ind. In
June, 1863. the New York regiments, ex-
cept the 14th Brooklyn (Red Legs), being
two years men, were mustered out on &C
count of expiration Of service the brigade
organization therefore ceased to exist. The
remaining regiment, 18th Brooklyn, was
transferred to the Second Brigade, former
~ commanded by Gen. Doubleday, but at
that time commanded by Gen. Lysander
Cutler, formerly Colonel of the 9th Wis.
After this time, and during the organiza-
ton of the First Corps. the First Divi-
sion was composed of only two brigades.
The First Brigade being made up of the
I'd, 9th and Tth Wis. 10Th Ind. and oath
Mich. and the Second Brigade of the 18TH,
:6th. 147th n. y. and 18th Brooklyn
IN. ". 9th Pa. and 9TH Ind.-these II
regiments constituting Wadsworth's Divi-
sion. The foregoing statements as to the
organization and numbering of the two
brigades in the formation Of the Third
Division, First Corps, Army of the Poto-
mae, about which there has been such n
long and heated discussion is correct. and
can be verified by reference to records and
history.
LAS to which of these brigades has
the legitimate right to be known as the
Iron Brigade as member of that or
ganization ! beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing statement of facts: Up to the
time of the battle Of South Mountain,
Sept. IA, 1862. at which battle it earned
and acquired the right to that name, the
brigade had been known as the Fourth
Brigade Kings Brigade Gibbons Bri-
gade, and the Black Hat Brigade'-the
brigade wearing, what at that time, was
the Regular Army hat. Early in this bat
tie Gems. Mcclellan and Hooker. the lat
ter then commanding the First Corps, were
accommodating the rebel lines. when Gen.
Mcclellan remarked: Gen. Hooker, if
had an Iron Brigade ] could pierce the
enemy's center. by taking the gorge on the
pike Gen. Hooker replied: Gen. Nc
Clellan, have that brigade in my com
mand.' Thereupon Gen. Hooker detached
Gibbons Brigade from Hatch's Division
and assigned to it the duty of taking the
pass, thereby piercing the enemy's center.
Those participating in that battle know
how calamity the pass was won, after sew
eral hours OF sanguinary struggle, last
ing until o o'clock at night. during which
of about 200 in action. The late Gen.
John b. Calls. formerly of the 7th Wis.
in a letter said: Gen Mcclellan told me
at the Continental Hotel in Philadelphia
what he knew of the origin of the name
Iron Brigade 1T was during the bat
tie of South Mountain, my headquar ters
were where l could see every move Of the
troops~"n the pike. With my glass, / saw
the men fighting against great odds.
When Gen. Hooker came, in great haste,
for orders, | asked him what men those
were fighting on the pike. He said: Gen.
Gibbons Brigade of Western men,
said: They must be made of iron.' He
said: BY the Eternal, they are iron! If
you had seen them at Bull Run, as l did,
l.
piled: Why, Gen. Hooker. they fight equal
to the best troops in the world After
the battle ] saw Hooker at the Mountain
House, near where the brigade fought He
sang out, General, what do You think of
my Iron Brigade! Immediately from and
after that battle. the brigade took upon
themselves. of course. having heard of this
incident. that name; no brigade seeming
~ denying them the right to do so, and.
in fact, the entire Army of the Potomac
conceding to them that right. And from
this time on the brigade is designated in
the history Of all the battles in which it
fonght-and it participated in all the
heavy ba tiles of the Army of the Potomac
AS the Iron Brigade 1t is so desig-
mated in 'Stines's Army of the Potomac.
Battles and Leaders in Civil War; by
the century Company, 'Swint6n's Army
of the Potomac each and all of which
are considered as standard histories, and
therefore IN every way creditable Gen.
Doubleday. one of the grand old soldiers
OF the First Corps, and who at one time
including the latter part of the battle of
South Mountain. also the battles of An
tietam and Fredericksburg-com
the old First Division of that Corps. who
also wrote history of the battles Of
Charlottesville and Gettysburg for a
series of histories of battles and campaigns
published some 20 years ago by the Serb
ner Publishing Company: likewise, Gen.
Humphrey in his Grants Campaigns
with the Army of the Potomac from the
Wilderness to Appomattox.' and each and
all of these histories and authorities aeree
in that they almost invariably speak Of it
as the Iron Brigade often naming the
States from which the different regiments
composing it came. With all respect for
my New York comrades. who zealously
contest what have herein written. have
never been able. and have carefully
studied and gone over this whole subject.
TO find the old First Brigade. First Diyi
sion. First Corns-and there was none
better as fighting organization-even
designated by any standard historian or
authority as the Iron Rrgade:' but. on
the contrary. thew invariably. when speak
ing Of the Iron Brigade mean the follow
ing regimental organization Cd 9th and
9TH Wis.,, 10th Ind. and Oath Mich"