Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-11-23
WAR DAYS RECALLED.
The Iron Brigade IN the Battle of Gaines
vile Georgia, in 1862.

ne IRON DEASdUS IA tAAS 0cAttAS O 1di1ASS-
vile Georgia, in 1862.
By request we take the following
extract from a history of the PENN
sular campaign, in the Civil war, by
John McElroy. now being published
in the National Tribune, at Wash
iugton. In the Iron Brigade. which
took part ia the battle of Gaines
vile, were four companies of
soldiers from Grant county:
king started his band playing
to cheer the weary troops, with the
thought of any enemy, and left his
position about O'Clock to march
down the Warrenton pike toward
Bull Run Hatch's Brigade led,
and passed over the Groveton
Ridge, followed by Gibbons famous
Iron Brigade I'd, 9th and 9TH Wis
and the 10Th Ind With this brigade
was John Gibbons old Battery B.
4th U. S. Art. It was the only ex-
clusively Far Western brigade then
serving in theArmy Of the Potomac,
and this was its fist fight AS
Gibbons Brigade came out of the
shelter Of the woods on the open
slopes it was opened upon by jack
sons artillery. The Confederate
General wanted fight, and Kings
Division was in the best heart TO
accommodate him for all that it was
worth Gibbon at once put the
artillery in position TO answer Jack
sons guns, and, placing himself at
the head of the I'd Wis, rode off
into the woods to flank and capture
one of the batteries. Presently in
d1cations made him think it well
to deploy the regiment, and it
struck a strong skirmish line in the
tall grass The firing that opened
up at once showed Gibbon that he
had something serious on hand, and
he brought up the rest Of the
brigade to the aid of the I'd Wis,
and Jackson, trying to deliver one
Of his usual swift, crushing blows,
hurled upon the brigade six magni-
fcent brigaGes of infantry, four Of
Taliaferro's and two Of Ewells.
The Wisconsin and Indiana boys
were not made of the stuff to run
at the first fighting; they were too
green to recognize the soldierly act
of retiring before such an immense
force, and for long hours the brigade
stood it's ground, pouring its shot
with desperate energy into the
enemy's ranks, not yielding an inch
to the seasoned veterans that Jack
son pushed against them. jackson
himself speaks of its holding this
position with obstinate determine
tion," and it certainly was obstinate
enough to hold at bay, until night
closed the sanguinary conflict, Jack
sons best troops, SIX to one. Dur
ing this time it lost 40 per cent of
it's officers and men, but had in it's
turn dealt death to it's enemies.
Ewell lost a leg, Tallaferro was
severely wounded, and the losses
in high Confederate officers killed
and wounded was appalling. Double
days little brigade came to the as
sistance of Gibbon and suffered Sc
verely, but Hatch, far in advance,
and Patrick, equally far in the rear,
did not participate in the struggle
The demoralizing stroke which
jackson had contemplated reco1led
upon himself. He had lost sad
number of his best men, and had
not gained the slightest advantage
except in killing and wounding
something like the same number OF
his enemies. King sent word to
Ricketts, of his troubles, asking him
to come TO his help He felt con-
fident of his ability to hold the
ground till Ricketts, could arrive.
though prisoners captured told him
that beyond a doubt Stonewall
Jackson was in front of him with
from 40, 900 to 10000 men. Staff
officers were sent TO find Pope and