Evening star., 1915-09-14
REUNIONS SCHEDULED
FOR GRAND ARMY WEEK
Survivors of Famous War 0rganiza-
tions Plan to Get
Together.
Iron Brigade and Berdan's Sharp
shooters Among Those Call
ing Meetings.

Some of the most famous military or
ganizations that bore the brunt of
fierce fighting in the civil war are ar
ranging for reunions here during the
semi celebration.
The meeting of the committee IN
charge of reunions, which was called
by Col. McElroy for Wednesday even
ing, has been postponed until Thursday y
evening in Grand Army Hall at 1870
o'clock.
The Iron Brigade of the West. one of
the most picturesque organizations and
the one that suffered most in the coz
1ict, is to reassemble is many as pos
sible of its survivors in Camp Emery,
where special quarters have been as
signed them.
The Iron Brigade distinguished it
self with the Army of the Potomac,
especially at second Bull Run and at
Gettysburg, where it bore a heroic
share of the terrific fighting of the
1st Corps on the first day.
Loss Totaled 81 Per Cent.
In this fighting the Iron Brigade con-
sisted of the Cd, 9Th and 7th Wiscon-
sin, 9th Indiana and 24th Michigan.
which was a new regiment. 1t took
into the battle 1883 men, of whom it
lost 1.153. Or 81 per cent. but it wrecked
the Confederate organization opposed
to it, capturing Gen. Archer and most
of his brigade, destroying the 26th
North Carolina, which entered the fight
with s26 men and had but about sixty
at the close.
Company F. of the 26th North Carolina
has the distinction of having the
greatest loss of any company on either
side during the war. 1t went into the
battle with eighty-six men. every one
of whom was struck by bullet.
Col. Charles H. Mcconnell of Chicago
was sergeant in the 24th Michigan,
and claims that he wounded the lieu
tenant colonel commanding the 26th
North Carolina He is president of the
Iron Brigade Association, and is maxi
ing arrangements for the reunion. He
himself will not be able to attend on
account of infirmites. but the meeting
will be presided over by Col. J. A Wat
rous, a member of one of the Wiscon-
sin regiments.
Sharpshooters Plan Reunion.
Berdan's Sharpshooters. another
notable organization during the war;
is also planning for a lively reunion.
1t was raised by Gen. Hiram Berdan
and was made up of selected sharp
shooters from all over the country
The requirements for eligibility were
that each man must make a string
of not less than fifty inches from the
center of the target at 800 feet off
hand or 600 feet with d rest.
The men carried specially made tar
get rifles with telescope sights and
were found very useful as skirmishers
and in silencing the enemy'S artillery
by picking off the gunners. They rem
dered conspicuous service throughout
the war and the LIST Regiment signal
lied itself by capturing the 23d Geor-
gia at charlottesville. The 1st Regi-
ment commanded by Col Hiram Berdan
was composed of three companies from
New York, three from Michigan and
one each from New HAMPSHIRE Yer
mont and Wisconsin. Out of the total
enrolment of 1892 it lost 1913 killed
and SIC wounded.
The I'd Regiment, commanded by
Coils. Henry A. Post and Homer r
Stoughton, had two companies each
from New Hampshire and Vermont and
one each from Minnesota. Michigan,
Pennsylvania and Maine. 1t lost out
and 462 wounded
G. !. Reiche, assistant adjutant gen.
eral, Department of Montana, G. A. r.,
has notified the committee in charge
of the encampment that the headuuar-
ters of the Department of Montana
during Grand Army week will be at
the home of Mrs. WilbeIt Callaway.
l27 Maryland avenue northeast.