The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory: The Black Hats from Bull Run to Appomattox and Thereafter

by Lance J. Herdegen

Why another book on the Iron Brigade? Because this is really the first book on this storied outfit-and it could not have been written without the lifetime of study undertaken by award-winning author Lance J. Herdegen. More than a standard military account, Herdegen's latest puts flesh and faces on the men who sat around the campfires, marched through mud and snow and dust, fought to put down the rebellion, and recorded much of what they did and witnessed for posterity.

The Iron Brigade is one of the most celebrated military organizations of the American Civil War. Although primarily known and studied because of its remarkable stand on the first bloody day at Gettysburg, its stellar service during the earliest days of the war and from the Wilderness to Appomattox has been routinely slighted. Herdegen has finally rectified this historical anomaly with his The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory. Composed originally of the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, and Battery B of the 4th U.S. Artillery, the brigade first attracted attention as the only all-Western organization serving in the Eastern Theater. The Regular Army's distinctive felt dress hat earned them the nickname "Black Hat Brigade." The Westerners took part in the fighting at Gainesville (Brawner's Farm), Second Bull Run, South Mountain (where General McClellan claimed he gave them their famous "Iron Brigade" moniker), and Antietam. Reinforced by the 24th Michigan, the Black Hats fought at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. But it was at Gettysburg on July 1 where the brigade immortalized a railroad cut and helped save the high ground west of town that proved decisive, but was nearly destroyed for its brave stand. Reorganizations, expired enlistments, and different duties split up the famous outfit, but some of the regiments fought on through the Wilderness to Petersburg and finally, Appomattox. Only when the war was ended did the Western boys finally go home.

Herdegen's magnificent The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory, sure to be looked upon as his magnum opus, is based on decades of archival research and includes scores of previously unpublished letters, photos, journals, and other primary accounts. This well researched and written tour de force, which includes reunion and memorial coverage until the final expiration of the last surviving member, will be the last word on the Iron Brigade for the foreseeable future.

When we were young, explained one Black Hat veteran many years after the war, we hardly realized that we "had fought on more fields of battle than the Old Guard of Napoleon, and have stood fire in far greater firmness." Here, at long last, is the full story of how young farm boys, shopkeepers, river men, and piney camp boys in a brigade forged with iron helped save the Union.

About the Author:
Award-winning journalist Lance J. Herdegen is the former director of the Institute of Civil War Studies at Carroll University. He previously worked as a reporter and editor for the United Press International (UPI) news service covering national politics and civil rights and presently works as historical consultant for the Civil War Museum of the Upper Middle West. Herdegen is the author of many articles and is regarded around the world as the authority on the Iron Brigade. His many book credits include Those Damned Black Hats!: The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign; Four Years with the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Journal of William R. Ray, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers; The Men Stood Like Iron: How the Iron Brigade Won its Name, and In the Bloody Railroad Cut at Gettysburg.

Reviews:
"Lance Herdegen's The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory is the first book-length treatment of this famous fighting unit from the first days of the war until the final drum roll at Appomattox. Herdegen is the leading authority on this legendary command. His compelling narrative, buttressed with solid research that utilizes many previously untapped sources, moves along with a pace akin to an action movie. It also examines the changing social face of the war as Native Americans and runaway slaves go into the ranks of the Black Hat Brigade. This is a book that had to be written. It has been by the only person who could do it." - Ted Alexander, Chief Historian, Antietam National Battlefield

"Alan Nolan's The Iron Brigade has been the standard work on this famous unit for fifty years. Esteemed historian Lance Herdegen has now supplanted that work with this first comprehensive, scholarly treatment of the Iron Brigade. Herdegen, the recognized expert of this famous unit, builds upon an impressive foundation of fresh primary source material. This work brings the fighting men of the Iron Brigade to life as never before. Herdegen follows the brigade from its earliest inception to the surrender at Appomattox. Written in a flowing, narrative style that does not sacrifice detail, this important work is both a definitive hist...

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Nonfiction

656 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2012

Reviews

[John Nellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of the Union Army's Iron Brigade. It covers the units from the beginning of the war to its end and aftermath. This is the best history of the Regiment I have read. It's full of first person accounts, plenty of maps, and lots of photos. A top notch regimental history, of perhaps the best unit in the Union army.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have previously read two good books focusing on the Army of the Potomac's Iron Brigade (the First Brigade of the First Division of the First Corps at Gettysburg--a designation that filled many of the Black Hats with pride). One, by Nolan, is the classic. The other, a comparative work examining the Iron Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade (of the Confederacy).

This book had access to more records and sources than Nolan's. Thus, the volume has more depth. Also, Nolan's work (and others') tend to focus on the unit up until the battle of Gettysburg--with much less coverage thereafter. This book makes a terrific contribution by considering in detail the role of the remnants of the Brigade after Gettysburg to Appomattox Court House.

The Iron Brigade, originally, consisted of four regiments--three from Wisconsin (2nd, 6th, and 7th Regiments) and one from Indiana (the 19th Regiment). After the Brigade was decimated by Brawner's Farm (at Second Manassas), where they stood toe to toe with the Stonewall Brigade and gave as well as they got, South Mountain, and Antietam, the original brigades had the 24th Michigan added to the Brigade. The soldiers all took pride in being a "Western" outfit--the only fully Western brigade in the Army of the Potomac.

They were called the Black Hats when they began to wear the tall Hardee hats. Originally, called the Black Hat Brigade, they became known as the Iron Brigade, apparently as a result of their valor at South Mountain, just before the battle at Antietam.

The point at which most volumes slow done is Gettysburg. The Iron Brigade arrived at a critical moment and stopped cold an assault by a brigade from the Army of Northern Virginia. However, the weight of numbers--with Confederate forces outnumbering Union troops--told and the Iron Brigade was "used up" trying to hold ground. They did play a further role at Gettysburg.

But after that? Eastern troops were added to the Brigade to bring its numbers up, and it lost its role as a Western force. The book then takes us through the Brigade's work after Gettysburg--from the Wilderness to Appomattox Court House.

The book provides valuable detail on the Brigade--with many photographs and with the fate of many of the troops being revealed. The Brigade lost a large percentage of its cohort, partially a result of the valor of the troops.

Want to know about the Iron Brigade of the West? Then take a look at this book.

[Mark Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look back into the American Civil War. The plethora of little details and personal vignettes make it come alive.

[Marc Brueggemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Unit Shows The Cost Of The Civil War

The Iron Brigade holds a special place in my heart. I was born, raised, and still live in Wisconsin, growing up as a kid I watched the Gettysburg movie from 1993, I didn't realize it as a kid at the time. But one clip showed the brigade getting into positions at a place called McPherson's woods at Gettysburg, but that was all they showed of them. Years later, as my interest in the Civil War became an obsession, I discovered the actual history of this brigade and its hard, determined, and fierce fighting character. I remember learning about their sacrifices at places like South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg (especially Gettysburg), and than learned about their sacrifice in the Overland and Petersburg campaigns of 1864. But at the same time, these men suffered more from combat than disease, it was shocking learning about how many men they lost in these battles. It's absolutely tragic and heartbreaking. The 7th Wisconsin alone had the third most highest casualties and casualty rate during the war, the 2nd Wisconsin lost 75% of their men on the first day at Gettysburg, along with the 24th Michigan who also lost 74% of their men as well. This book restores their importance to Civil Wat history, as well as American history and the history of Wisconsin's importance to the Civil War. I won't forget being at Gettysburg National Cemetery seeing 73 Wisconsin soldiers buried there, as well as their comrades from Michigan and Indiana. May we never forget these men and their sacrifices for the United States of America.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very detailed account the men of the four WI and one IN group that became known as the Iron Brigade because of the dogged determination in battle. According to most, they got their trademark name when Little Mac was heard to say they fought like iron men.

Absolutely loved the book and feel ready to visualize the battles when we visit Gettysburg and surrounding battlefield this summer.

[John W. Doan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guts and perseverance

This is a very personal look at the Iron Brigade. A tough as nails in your face experience of the Civil war. Lots to learn here and lots to ponder.

[Bob Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over Alan Nolan. This is a new classic telling of the storied Iron Brigade of the West. Alan Nolan set the bar high fifty years ago, but with respect, Lance Herdegen has set the bar even higher. This book was deeply researched and elegantly written. Mr. Herdegen goes further than Mr. Nolan, following the Iron Brigade from its initial conception; mustering in and deployment; through its early training and eagerness to join the fight; to its first real test - a stand-up, give-no-quarter, shoot-as-fast-as-you-can-fire-and-reload, fight at Brawner's Farm against Stonewall Jackson's famous brigade; and beyond its stand at Gettysburg that decimated the brigade but gave the Union Army time to take the high ground at Cemetery Ridge. He tracks the famous but now diluted brigade over the remainder of the Civil War through the South's surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865, and even thereafter to the parades and the brigade's homecoming and reunions in the years following the end of the war.
Much of the story is told by the soldiers and officers in their own words, painstakingly culled from letters home, diaries and memoirs, the brigade comes alive in the soldier's daily life in camp, seemingly pointless marching, and on the battlefields of many of the most famous and deadly battles in the eastern theater - battles like Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania and the siege of Petersburg. These were battles where the soldiers and officers of the Black Hat Brigade became known as the Iron Brigade, battles where their mettle, bravery and heroism shown like no other.
The Iron Brigade was the only brigade in the eastern Army of the Potomac made up entirely by troops from the western states of the Union, Wisconsin, Indiana, and later Michigan. They distinguished themselves time and time again in battle. General McClellan the General of the eastern Army of the Potomac first gave this brigade the nickname that would follow them throughout the Civil War - the Iron Brigade. They were recognized wherever they went, with their distinctive tall black hats; they were respected and revered by their fellow Union soldiers and feared by their Rebel enemies.
This is a book that details not only the big picture but the personal picture too. You meet and get to know not only the generals we all know from the history books, but the private soldiers too. There's Mickey Sullivan a witty, feisty, insightful Irishman, who initially enlisted in 1861, and despite being wounded five times (not every one in battle), saw the end at Appomattox Court House. He keeps a running commentary throughout. We meet another fellow soldier who came to be known as the best Union straggler because he would disappear into the woods during a march, and show up hours later with some prize, whether it was a "rebel chicken" that was sacrificed for the cause, or applejack to pass around. We learn of freezing cold December nights at Fredericksburg, when no fires were permitted to keep warm because they would give away the troops' position to the enemy. Entire regiments of rough and no doubt smelly soldiers were forced to sleep spoon-style with their fellow soldiers for warmth. They lay on the cold ground, spooning with their neighbor until someone down the line yelled, "about face" at which point the regiment would roll over as one and commence to spoon with its other neighbor. The image is priceless!
Speaking of images, the book is laced with photographs of officers and soldiers, from Grant and Lee down to unidentified privates. It contains many illustrations and maps showing the battle lines and how a battle progressed. The maps are useful to fully understand the written descriptions of battles.
In all, it was a terrific read, and I highly recommend it.

[Matthew Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Iron Brigade is, without a doubt, the most famous brigade which fought for the Union during the American Civil War. Strangely enough, throughout the many regimental histories written about the famous brigade, there has always been something missing in the study. With either a dry narrative, or the lack of a continuous thought process, the previous Iron Brigade studies have fallen short. Thankfully, Lance Herdegen’s The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory is the book on the famous brigade we have all be waiting for. Throughout the detailed chapters, this book never fails to keep the interest high and fills the pages with the myriad of action which these boys saw during the war.
Lance J. Herdegen is an award winning journalist and is the former director of the Institute of Civil War Studies at Carroll University. He experience in journalism is from working as an editor for the United Press International news service. This covered national politics, civil rights, and is currently working as a historical consultant for the Civil War Museum of the Upper Middle West. He is also the author of many articles and other books such as Those Damned Black Hats!: The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign, Four Years With the Iron Brigade, and In the Bloody Railroad Cut at Gettysburg. He is considered by many to be the expert on the Iron Brigade.
This book has every bit of information any scholar could want on the Iron Brigade. Their entire history is placed on the table for all to see. This tome covers all the action which the brigade saw through the entire war and is sectionalized for the reader by year of conflict. One of the things which I enjoyed was the section on the Battle of Gettysburg where so many of the Iron Brigade fell. It has been some time since I have felt emotion reading a brigade history and Herdegen does the job well. One of the major points which can be appreciated is the section on Gettysburg is not a carbon copy of his other book Those Damned Black Hats! He offers a different narrative and is not repetitive. My favorite part of the book had to be the final pages of the narrative talking about the post war for some of these men. Accompanied by maps and photographs, this book is essential for any study on the Iron Brigade and the campaigns in which they were involved. The appendices are invaluable as they list off the regiments of the Iron Brigade and which counties the companies were formed within. Overall, this volume is the full treatment of the Iron Brigade any Civil War student or scholar could ever hope for.
I highly recommend this book and overall cannot recommend it enough. From the action packed chapters to the very well organized narrative, there is not enough time for me to say good things about this work. While there have been previous works on the Iron Brigade, Herdegen proves that he is the all-time master of the Iron Brigade’s history and a phenomenal historian who clearly has an incredible grasp on his subject.

Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle

[William P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. excellently put together. Add to your Civil War library. This was one of the most units of all during the Civil War. They played a huge part in the battle Of Gettysburg.