Grant County, Wisconsin - Chapter 3: The Iron Brigade, 1900

Chapter 3: The Iron Brigade

The Sixth Infantry - The Seventh Infantry - The Iron Brigade - Bat¬ tle of Gainesville - Second Battle of Bull Run - South Moun¬ tain-Battery B - Antietam - Fitzhugh's Crossing - Get¬ tysburg - Battle of the Wilderness - Spottsylvania and Jericho Ford - Other Engagements.

The Sixth Infantry

In answer to the call for 300,000 volunteers for three years, Grant County sent another body of men vvho joined with part of a company raised by Capt. A. S. Hooe, at Prairie du Chien, the rendezvous being at that place. Following is a list of these Grant County men :

This company was called the "Prairie du Chien Guards," but in joining its regiment, the Sixth Infantry, at Camp Randall, Madison, it became Company C.

In the Sixth the following Grant County men were in other com¬ panies: Company H - James H. Fry, Edwin Field, Cassville. Com¬ pany K - Wm. Anderson, John D. Harp, Cassville

On the 28th of July the regiment started for Harrisburg, Pa. Its journey through the .State was an ovation. At Milwaukee it was given a public dinner. On the third of August the regiment went to Baltimore. It was attacked one night by a band of secessionists from the city, and drove them off without casualty to the regiment, killing one and wounding two of the assailants. On the 7th of August the regiment went to Washington, and on the 29th was placed in King'.s brigade, which afterward became the Iron Brigade. The history of the regiment will be continued in the history of that brigade.

The Seventh Infantry

Three companies of this regiment were enlisted principally in Grant County. One company rendezvoused at Platteville, and was called the "Platteville Guards," and in the organization of the regiment be¬ came Company C. Its roster was as follows:

Another company had its rendezvous at Lancaster and was called the " Lancaster Union Guards." It became Company F. Its roster was as fallows :

The third company had its rendezvous at Fennimore and was called the "Badger State Guards." When the regiment was organized it became Company H. It may be here remarked that -all the compa¬ nies, while at the company rendezvous, adopted names, which, after the organization of the regiment, were no longer used. The roster of Company H was as follows :

The regiment went into camp at Camp Randall, and on the 21st of September left the State, arriving at Washington on the 29th. It was placed with King's brigade October 1, and its subsequent his¬ tory will be given in the history of that brigade.

General King's brigade went into winter quarters at Arlington, just across the Potomac from Washington, and remained there all winter, doing much picket duty.

The Ikon Brigade

Early in the spring of 1862 they prepared for a campaign by drawing "shelter tents." These were pieces of heavy cotton sheeting four and a half feet square with buttons and button holes around three edges, so that two or four of them could be buttoned together. Each man had one piece, which he carried with his blanket. Two men'sleeping together buttoned their two pieces of shelter tent to¬ gether, got some sticks for a ridge-pole and support at each end, and on putting up the whole, had a shelter four and a half feet long, about three feet high at the ridge-pole, and open at the ends.

On the 10th of March the brigade advanced to the site of German¬ town, which had been burned by the rebels in their retreat toward Richmond. At that point there was a reorganization of the army in which the Second, Sixth, and Seventh were placed in the Fourth Brigade (commanded by Col. Lysander Cutler, of the Sixth Wis¬ consin), First Division, First Corps. The weather was wet and chilly and the rations defective. On the 15th of March the brigade returned to within three miles of Alexandria. On the 27th there was a grand review in which the Wisconsin regiments, particularly the Second, were highly complimented for their soldierly appearance and good drill.

April 5, 1862, the Fourth Brigade began its march, and on the evening of the 6th camped on the battle-field of Bull Run. The next day, at Kettle Run, the men suffered from a snow-storm very remarkable for the season. Going on, they encamped on the evening of the 23d on the hights opposite Fredericksburg. Considerable time was spent in rebuilding railroad bridges which had been des¬ troyed by the Rebels. The brigade was then under the command of General John Gibbon, who had been a captain in the regular artillery. On the 23d of May the brigade was reviewed by President Lincoln. On the 25th the brigade began a return march toward Washington, suffering much from heat and rain. At Warrenton, on the 8th of June, they received orders for another advance to

June 13th the Second and Sixth Regiments, with a section of artillery and a squadron of cavalry, crossed the river and recon¬ noitred the country, but finding no enemy, returned to camp. On the 24th of July the Sixth began a reconnoissance toward Orange Court House, and on the 26th had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry. They reached camp on the evening of the 27th, after a march of eighty miles in three da3's.

August 5th the brigade went on a reconnoissance to intercept the enemy's communication on the Virginia Central Railroad. The Sec¬ ond and Seventh Regiments took the Telegraph Road toward Beaver Dam Station. The Sixtji went toward Frederick Hall Station, twenty-three miles from the junction with the Richmond & Potomac Railroad. The former had a skirmish with the enemy at Thornburg and a few of our men were wounded. The next day they turned back to protect the trains from Stewart's cavalry. The Rebels retreated hastily, leaving two pieces of artillery, but capturing several forage teams and a number of our sick and lame soldiers, among whom were seventeen of the Second Wisconsin. On the 7th the Second and Seventh Wisconsin marched to Spottsylvania Court House and awaited the return of the Sixth.

This regiment reached Frederick Hall on the 6th and tore up the track for a mile in each direction, burned a large warehouse, filled with Confederate supplies of corn, whisky, and tobacco, and destroyed the depot, switches, and telegraph line and office, burning two bridges on their return. On the second day the regiment marched thirty-five miles, a part of the way through sand four inches deep under a broil¬ ing sun. It captured fifty mules and horses and did not lose a man. The regiment, with the rest of the brigade, reached Falmouth on the 8th, having marched ninety miles in three and a half days and cut the enemy's communications between Gordonsville and Richmond. General Gibbon, in his official report, highly complimented the Sixth and its commander.

On the 10th the brigade moved out, and the next day took a position in the advance line of the Army of Virginia, near Culpeper Court House. On the 19th of August commenced the celebrated movement known as " Pope's retreat." The iron Brigade marched seventeen miles that day, skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry. On the 21st the brigade had a skirmish in which a few were wounded and Adjutant Dean of the Second was captured while carrying dispatches. The next two days and the 26th it marched down the Rappahan¬ nock under the artillery fire of the enemy, the Second having some men wounded. After some marching and countermarching, the brigade was, on the evening of the 28th of August, marching slowly toward Gainesville.

The Battle Of Gainesville

About six o'clock in the evening of the 28th the Fourth Brigade was approaching Gainesville, when a Rebel battery posted on a wooded hill opened fire on the Union column. The Second Wisconsin quickly faced in that direction and advanced on the double-quick toward the battery; but they soon met the Rebel infantry coming out of the woods. The Second alone checked the whole of Stonewall Jackson's division for twenty minutes, under an intensely concen¬ trated fire of musketry. The other regiments soon came to th$ support of the Second, and. the battle raged terribly till nine o'clock at night, each side holding its ground. At midnight the Federals retreated, leaving the dead unburied and the hospitals with many of the most severely wounded, to fall into the hands of the enemy. The conduct of the Fourth Brigade in this battle was worth}" of the name it was soon to bear: "The Iron Brigade of the West." The Rebels under the renowned Stonewall Jackson greatly out¬ numbered our men, but they could not gain an inch of ground and they were frustrated in their purpose to gain the Warrenton Pike, which would have been disastrous to our army, and in this the brigade gained a victory. In much of the fighting the combatants were not more than seventy-five yards apart Once the Seventh had to change front under a hot fire to get an enfilading fire on a brigade of the enemy that was pressing the Second. The total loss of the brigade was 751 , considerable more than one-third of the whole number. The Second lost 449, more than half the regiment. In other wars, when a regiment was "decimated" - that is, had lost one man in ten - it was thought to be* a severe loss; but the Second lost more than five in ten. General Pope said of the brigade that it sustained the brunt of the battle, and the conduct of the men was gallant and distinguished, and that it was composed of some of the best troops in the service.

The Second Battle Of Bull Run

This battle took place the 29th and 30th of August. The battle was begun by General Sigel's division, but before long the Iron Brigade was in it. Between two and five o'clock the contest was terrific. It was concluded by a furious attack along the turnpike by the First Division of the First Corps, to which the Iron Bri¬ gade belonged. The Federal loss during the day was 8,000, and the Rebel loss was estimated at double that number, as they were the attacking party.

During the night there were some important changes of position. The next day's fighting was terrific, but as the day wore away, doubt and sadness stole over the Federal troops. "Why does not Franklin come?" "When will Sumner be here?" Ten thousand more men would have given the Union forces a victory, and more than that number lay idle within easy reach of the battle-field. The fighting was fiercest about five in the evening. Pope had strengthened his left as much as possible, but it was still too weak, and the Rebels turned it toward Centerville, and the First Corps had to fall back. The whole Federal line gradually withdrew, but the Rebels were too severely punished to press on.

During the forenoon of the first day's fight the Iron Brigade lay near the railroad at Manassas Junction. In the afternoon it marched up the Sudley Road to its crossing with the Warrenton Pike and took a position near and within supporting distance of Sigel's corps. On the second day the Second and Seventh Wisconsin on account of the small number of their men left, were consolidated, the Second having only 150 men in line. A New York regiment gave wav and General Gibbon ordered the Second and Seventh to go and hold the point, and they did it. At another time these regiments repulsed the charge of a Rebel regiment on the battery they were sup¬ porting, taking several prisoners. About noon an assault was made on the enemy's left and the Fourth (Iron) Brigade moved up on the north side of the Warrenton Pike and stood in the fifth line of battle. The Rebels there were driven from the woods and pursued until they made a stand in an old railroad cut. Rebel reinforcements came in on the Federal left and it was compelled to fall back to a new position, which was a hill in the northeast angle of the Warrenton and Sudley roads. The enemy followed, but were repulsed with great slaughter, but as they continued to threaten the Federal commun-

The battle closed as the night came down, and the Fourth Brigade threw out a line of skirmishers and remained in line of battle until the whole Federal array had passed in retreat. Then they crossed Bull Run, the Second Wisconsin in the rear, and marched on to Cub Run, where they stopped to rest about midnight. Right well did the brigade fill the honorable place of rear guard on a retreat.

In the battles of Gainesville and Bull Run from August 26 to 31, inclusive, the Second Wisconsin lost 70 killed, 196 wounded, 31 miss¬ ing; total, 297. The Sixth Wisconsin lost 17 killed, 91 wounded, 11 missing; total, 119. The Seventh Wisconsin lost 31 killed, 153 wounded, 33 missing; total, 217. The loss among the Grant County men was as follows: In the Second, Company C, killed and died of wounds, 2d Lieut. E. P. Kellogg, Sergt. Frank Neaville, John Schmidt, Martin J. Barnheisel Michael Cook,JGeorge B. Hyde, JohnW. St. John, Newton Wilcox, Albert Waldorf; wounded Captain George W. Gibson, Sergt. Samuel Booth, Corps. Frank H.Liscum, Alanson Paroday, Jas. Hughes, privates John Bower, Francis Buermaster, Joseph Bock, J. H. Branham, Lewis Beidler, John Coonce, A. J. Curtis, Fred Chase, John Cahill, Alpheus Currant, J. C. Dillon, John Doyle, Daniel Eldred, Wm. M. Foster, George W. Fritz, Geo. W. Nevins, Fred. Pettigrove, Samuel Peyton, Walter Hyde, R. McKenzie, William B. Reed, Joh nW. Raines, A. W. Spease, John W. St.John, William Snodgrass, Philo B. Wright, Newton Wilcox, Albert Waldorf.

The Iron Brigade fell back through Centerville to Upton's Hill, near Washington. On the night of the 6th of September it crossed the Potomac, passed through Washington, and began a march toward Frederick, Maryland. On the 13th, near that city, it heard cannon¬ ading in front.

South Mountain

On Sunday, September 14, the Iron Brigade went into the desper¬ ate battle of South Mountain. Far to the left Reno's corps had driven the enemy, and at the right Hooker's corps had pressed forward with like success. Between these two, on the turnpike and among the hills, was the Rebels' stronghold, from which they had not been driven. In the afternoon the Iron Brigade was sent to make a demonstration on the enemy's center on the main road. The Seventh Wisconsin was on the right and the Nineteenth Indiana on the left, preceded by skir¬ mishers from the Second and Sixth Wisconsin and followed by the re¬ mainder of those regiments. A Rebel battery was firing on them from the top of the gorge. A section of Battery B, of the Iron Brigade, opened on the enemy's guns, while the infantry steadily advanced. Though the Rebels were sheltered by woods and stone walls, they were driven back until heavily reinforced. To prevent being flanked, a por¬ tion of the Sixth entered the woods on their right and deployed to the right of the Seventh. The Nineteenth Indiana and Second Wisconsin swung around parallel to the turnpike and took theenemy on the flank on that side. Meanwhile Battery B was firing over the heads of the infantry. At dark the brigade was still fighting up the hill. At nine o'clock some of the men had exhausted their cartridges and the enemy began to advance. Cartridges were collected from the boxes of the dead and wounded, and the fire reserved for close range. This fire broke the enemy's line and the Seventh charged upon them with the bayonet as they retreated. About ten o'clock the firing ceased, the Sixth being the last to cease firing, having driven the enemy from a stone wall in their front. However, the Rebels crept up and renewed the fight, but were driven off by two volleys from the Sixth. At mid¬ night the Second and Seventh fell back for ammunition, but the Sixth remained on the field all night. During the night theenemy withdrew.

In the battle of South Mountain there were no killed and wounded among the Grant County men in the Second and Sixth. In the Seventh the casualties were as follows :

General Callis (first captain of Company F« Seventh Wisconsin) has stated that the brigade composed of the Second, Sixth, and Sev¬ enth Wisconsin, Nineteenth Indiana, and Battery B, Fourth U. S* Light Artillery, won its title, "the Iron Brigade of the West,,, in this battle, although the title has been used in describing previous actions. Gen¬ eral Callis stated that in a conversation with General McClellan after the war, that commander narrated a conversation he had with Gen¬ eral Hooker at South Mountain. McClellan said that at thebattleof South Mountain his headquarters were so located that he could see along the pike to the gorge in the mountain, and General Hooker came dashing down the pike to his headquarters to get a more explicit knowledge of some order. McClellan then asked Hooker what troops those were, advancing on each side of the pike near the gorge, under that murderous direct and enfilading fire. Hooker replied : his horse and rode off without waiting for the information for which he came. The next morning, after the gap was won, Hooker again saw McClellan and asked him :

Battery

As Battery B contained for a considerable time a good many Grant County men, temporarily detailed from the infantry, a short descrip¬ tion of it is here copied from a letter by a member of the Iron Brigade to the Teller:

"At the breaking out of the war the battery was in Utah. It was ordered to the seat of war to do its share of mixing Virginia mud, and when it arrived there were, if I remember rightly, only nine men in it. It was familiarly called Battery B, but was Company B, Fourth U. S. Light Artillery. For some reason, I never knew what, it was filled up out of the Iron Brigade, 180 men being required. It was kept full by frequent additions from the brigade, as required, until the summer of 1864, or through the Wilderness campaign, when it was filled up with regulars and ceased to be a member of the brigade. The und *rstanding from the first was that it was to be a part of the brigade, the men detailed to it being still members of their original companies and re¬ porting from the battery to their regiments, the only difference being that they were commanded by regular officers.

"A new lieutenant was sent to the battery. He was a regular and he thought, of course, the members of the company were all regulars, and he began by treating them as regulars, and became much exasper¬ ated by their uncivil behavior toward him, when Lieut. Stewart com¬ manding told him we were volunteers, were good soldiers and would do our whole duty, but he could not make regulars out of us, for we were too independent. This was too much for the new lieutenant and he didn't stay long. As to the battery being the pet of the brigade, I will say that the brigade was just as much the pet of the battery. Bach felt safe when the other was near, always knowing that one would stay with the other as long as there was any staying to be done.

one of whom is Sheriff Dolphin, who was the gunner of our squad, and who once confined your humble servant in the guard house. This he did by order of his superior officer, however, and not by his own authority. "

Antietam

On the 15th of September, the day after the battle of South Moun¬ tain, the Iron Brigade bore a prominent part in the close pursuit of the enemy through Boonesboro and Keelyville to Antietam Creek, where the brigade had some skirmishing, but suffered no los9. In the fore¬ noon of the next day it lay to the right of the Sharpsburg road, near Antietam. In the afternoon, with Hooker's corps, it crossed to the south side of Antietam Creek, to attack and turn, if possible, the ene¬ my's left flank. The enemy was met, engaged, and driven, but dark¬ ness coming on, our troops rested on their arms for the night. At day¬ break on the 17th they were aroused by the sharp firing of the pickets on their left, and immediately fell into line and advanced. Before they had gone a hundred yards a shell passed over their heads and another dropped and exploded among the Sixth, killing and wounding thirteen men. Just before reaching the White Church the Sixth became hotly engaged with the enemy's infantry. After an hour's severe fighting, and suffering a heavy loss, being short of ammunition, it was relieved by a second line and went back to the reserve. During part of the day it supported a battery, suffering from a heavy artillery fire to ward night. The brigade bivouacked on the battle-field. The Sixth cap¬ tured two sets of colors ; its own flag received three bullets in the staff and fifteen in the cloth. The colors of the Second had three bullets in its staff and more than twenty in the flag. The Sixth lost nearly sixty percent . of its men that day. Every man fought like a hero. The dead of the regiment were buried together under a locust tree and their names marked upon boards at the heads of the graves.

Private Robert S. Stephenson, of Company C, Second Wisconsin, deserves special notice. He bore off from the field the colors of the reg¬ iment at the first battle of Bull Run, and on the fAll of the color -bearer at Gainesville he volunteered to carry the colors, which he did during the two days of battle that followed. At South Mountain, although quite unwell, he bore the colors through the whole battle. On the morning of the battle of Antietam he was in the field hospital, a mile or so in the rear of the front line ; but when the battle opened he left bis cot, in spite of the surgeon, and went to the front. Finding his captain, he said: "Captain, I am with you to the last!" He took the colors and carried them till he tell pierced with seven bullets. Corporal George Holloway fell by his side, and when last seen alive Stephenson was assisting Holloway to take off his accouterments. The regiment moved forward, but were soon driven back. As they came back past where the two fallen heroes lay, they were found dead with their heads resting on their blankets.

At one time in the battle, when the Second and Sixth were pressed very hard by the enemy, the Seventh got in a heavy flank fire on the Rebels and routed them.

The following order of General Gibbon, issued soon after the battle of Antietam, will show that the Iron Brigade came under the special notice of General McClellan, and received his highest commendation:

It is with great gratification that the Brigadier General Commanding announces to the Wisconsin troops the following indorsement upon a letter to His Excellency the Governor of Wisconsin. His greatest pride will always be to know that such encomiums from such a source are always merited :

"I beg to add to this indorsement the expression of my great admiration of the conduct of the three Wisconsin regiments in General Gibbon's brigade. I have seen them under fire acting in a manner that reflects the greatest possible credit and honor upon themselves and their State. They are equal to the best troops in any afmy in the world.

The next day after the battle of Antietam, September 19, the Iron Brigade moved to the Potomac near Sharpsburg, where it rested till the 20th of October. On the 26th it marched to Keelysville, and on the 30th it crossed the Potomac at Berlin and marched to Fayette¬ ville, Virginia, which it reached on the 11th of November. It then moved to Brooks's Station, where it encamped on the 22d.

On the 9th of December, 1862, the brigade took part in the move¬ ment immediately preceding the battle of Fredericksburg. On the day before this battle the Iron Brigade crossed the Rappahannock under the fire of the Rebel artillery and took a position at Bernard House, below Fredericksburg On the 13th the brigade held a very exposed and important position on the extreme left. It frequently changed lines, and although under an artillery fire, it did not suffer seriously from musketry, except when engaged in skirmishing with the supports of Pelham's horse artillery attached to Stuart's cavalry, which was posted opposite their left flank. Soon after sunset of that day, the brigade withdrew toward the right and advanced to the Bowling Green Road to support the batteries that covered the Federal lines in front of Fitzhugh's Crossing. While making this change of position, it received a terrible fire of canister, but the darkness prevented the Rebels from obtaining an accurate range, so that the brigade suffered slight loss. On the 14th and 16th it was under arms constantly. On the evening of the latter day it retired to the north bank of the Rappahannock, where it camped in line facing the river tor four days.

At noon of January 23, 1863, the brigade moved out with three days' ratiofis on what was called the " Mud Campaign." It marched to Stoneman's Switch on the Acquia* Creek Railroad. A cold rain, with a northeast wind, had just set in, and some of the men guarding trains marched till midnight, wet and chilled, and remained till morn¬ ing without fire or shelter. The rain and mud prevented the success of the attempt to attack the enemy in force, and the campaign was abandoned, and the Iron Brigade returned to camp, after a hard march of forty miles.

On tne 12th of February the Second and Sixth Wisconsin started down the Potomac, by water, on a foraging expedition, from which they returned successful on the 15th.

On March 12 Adelbert Staley, of Co. F., Seventh Wisconsin was killed by falling and striking his head against a log while carrying a heavy timber across a foot-log. He was a good soldier.

April 9 the corps to which the brigade belonged was reviewed by President Lincoln, and on the 22d Governor Salomon visited the brigade and addressed them.

Early on the morning of April 29, the First Corps, with the Iron Brigade, reached Fitzhugh's Crossing, on the Rappahannock, below Fredericksburg. The engineers, preceded by the skirmishers, had prepared to lay a pontoon bridge, and were driven back by the enemy on the other side. The brigade, with a few other troops, was ordered to force a passage of the stream and drive out the Rebels. The Sixth Wisconsin and Twenty-fourth Michigan were in advance, closely followed by the Second and Seventh Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana. They were to cross in slow-moving, square-bowed pontoon boats, twenty -five feet long, four feet wide, and three feet deep, which must be rowed or poled over. The rifle-pits on the opposite side were full of sharpshooters, who, from their protected position upon the bank, forty feet above the river, could rake the Union men while cross¬ ing unprotected in the boats. The Union men advanced to within a quarter of a mile of the river, and there selected the oarsmen, four to each boat, and appointed a chief for each boat. Knapsacks and haversacks were left behind. They then filed into line of battle and moved forward to what seemed sure death for most of them. Not a man faltered. The order was given: "By the right of details to the front; double-quick ; march !" and each boat's crew started on a run for their boat. A rain of bullets met them, but they rushed on. Tumbling into the boats, they pushed off, with three hundred yards of water to cross to reach the enemy. Splinters flew as the bul¬ lets struck the boats' sides, and many of them found a living target. The Union men reached the other side and immediately rushed up the slippery bank and charged the rifle-pits at the top. In a minute the pits were taken with two hundred prisoners, while the lest of the Rebels fled to the entrenchments higher up the hill.

While getting into the boats, Second Lieutenant William 0. Topping, Company C, Seventh Wisconsin, wa& killed. He was a much esteemed young officer.

The pontoon bridge was then laid and another brigade crossed over. On the 2d of May the brigade recrossed and moved to join the forces on the extreme right. On the 3d, at four o'clock in the morning, the brigade crossed to the south side of the river, at United States Ford, and reached the battle-field near Chancellorsville at sunrise. There, owing to the marshes* and heavy timber in the front, its position was nearly inaccessible, although the battle raged terribly near by almost all day.

The extraordinary feat of crossing the river in boats ip the face of the enemy's fire is thus described by Col. W. W. Robinson, of the Sev¬ enth, in his official report :

''The duty of crossing the river in boats and carrying the enemy's first line for the purpose of covering the laying of the pontoon bridges, was assigned to our brigade. The order was received at 12 o'clock the night of the 28th, the brigade being camped at that time about one and one-half miles back from the river. The plan for crossing, as shown by the order received, was for the two flank regiments (Sixth Wisconsin and Twenty -fourth Michigan) to cross over in the first boats. The other regiments of the brigade (Second and Seventh Wis¬ consin and Nineteenth Indiana) were to cover them while crossing, and to follow as soon as the boats could return. The crossing was to be made at 2 o'clock a. m. of the 29th. Immediately upon the receipt of the order we moved near the river but from some cause, unknown to me, the boats were not ready to launch until daylight, when the enemy opened a brisk fire upon us from their rifle pits. This was warmly returned by our skirmishers. Our artillery got into position upon an elevation in our rear and shelled the enemy till 8 o'clock a.m., when we were ordered to cross over The men threw off knapsacks and haversacks and the brigade moved down to the bank in doublequick, the Sixth Wisconsin and Twenty-fourth leading. The enemy opened a galling fire and we were ordered to jump into the boats without regard to companies or regiments and cross over; which was done amid a storm of balls from the enemy's rifle pits, and a storm of enthusiasm from the 'Old Brigade.' Boats were seized from the wagons on the bank, thrown into the river and filled with men as soon as they touched the water. As near as I could see, every boat had representatives from every regiment in the brigade. From the time, of receiving the order to cross over till the enemy's line was carried, prisoners taken and our line of battle formed with every man in his place in his own regiment, was about twenty minutes.

" The pontoon bridges were then thrown across and the other brigades of the division crossed over. We entrenched and held our position till Saturday morning, May 2d, (artillery duels being fought daily over our heads between our batteries on the hill on this side of the river and the enemy's on the opposite hights) when we were ordered to recross the river for the purpose of reenforcing General Hooker on the extreme right.

"This retiring across the river by daylight was rather a hazard¬ ous movement, as the enemy's guns not only enfiladed the entire-plain on the south side of the river, but also swept the north side to the dis¬ tance of a mile back.

"Our brigade was the last to retire, and five companies of the Seventh were left to cover and support the pickets in retiring. The companies left were: A, First Lieutenant Sloat, commanding; D, Cap¬ tain Bean; C, Captain Newman; F, Captain Young; G, Lieutenant Miller, commanding. Company E, Captain Pond, was out on picket. Aftet the division had crossed over and passed out of range, the picket retired and these companies moved over in good order, deliberately and handsomely.

"I cannot speak in too high praise of the conduct of the entire command ; both officers and enlisted men performed their whole duty, and for cool bravery they are unsurpassed by any troops in the world. Lieutenant-Colonel John B. Callis and Major Mark Finnicum, ren¬ dered efficient assistance in crossing the river and storming theenemy's works. Their coolness, promptness, and efficiency during the seven days under fire, shows them to be officers to be depended upon in any position. Adjutant Robert Monteith was on hand ready for any and all duties, bullets or no bullets.

"I must here be allowed to bear testimony to the valuable service of our very worthy chaplain, Rev. Samuel W. Eaton. During such times as we have just passed through, as well as the more quiet times in camp, he promptly and cheerfully attends the sick and wounded, and freely performs any other necessary duties compatible with his position, and does nut hesitate to follow us to the battle-field in the performance of such duties."

After the battle, May 6, the brigade retired across the Rappa¬ hannock and on the 7th marched to Fitzhugh's Crossing. On the 21st of May the brigade was hurried away to the Northern Neck, to relieve the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, which was reported to be cut off by the

On the 7th of June the Seventh Wisconsin, with Companies A and I of the Second, marched to Kelly's Ford and camped there on the 8th. On the 9th they supported the cavalry in a fight which lasted all day. at Brandy Station. They then recrossed the river at Beverly's Ford.

At half past nine on the morning of July 1, the cavalry division of the Union army was fiercely attacked at Gettysburg by the Rebel cavalry. The Union cavalry drove the Rebel cavalry back, but soon met the Rebel infantry and was compelled to fall back to the support of the Federal infantry. The First and the Eleventh Corps were near by, the Iron Brigade in the former. The First Corps advanced to Sem¬ inary Ridge, half a mile west of Gettysburg, and before it could form its line it was attacked by the Rebels. General Reynolds who com¬ manded the First Corps, took the Sixth Wisconsin out of the First Division on the right of the line, and, attaching it to Cutler's brigade, went over to the left of the line. At the first volley, General Reynolds, was killed. The First Division had to hold its own two hours against a Rebel corps before the other divisions of the corps came up. The Iron Brigade charged with great bravery, rushed into the woods and drove the enemy before them into a little ravine called Willoughby's Run. There the brigade captured a large number of prisoners, with general officers. It formed on the high ground on the other side of the run, but was ordered back by General Doubleday into a line with the other brigades of the division. The right flank of the Fourth Division had been turned by the Rebels, and the division fell back to Seminary Ridge. The enemy massed in front of the division. The Sixth Wiscon¬ sin and two New York regiments made a desperate charge upon the Rebels, drove them into a railroad cut, and captured two regiments with their colors and General Archer. The rest of the Rebels then re¬ treated to their first position. Just then the other divisions of the First Corps and the Eleventh Corps came up. The First Division, chiefly by the desperate fighting of the Iron Brigade, had held at bay Hill's corps of 30,000 men, while the division numbered only 8,200.

on the First Corps, and Ewell's corps attacked the Eleventh Corps with equal fury. The Rebels outnumbered the Union men, coming on in triple lines with reserves and overlapping both the Federal wings, driving into a gap between the First and Eleventh Corps. The whole of the reserves of the First Corps went into this gap, checked the enemy, and captured a thousand prisoners and several flags. But the Eleventh Corps on their right gave way and exposed the right flank of the First Corps, around which swung the long Rebel lines. The Rebel reserve under Hill came up on the left with fresh men against the Iron Brigade, which had been fighting six hours. The brigade gradually fell back, facing about and repulsing six times the enemy that almost surrounded them. There was then a general falling back to Cemetery Hill, a mile and a half from the first Federal position. The Rebels had been too much punished to follow. Darkness put an end to the first day's fight and Meade had time to collect his scattered forces around Cemetery Hill.

In that day's battle the One hundred and Forty -seventh New York was saved, as related by Captain Gray, of that regiment, in his speech when its tattered flag was presented to the Common Council of Os¬ wego: "At this critical moment, when the salvation of the regiment depended upon immediate action, a little band of men was seen emerg¬ ing from the woods on the left. They were what remained of the Sixth Wisconsin, a regiment which had been two j'ears in the service, and to whom the leaden rain and iron hail of battle had become as familiar as the showers of heaven. Every man of that band was a host in himself. Steadily, swiftly, and furiously they charged upon the enemy's flank. The Rebel columns recoiled, wavered, broke, and fled. Two entire Rebel regiments were taken prisoners. The One Hundred and Forty-seventh was relieved. All honor to the gallant Sixth Wisconsin. They saved what remained of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh."

The Second and Seventh Wisconsin were farther toward the left than the Sixth. As they went to the support of Buford's cavalry, the Second was in the lead and the Seventh close behind. The first volley from the Rebels cut down nearly thirty per cent, of the Second, yet the regiment pressed on, checked the enemy and turned them back. In less than half an hour the Second lost 116 of its 300 men in killed and wounded. On the retreat to Cemetery Hill some were taken prisoners, and when the regiment lay down upon its arms at night, there were only fifty of the three hundred who had fallen into line in the morning.

The next morning the First Corp9 was posted to the southward of the head of Cemetery Hill, the First Division (in which was the Iron Brigade) on the right and extending to the Twelfth Corps, which held the extreme right. Both sides were cautious, and, although skirmishing began before noon, the main Rebel onset was held back until about 3:30 in the afternoon. It was made principally on the center. In the evening Ewell's corps made a desperate assault on the Third Corps, toward the left of the Union line. The reserves of the Sixth and First Corps went to the aid of the Third, and the Rebels were repulsed.

At one o'clock in the afternoon of the 3d of July, the third day's fight¬ ing, after a terrific cannonade from 150 guns, Longstreet's corps of 18,- 000 men made its grand charge on the part of the line held by the First,

Second, and Third Corps. They were received with tremendous volleys of musketry that almost annihilated some regiments, but they pressed on.

The Federal lines quivered and drew back. The Rebels pressed up to the Union batteries and were on the point of capturing them, but the Sixth Corps, with tremendous cheers, rushed forward and turned the enemy back, capturing forty Rebel colors and four or five thousand of their men.

On the second day of the battle the Iron Brigade remained on Culp's Hill, near Cemetery Hill and the Baltimore turnpike. On both the second and third days the brigade supported batteries, and was exposed to the tremendous artillery fire of the enemy, but did not be¬ come engaged with his infantry.

John B. C Allis, Capt. Co. F, Lt Vet Brig.-Gen

After the battle of Gettysburg the Iron Brigade, with the Army of the Potomac, returned to Virginia by a route parallel to Lee's retreat. During the rest of the summer and fall it was engaged in holding off the Rebels without much campaigning, and it went into winter quar¬ ters in northern Virginia. In the spring of 1864 the brigade took an active part in the campaign then begun by General Grant.

Battle Of The Wilderness

Early on the 5th of May, 1864, the Fifth Corps, in which was the Iron Brigade, engaged the enemy near Mine Run. At noon it made a vigorous attack on Ewell's corps and drove it back. But the lack of roads and the denseness of the thickets prevented the Sixth Corps from coming into position beside the Fifth Corps, and Ewell's corps, by a desperate effort, drove the Fifth Corps back in turn. The Second Corps early in the afternoon attacked Hill's corps. The battle raged fu¬ riously all day along nearly our whole line. The results of the day were in the enemy's favor, but at five o'clock the next morning our army attacked again and the terrific struggle went on until dark. The morning of the 7th showed that Lee's army had withdrawn into its

The Iron Brigade, which was the First Brigade of the Fourth Divi¬ sion, Fifth Corps, formed in line of battle on the morning of May 5. The Second Wisconsin was on the right of the Seventh, which was in the front line on the left of the brigade. The Sixth was held in reserve. The brigade was soon ordered forward by the right of companies through thick underbrush and pine woods nearly a mile, when at noon it struck the Rebel line in position, covered by a heavy growth of tim¬ ber and brush, their skirmish line being advanced only a few paces in front of their line of battle. When within forty paces, tne Rebels opened a deadly fire, but it was returned with such effect as to throw them into confusion. The brigade now charged and drove the Rebels to their second line, which was also routed. Corporal George A. Smith of Company H, Seventh Wisconsin, captured the flag of the Fortyeighth Virginia. The fire of the brigade strewed the ground with the dead and wounded Rebels. The enemy being reinforced by Hill's corps, and the Federal line on the left giving way, the brigade received a flank attack and was driven back, but without panic, a mile and a half, to its first position. The line was reformed, and at six in the evening the brigade moved to the left to support the Second Corps, which had sustained a severe attack. At dark it moved up to within fifteen rods of the Rebel lines and there lay upon its arms during the night. The battle being renewed at daylight on the 6th, the brigade took part in the grand charge on Hill's corps in its front, forcing it back until Longstreet's corps and the Rebel artillery arrived. As the position of the ground prevented the Federals from using their artil¬ lery, they were compelled to fall back to the line they had occupied during the night. Two further attempts were made to advance their left, but failed. The Rebels then massed their forces and assailed the Federals with great fury, but were repulsed with terrible slaughter.

On the night of the 7th of May both armies began to move toward Spottsylvania Court House. The Fifth Corps took the most direct route on the Federal line, and marched all night. On the 8th a battle was fought at Alsop's Farm, about three miles from Spottsyl¬ vania, between the Fifth Corps and Longstreet's corps, and the Iron Brigade went into action near Laurel Hill. Having halted at ten in the morning to prepare breakfast, the Rebel artillery suddenly opened on them, and it fell in, the Sixth on the right and the Seventh on the left of the brigade. It at once advanced to assault the enemy's entrenchments. A severe conflict ensued, in which the brigade was first driven back half a mile, when it rallied and again moved forward and drove the Rebels back to their former position. It then took a strong position within sixty rods of the enemy's works, and forti¬ fied and held the position, notwithstanding several attempts to dislodge them. On the morning of the 12th the brigade (except the Second, which was permanently detached on the 11th) again took part in an unsuccessful assault upon the Rebel works, soon after which it moved three miles to the left to support the Second Corps, which had carried an important part of the enemy's line. Here it stood in a deep mud and kept up a constant fire to protect those who were at work on the fortifications. Their muskets becoming foul, details of men were sent to wash them, while their comrades went on firing. The men in many cases became so weary from their nearly incessant labors for four days and nights that they dropped down in the mud and slept under the enemy's fire.

The Iron Brigade crossed the North Anna at Jericho Ford in the afternoon of the 23rd of May, moved a mile from the river and went into line of battle, the Sixth on the left of the brigade and the Seventh next to it. Before the line was formed the brigade was attacked in front and flank and driven half a mile, when, being reinforced by two batteries, the brigade rallied and renewed the fight, which raged hotly for two hours. The Rebels were finally broken and retired from the field. For its steadfast and heroic bravery on this field the brigade was highly complimented by the general officers.

On the night of June 12th the Iron Brigade advanced to within four hundred yards of the Rebel works near Cold Harbor, where it remained until the evening of the 5th, exposed day and night to artillery and musketry fire.

The Ison Brigade Other Engagements

The Independent Battalion (Second Wisconsin) crossed the James June 16, 1864, and took part in the battle of the 18th, losing two men mortally wounded. The Sixth and Seventh crossed the James on the morning of the 16th, and passing Prince George Court House, threw up breastworks in front of the enemy before Petersburg on the 17th, the Sixth being on the extreme left flank of the Army of the Po¬ tomac. The Seventh was on the right of the brigade.

Skirmishing at once commenced, and at five o'clock next morning the brigade moved forward in line of battle. The rebels were driven to their works a mile from Petersburg; the skirimishers were recalled, and soon after three in the afternoon a charge upon that formidable Jine was ordered. Moving forward under a withering fire of artillery and musketry, the brigade arrived within one hundred yards of the Rebel works, where the Seventh, without support on the left, held its position for an hour and a half, and commenced throwing up breast¬ works with a few shovels and their bayonets and tin plates. But the Rebels finally attacked the regiment both on the flank and the rear, and it was 'compelled to retreat through a withering fire to the posi¬ tion held in the morning. The regiment was highly commended for its coolness and determined bravery in this desperate action. It lost twenty-one killed and thirty-seven wounded. The whole force was compelled to fall back, and in the night works were thrown up five hundred yards from the Rebel line. The Sixth and Seventh remained in front of Petersburg, engaged in the siege, until August 38. The Fifth Corps captured the Weldon Railroad August 18, but the Rebels were very unwilling to lose it, and made repeated attacks to regain possession, each time with great loss.

The Independent Battalion (Second Wisconsin) took partin the battles along the railroad, on the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st of Au¬ gust. The Sixth and Seventh also participated, and on the 19th, in a severe fight, the Seventh captured twenty-six prisoners without, loss. On the morning of the 21st the brigade was fiercely attacked, and the assault gallantly repulsed with great slaughter of the enemy, the Sev¬ enth capturing the flag of the Sixteenth Mississippi, with all the field officers of that regiment.

The Iron Brigade took part in the second battle* of Hatcher's Run, February 5 and 6, 1865, being in advance and comprising the princi¬ pal troops engaged. The Sixth Wisconsin (with which the Second had been consolidated), lost nine men killed, nine mortally wounded, and seven missing. The Seventh lost two killed, twenty-one wounded, and three missing. This regiment was at first deployed in front of the division as skirmishers. Afterward the right wing was ordered to pro¬ tect the right flank, and the left wing formed in the rear to arrest stragglers. On the 7th the regiment was engaged in skirmishing upon the battle-ground of the previous day.

The Independent Battalion, connected with the Third Division of the Fifth Corps, took part in the battle of Dabney's Mill and lost one killed and four wounded. The Sixth and Seventh marched to the ex¬ treme left and fought there. The Seventh was lost in the woods dur¬ ing the night of the 27th, while deployed as skirmishers, and halted until daylight. Meanwhile its support retired, supposing the regiment was captured. It numbered only 156 muskets and took 216 prisoners', and lost only one man captured.

The Iron Brigade went with Sheridan on his flank movement, hav¬ ing a fierce battle at Gravelly Run, March 31, and when the army fell back it was the last to leave the field. The next day in the battle of Five Forks, the brigade drove the enemy out of the intrenchments.

Meanwhile, the Second Wisconsin had ceased to exist as a regi¬ ment. The three years of its service having expired, and the number of men having been reduced to less than one hundred, the last com¬ pany was mustered out of service July 2, 1864. The recruits were

The Sixth Regiment was present at the grand review at Washing¬ ton, May 24, 1865, and was mustered out July 14. It reached Madison the 17th, and in Capitol Park received the congratulations of the people. One thousand and forty of this regiment were either Killed in action or disabled by wounds. Only about a hundred of those who went into service in 1861 were left to be discharged with the regiment.

After the evacuation of Richmond the Seventh Wisconsin took part in the pursuit and capture of the Rebel army, and returned, after a long and toilsome march to Petersburg, and thence moved to Rich¬ mond and Washington, where it took part in the review of the armies, May 23, and afterward encamped until June 17, when it went to Louisville, Kentucky, and was assigned to the First Brigade of the "Provisional Division, " and was mustered out July 2.