The Iron Brigade at Gettysburg

[Bloody Bill]

I thought these were some very interesting and horrrific stats:

According to the Official Records Of The Rebellion,

Brigade strength = 1,883 officers and men
Brigade losses = 1,153 officers and men

2nd Wisconsin 302 men, 233 losses K-26, W-155, M-52
6th Wisconsin 344 men, 168 losses K-30, W-116, M-22
7th Wisconsin 343 men, 178 losses K-21, W-105, M-52
19th Indiana 288 men, 210 losses K-27, W-133, M-50
24th Michigan 496 men, 363 losses K-67, W-210, M-86

there is also the Brigade Guard and staff I did not include their losses.
You can also look at Dudleys report as they are considered excellent records.

Looking at these stats it is no wonder that the Iron Brigade never fought as a Brigade again.

Thanks, Semper Fi

[Mr Custer]

A great book on this is "Those Dammned Black Hats" The Iron Brigade In The Gettysburg Campaign by Lance Herdegen.

[Bloody Bill]

Thanks I'll have to look for that. I also really enjoyes The Iron Brigade A Military History by Alan T. Nolan. It is a wonderful read and packed full of good history.

Semper Fi

[privatewilley]

Those kind of losses are insane! I assume that most of the casualties, if not all, occurred on July 1.

I heard that"Those Dammned Black Hats" The Iron Brigade In The Gettysburg Campaign by Lance Herdegen was a great book. Thanks for recommending.... It's next on my reading list.

[Keeler]

I also recommend both books mentioned above. Another good one is Morning at Willoughby Run by Richard Shue.

The brigade guard fought as two provisional companies with the 6th Wisconsin during the morning action at the Railroad Cut. After the morning fight ended the surviving brigade guard members returned to their regiments; it would be safe to assume that those casualties are represented in the OR, and they are likely listed with their regimental casualties rather than with the 6th Wisconsin.

The afternoon fight between the 24th Michigan and the 26th North Carolina is probably the highest casualty "regiment vs regiment" fight of the entire war.