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Chapter 9: famous divisions and brigades.
Within the corps organizations there were certain divisions and brigades which also achieved distinction, sometimes greater than that of the corps to which they belonged.
Prominent among these was the famous division of the Pennsylvania Reserves--the only division of three years men in the
Union Armies which was composed entirely of troops from one State.
Pennsylvania Reserves.
The Reserves included thirteen regimlents of infantry, divided into three brigades.
The Thirteenth Reserves was the celebrated regiment known as the Bucktails, or First Pennsylvania Rifles.
In addition to the infantry, two other regiments were organized in connection with the division,--the First Pennsylvania Cavalry and the First Pennsylvania Light Artillery--but after a few months they were detached, and the division proper included only the three brigades of infantry.
The Reserves were prominently engaged at
Dranesville,
Mechanicsville,
Gaines's Mill, Charles City Cross Roads (
Glendale),
Manassas,
South Mountain,
Antietam,
Fredericksburg,
Gettysburg, and in the
Wilderness campaign.
At Fredericksburg the division made a gallant fight, the losses being unusually severe in proportion to the number engaged.
The division was commanded in turn by
Generals McCall,
Reynolds,
Meade, and
Crawford.
It was attached, originally, to the First (
McDowell's) Corps, but while on the
Peninsula it served in the Fifth Corps.
At
Manassas,
Antietam, and
Fredericksburg, it was again in the First Corps.
After
Fredericksburg it was ordered to
Washington to rest and recruit its shattered regiments, but it rejoined the Army on the
Gettysburg campaign, when it was assigned to the Fifth Corps, in which it remained until mustered out.
The casualties in this division do not amount to the heroic aggregate shown by some other divisions, but the percentage of loss was heavy; the regiments became reduced in numbers, received but few recruits, and did not re-enlist.
Governor Curtin requested the War Department to furlough the regiments,--a few at a time — promising that the
State of Pennsylvania would return them to the field with full ranks; but the
Government refused.
Many of the men, however, reenlisted, and when the division returned home at the expiration of its three years, these reenlisted veterans, together with the recruits, were organized into two regiments,--the One Hundred and Ninetieth and One Hundred and Ninety-first Pennsylvania--which served until the war ended.
The
battle of Bethesda Church, June 1, 1864, was the last action in which the Reserves, as a division, were engaged.
Two of the
Reserve regiments served in
West Virginia during the early part of 1864, distinguishing themselves at the battle of
Cloyd's Mountain.
The eleven remaining regiments were formed into two brigades, constituting
Crawford's (3d) Division, Fifth Corps.
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Sykes's Division.
Another division remarkable for superiority in discipline and efficiency, was
Sykes's Division of Regulars.
The regular troops of the United States Army-serving in the Army of the Potomac were formed into one division of two brigades, under command of
Major-General George Sykes, who was succeeded in 1863 by
General Romeyn B. Ayres.
This division included the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fourteenth, and Seventeenth United States Infantry.
The regiments were small, seldom having over eight companies to a regiment, and often only three.
At
Gaines's Mill, and at
Gettysburg, they sustained a terrible percentage of loss.
The division became so reduced in numbers that it was withdrawn from the field in 1864.
The largest losses in the division occurred in the Fourteenth Infantry; but that might have been due to larger numbers.
The Regular Division was, undoubtedly, the best officered of any division in the Army, the officers being selected solely with reference to their ability.
In addition to those from the
National Military Academy, a large number were promoted from the ranks.
Attached to the division of Regulars was an additional brigade, composed of volunteer regiments, which had demonstrated by their discipline and efficiency their fitness to be associated with the Regulars.
Conspicuous among the volunteer regiments thus attached to the
Regular Division was the Fifth New York, or Duryee Zouaves--
General Warren's old regiment.
But the hardest fighting and greatest loss of life occurred in the First Division of the Second Corps,--
Hancock's old division — in which more men were killed and wounded than in any other division in the
Union Army, east or west.
Its losses aggregated 2,287 killed, 11,724 wounded,
1 and 4,833 missing; total, 18,844.
This division was the one which
Richardson — its first commander — led on the
Peninsula, and at whose head he fell at
Antietam; the one which, made the bloody assault on
Marye's Heights; which, under
Caldwell, fought so well in the
Gettysburg wheat-field; which, under
Barlow, surged over the enemy's works at
Spotsylvania; and which, under Miles, was in at the death in 1865.
Within its ranks were the Irish Brigade, and crack regiments like the Fifth New Hampshire, the One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania, and the Sixty-fourth New York.
Over 14,000 men were killed or wounded in this division during the war; yet it never numbered 8,000 muskets, and often could muster only half of that.
After the charge on
Marye's Heights it numbered only 2,800.
Close to it, however, in point of loss stands
Gibbon's (2d) Division
2 of the Second Corps, and
Griffin's (1st) Division
3 of the Fifth Corps.
The heaviest loss sustained by any division in any one battle, occurred in
Getty's (2d) Division, Sixth Corps, at the
Wilderness, where that divison lost 480 killed, 2,318 wounded, and 196 missing; total, 2,994.
Gibbon's Division, at
Gettysburg, lost 344 killed, 1,197 wounded, and 101 missing; total, 1,642, out of 3,773 engaged — a loss of 43.5 per cent.
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Vermont Brigade.
The greatest loss of life in any one brigade during the war occurred in the Vermont Brigade of the Second (
Getty's) Division, Sixth Corps.
The regiments composing this organization, and their losses were:--
| | Killed or Died of Wounds. |
| 2d Vermont Infantry | 224 |
| 3d Vermont Infantry | 206 |
| 4th Vermont Infantry | 162 |
| 5th Vermont Infantry | 213 |
| 6th Vermont Infantry | 203 |
| 11th Vermont (1st H. Art'y） | 164 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 1,172 |
Its hardest fighting occurred at the
Wilderness, May, 5-6, 1864, in which action it lost 195 killed, 1,017 wounded, and 57 missing; total, 1,269.
Within a week it lost at the two actions of the
Wilderness and
Spotsylvania, 266 killed, 1,299 wounded, and 80 missing; a total of 1,645, out of the 2,800 effective men
4 with which it crossed the
Rapidan, and a loss of 58 per cent. This loss fell on the first five regiments, as the Eleventh did not join the brigade until May 15, 1864.
The brigade also distinguished itself by valuable services rendered in the minor actions of Banks's Ford, Va., and
Funkstown, Md.
It acquired a distinctive reputation, not only by its gallantry but by reason of its being composed entirely of troops from one state.
State brigades were rare in the
Union Armies, the policy of the
Government being to assign regiments from different states to the same brigade.
Carroll's Brigade (Second Corps) contained, at one time, regiments from seven different states.
In the Confederate Army an opposite policy prevailed, and, so far as possible, regiments from the same states were grouped in brigades.
Another thing which enabled the Vermont Brigade to win its prominent place in history was its continuous, unbroken organization.
It was formed at the beginning of the war with five regiments which served together through the entire war. When their term of enlistment expired, in 1864, they re-enlisted, and thus preserved the existence of the brigade.
The only change in the organization was the addition of the Eleventh Regiment (1st Vt. H. Art'y) which joined in May, 1864, it having served previously in the forts about
Washington.
This feature of a continuous organization is an important one in view of the fact that it was the only one, out of two hundred or more brigades, which served through the war without being broken up, or reorganized.
The same five regiments of the old Vermont Brigade which picketed the
Potomac in 1861, marched together at the
Grand Review in 1865.
It was commanded successively by
General Wm. F. Smith, formerly of the Third Vermont;
General W. T. Brooks;
Col. Henry Whiting, Second Vermont; and
General Lewis A. Grant, formerly of the Fifth Vermont.
At one time the Twenty-sixth New Jersey, a nine months regiment, was attached to the brigade for a few months, but it was a temporary arrangement only.
The “old” Brigade should not be confounded with the Vermont Brigade (
Stannard's) which was so prominently engaged at
Gettysburg.
This latter organization was in the First Corps, and was composed of nine months troops,
Gettysburg being its only battle.
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Iron Brigade.
Equally good fighting was done by the famous “Iron Brigade of the
West,” First Division, First Corps.
Its record is, also, a heroic one.
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 2d Wisconsin Infantry | 238 |
| 6th Wisconsin Infantry | 244 |
| 7th Wisconsin Infantry | 281 |
| 19th Indiana Infantry | 179 |
| 24th Michigan Infantry | 189 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 1,131 |
In proportion to its numbers this brigade sustained the heaviest loss of any in the war. The brigade proper contained only the five regiments mentioned; and, yet, its aggregate of losses is exceeded in only one instance.
At
Manassas, under command of
General Gibbon, the first four regiments named lost 148 killed, 626 wounded, and 120 missing; total, 894, out of about 2,000 engaged.
At
Gettysburg,
General Meredith commanding, the five regiments were engaged, losing 162 killed, 724 wounded, and 267 missing; a total of 1,153 casualties, out of 1,883 engaged, or 61 per cent. Most of the missing at
Gettysburg were killed or wounded.
The Iron Brigade was also hotly engaged at
South Mountain,
Antietam, The Wilderness and
Spotsylvania.
It was organized in August, 1861, at which time it was composed of the three
Wisconsin regiments and the Nineteenth Indiana.
In October, 1862, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was added.
The Second Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana did not reenlist, and so were mustered out, respectively, in June and August, 1864.
During the
Wilderness campaign the Seventh Indiana was attached to the brigade, but it was mustered out in August.
The First New York Sharpshooters' Battalion was also attached to the brigade at one time, joining it in the fall of 1863.
In February, 1865, the brigade was broken up, the Twenty-fourth Michigan having been ordered to
Baltimore.
The Sixth and Seventh Regiments remained in the First Brigade, Third Division (
Crawford's), Fifth Corps, while the Sharpshooters' Battalion was assigned elsewhere.
General John Gibbon commanded the
Iron Brigade at
Manassas,
South Mountain, and
Antietam;
General Meredith, at
Gettysburg; and
General Cutler at the
Wilderness.
Cutler was succeeded in 1864, by
General Edward S. Bragg,--formerly
Colonel of the Sixth Wisconsin--an officer of marked ability and an intrepid soldier.
There was another organization, in the Army of the Potomac, known as the
Iron Brigade, and it was in the same division with the “Iron Brigade of the
West.”
It was composed of the Second United States Sharpshooters, the Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth, Thirtieth, and Eighty-fourth New York, forming
Hatch's (1st) Brigade, First Division, First Corps.
But the Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth, and Thirtieth New York were two years regiments, and were mustered out in May, 1863, thereby breaking up the organization.
The Eighty-fourth New York (14th
Brooklyn) was an exceptionally fine regiment, while the other regiments in the brigade made a reputation, also, as efficient commands.
It seems strange that two brigades in the same division should adopt like synonyms; but, in justice to
Hatch's Brigade, it should be stated that it was the original Iron Brigade, and that
Gibbon's Brigade was not known by that title until after
Antietam, at which time it was so designated by a war correspondent, who was apparently unaware of his lack of originality.
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Irish Brigade.
The Irish Brigade was, probably, the best known of any brigade organization, it having made an unusual reputation for dash and gallantry.
The remarkable precision of its evolutions under fire;
5 its desperate attack on the impregnable wall at
Marye's Heights; its never failing promptness on every field; and its long continuous service, made for it a name inseparable from the history of the war. It belonged to the First Division of the Second Corps, and was numbered as the Second Brigade.
The regiments which properly belonged to the Irish Brigade, together with their losses, were:--
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 63d New York Infantry | 156 |
| 69th New York Infantry | 259 |
| 88th New York Infantry | 151 |
| 28th Massachusetts Infantry | 250 |
| 116th Pennsylvania Infantry | 145 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 961 |
The Irish Brigade lost over 4,000 men in killed and wounded; it being more men than ever belonged to the brigade at any one time.
With the exception of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, the regiments were small.
At the start they were not recruited to the maximum, but left New York with about 800 men each.
The three New York regiments became so reduced in numbers that, at
Gettysburg, they were consolidated into two companies each; the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania had been consolidated into four companies.
The brigade, which was organized in 1861, consisted originally of three New York regiments, which selected numbers corresponding to those of certain famous Irish regiments in the
British Army.
The One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania and Twenty eighth Massachusetts were added in the fall of 1862.
Each of the five regiments carried green flags, in addition to the national colors.
While on the Peninsular and
Antietam campaigns, the Twenty-Ninth Massachusetts was attached to the brigade, but after
Antietam it was detached and its place was taken by the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts.
In September, 1864, the remnant of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery was added; but it was detached in February, 1865, and the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery took its place.
In July, 1864, the One Hundred arid Sixteenth Pennsylvania was transferred to the Fourth Brigade.
But the Irish Brigade was composed, substantially, as above; and, each of the regiments having reenlisted, its service was continuous and unbroken.
It was commanded, in turn, by
General Thomas Francis Meagher,
Colonel Patrick Kelly (killed),
General Thos. A. Smyth6 (killed),
Colonel Richard Byrnes (killed), and
General Robert Nugent.
Mention should also be made of the following named brigades, and their losses:--
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First Jersey Brigade.
First Division, Sixth Corps.
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 1st New Jersey Infantry | 153 |
| 2d New Jersey Infantry | 96 |
| 3d New Jersey Infantry | 157 |
| 4th New Jersey Infantry | 161 |
| 10th New Jersey Infantry | 93 |
| 15th New Jersey Infantry | 240 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 900 |
the
Excelsior Brigade.
（
Sickles').
Hooker's (2D) Division, Third Corps.
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 70th New York Infantry | 190 |
| 71st New York Infantry | 88 |
| 72d New York Infantry | 161 |
| 73d New York Infantry | 156 |
| 74th New York Infantry | 130 |
| 120th New York Infantry | 151 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 876 |
the
Philadelphia Brigade.
Gibbon's (2D) Division, Second Corps.
This brigade was commanded at
Gettysburg by
General Alex. S. Webb, and was the one which so successfully withstood the brunt of the attack made by
Pickett's Divisioni:--
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 69th Pennsylvania Infantry | 178 |
| 71st Pennsylvania Infantry | 161 |
| 72d Pennsylvania Infantry | 193 |
| 106th Pennsylvania Infantry | 104 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 636 |
The gallant little Iowa Brigade (
Belknap's) of the Seventeenth Corps:--
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 11th Iowa Infantry | 93 |
| 13th Iowa Infantry | 119 |
| 15th Iowa Infantry | 126 |
| 16th Iowa Infantry | 105 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 443 |
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Custer's famous Cavalry Brigade, which sustained the highest percentage of loss of any brigade in the mounted service:--
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 1st Michigan Cavalry | 164 |
| 5th Michigan Cavalry | 141 |
| 6th Michigan Cavalry | 135 |
| 7th Michigan Cavalry | 85 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 525 |
the “star” Brigade —
Heckman's.
Eighteenth Corps.
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 25th Massachusetts Infantry | 161 |
| 27th Massachusetts Infantry | 137 |
| 23d Massachusetts Infantry | 84 |
| 9th New Jersey Infantry | 96 |
| 55th Pennsylvania Infantry | 208 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 686 |
In each of these brigades there were, at times, slight changes, unnecessary to specify here, as they were but temporary arrangements; the brigades proper were organized as stated.
Then there was the Maryland Brigade; the Second Jersey Brigade; the
Eagle Brigade —
Mower's, of the Sixteenth Corps,--which carried the live eagle;
Wilder's Lightning Brigade, composed of mounted infantry; and several crack brigades whose total losses, as brigades, cannot well be stated, owing to the many changes in their organizations.
Here are three fine brigades, with rosters showing their organizations as they stood October 20, 1863, at the time the Army of the Cumberland was reorganized.
The losses credited each regiment were incurred during their entire term of service, during which they served in other brigades and corps.
These brigade organizations were not continuous and unchanged like those previously cited; they are mentioned in this connection becaust they were noted brigades.
Steedman's
7 (1ST) Brigade.
Sheridan's
8 (2D) Division, Fourth Corps.
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 36th Illinois | 204 |
| 44th Illinois | 135 |
| 73d Illinois | 114 |
| 74th Illinois | 83 |
| 88th Illinois | 103 |
| 22d Indiana | 153 |
| 21st Michigan | 83 |
| 2d Missouri | 91 |
| 15th Missouri | 115 |
| 24th Wisconsin | 111 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 1,192 |
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Willich's
9 (1ST) Brigade.
Wood's (3D) Division, Fourth Corps.
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 25th Illinois | 83 |
| 35th Illinois | 109 |
| 89th Illinois | 133 |
| 32d Indiana | 171 |
| 68th Indiana | 39 |
| 8th Kansas | 105 |
| 15th Ohio | 179 |
| 49th Ohio | 202 |
| 15th Wisconsin | 94 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 1,115 |
Harker's (3D) Brigade.
Sheridan's (2D) Division, Fourth Corps.
| | Killed and Died of Wounds. |
| 22d Illinois Infantry | 147 |
| 27th Illinois Infantry | 112 |
| 42d Illinois Infantry | 181 |
| 51st Illinois Infantry | 115 |
| 79th Illinois Infantry | 85 |
| 3d Kentucky Infantry | 109 |
| 64th Ohio Infantry | 114 |
| 65th Ohio Infantry | 126 |
| 125th Ohio Infantry10 | 118 |
| | |
| Total (during the war) | 1,107 |
The greatest percentage of loss in any brigade, in any one action during the war, occurred at
Gettysburg, in
Harrow's (1st) Brigade,
Gibbon's (2d) Division, Second Corps.
Its loss, as officially reported, was:--
| | Killed. | Wounded.11 | Missing. | Aggregate. |
| 19th Maine | 29 | 166 | 4 | 199 |
| 15th Massachusetts | 23 | 97 | 28 | 148 |
| 1st Minnesota | 50 | 173 | 1 | 224 |
| 82d New York (2d N. Y. S. M.) | 45 | 132 | 15 | 192 |
| | | | | |
| Total | 147 | 568 | 48 | 763 |
The four regiments took 1,246 officers and men into action — a loss of 61 per cent.
12
At
Stone's River, the Regular Brigade (15th, 16th, 18th, 19th United States Infantry), of
Rousseau's Division, Fourteenth Corps, lost 94 killed, 489 wounded, and 47 missing; total, 630, out of 1,566 engaged.
