Iron Brigade at Gettysburg
Written by Christopher Rudolph © 2015
Chapter 7 – This poem, “Iron Brigade at Gettysburg” focuses on the actions of the Iron Brigade and Confederates during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1st 1863. The regiments of the Iron Brigade dealt with in this chapter are the 24th Michigan, 19th Indiana, 2nd and 7th Wisconsin. The actions of the 6th Wisconsin are dealt with in Chapter 8. For the Confederates, this chapter covers the actions of General Jame’s Archer’s Brigade as well as the 26th North Carolina Regiment of General James Pettigrew’s Brigade. For the most part, the 1st day of battle at Gettysburg
was won by the Confederates. Even though the Iron Brigade (Black Hats) was made up of the toughest Union soldiers, they were totally overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of tenacious Confederates on the battlefield that day. The 6th Wisconsin, one of the Iron Brigade Regiments did however achieve a victory within this overall loss. By the end of the first day of battle, all the Union troops were forced to retreat. The Iron Brigade fought a heroic delaying action that allowed for the Union to withdrawl to two hills south of town. So, although they lost the first day of battle, they did manage to secure the high ground that allowed the Union to have the tactical advantage for the remainder of the battle.
Chapter 7 – Iron Brigade at Gettysburg – July 1st, 1863
Splashing across the stream
The bottom of Willoughby’s Run
James Archer’s Brigade moved forward
Under the mid-morning sun
Out of the stream predators
From Alabama and Tennessee
Looking to decimate and defeat
The Union Cavalry
But the Iron Brigade arrived
The Mid Westerners were here
To greet them boldy
Made many Rebels swear
19th Indiana
24th Michigan
2nd and 7th Wisconsin
Let the battle begin!
At the edge of Herbst Woods
Arrived Sergeant Peck
Holding Michigan’s 24th colors
Shot right in the neck
Confederate bullets ripping
Zipping zapping galore
Colors quickly picked up
By Corporal Charles Bellore
24th pressed forward
With loaded raging guns
Archer’s men withdrew
Back to Willoughby’s Run
The 13th Alabama
Now getting overlapped
Forced back to Herr’s Ridge
Where they were now trapped
For Colonel Henry Morrow
Swept around towards the rear
Leading the Michigan 24th
Rebels were in panic and fear
200 Confederates
Who failed to early run
Were captured quickly
The battle for them done
Archer himself
A prisoner now
Taken to General Abner Doubleday
For a little pow wow
“Good morning Archer
Good to see you”
Prewar acquaintances
One Gray now one Blue
“I see you had
To give up the fight
Well, you tangled with the Iron Brigade
Now you’ve felt their might”
Back at the battlefield
It was already high noon
Even though lull in the air
Couldn’t celebrate too soon
For the Confederates
Were coming with blazing guns
Enormous Army arriving
Under the blistering sun
Iron Brigade Commander
Brought his men back
General Solomon Meredith
Sensed an upcoming attack
Back from Willoughby’s Run
A compact line formed
Inside Herbst Woods
Bracing for the Rebel swarm
24th Michigan in the middle
7th Wisconsin right
19th Indiana left
They prepared for the fight
2nd Wisconsin had suffered
The heaviest casualties high
Moved back to the rear
To form a 2nd line nigh
Rebels raging returned
Under General Pettigrew
Back to Herr’s Ridge
Tenacious Tar Heel crew
Heading straight
South of the Cash Town Road (Chambersburg Pike now U.S. 30)
Into Herbst woods
The battle then explode
The 26th North Carolina
Entered the fray
Largest Confederate Regiment
843 soldiers Gray
Led by the Boy Colonel
Only 21 years old
Henry King Burgwyn
The battle did unfold
Before they reached the stream
At Willoughby’s run
Already five color guards dead
Sacrificed under the sun
Five more Flag Bearers
Were quickly killed
Stamper, Kelly, Thomas, Vinson, Marley
Still over the banks rebels spilled
But in the Herbst woods
Camouflaged in the shade
Were mighty Black Hats
The Union’s Iron Brigade
The Confederates approached
Totally possessed
Screaming that Rebel yell
Forward they pressed
Colonel Morrow told the 24th
To hold their shots
Until just 40 yards away
Rifles fired lead hot
A devastating volley
Into the Tar Heels blast
But Iron Brigade still overwhelmed
Rebel numbers too vast
The Iron Brigade fell back
24th Colors still carried by Bellore
Shot right in the head
Wolverines lost one brave more
Deep in the woods now
Standing toe to toe
Two proud regiments
Stared into the eyes of their foe
The Boy Colonel out in front
Bravery always war tests
Grabbed the Rebel Colors himself
Shot right in the chest
Private Frank Honeycutt
Then yelled the Rebel Yell
Picked up the flag swirling
Shot dead he too fell
Rebel Lieutenant Colonel Lane
Not at all done yet
Took over command
“Let’s give them our bayonets!”
But the Colors on the ground
Lay their weeping
Nobody holding the Colors
Wanting safekeeping
Then Rebel Lieutenant Blair said
“No man can hold those colors alive”
Any one of us touches it
Just won’t survive”
Lane concurred but yelled
“North Carolinians follow me”
Picked up the flag
They charged with fury
Totally overwhelmed
24th Michigan pulled back
To a third line of defense
Rebels continued to attack
On the new line
24th’s colors were held
By Private August Earnest
Until shot and filled with lead
Colonel Morrow himself
The Colors now held
Wolverines dying fast
So many were felled
The left flank compromised
They had to pull back
To safety of Seminary Ridge
They quickly back tracked
Surging still forward
North Carolina’s 26th did trek
Lane still carrying the Colors
Until shot right in the neck
Union Colonel Henry Morrow
Up the slopes fled
Carrying his regiment’s flag
Until shot right in the head
Behind a barricade of rails
Captain Edwards now in command
The 24th Michigan
Still bravely made their stand
Tar Heels climbing fast
They charged up the hill
Yanks held their fire
Getting ready for the kill
The Union line then unleashed
A devastating attack
Balls and fragments whirled
Driving the Rebels back
Once again Rebels charged
Driven bloody back again
By the 24th Wolverines
Iron Men from Michigan
But their numbers were too many
Even for the Hats of Black
Time now for them was through
Now time to pull back
So, they headed southeast
Through Gettysburg’s streets
Fought a great delaying action
While Union troops retreat
Back south beyond the town
They found two solid hills
Culp’s and Cemetery
Where they all dug in for the kill