5b ~ ¿¿t

THE IRON BRIGADE

The Iron Brigade Composed of the Second, Sixth, Seventh Wisconsin, the Nineteenth Indiana and the Twenty-fourth Michigan regiments of infantry. Mem­ bers, 7,259; killed and wounded, 1,763.

GROUP OF IRON BRIGADE

In the picture sitting left to right are Hugh Evans, Sergt. R. V. Dey, President Frank Dagle, Capt. R. E. Bolger, Capt. Robert Morris, Mrs. Morris, Sergt. Herman Hoffman, fourth vice president; top row, Major L. B. T. Winslow, Major Joseph Heathcock, Capt. Edwin Martin, second vice president, and Sergt. E. S. Best. 1 ANNUAL REUNION OF THE IRON BRIGADE

Janesville, Wis., June 17, 1924

President—Frank Dagle, Des Moines, Iowa. Secretary and Treasurer—Mrs. Frank Dagle, Des Moines, Iowa.

Vice Presidents

Second Wisconsin—R. V. Dey, Wyocena, Wis. Seventh Wisconsin—H. H. Hoffman. Amherst, Wis. Twenty-fourth MichiganVRP»Vt*T3or*gAbraham Lincoln said on that blood-soaked field of Gettysburg: "The world can never forget what they did here." Survivors of the Iron Brigade

FRANK DAGLE MRS. FRANK DAGLE President Iron Brigade Secretary Iron Brigade FIFTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT

Where Brigade Fought Bull Run, First and Second The Wilderness Rappahannock Station Laurel Hill and Spottsylvania Gainesville Petersburg- Sulphur Springs Cold Harbor South Mountain Yellow House Antietam Hatcher's Run Fredericksburg Dabney's Mill Fitzhugh's Crossing Boydstown Plankroad Chancellorsville Gravelly Run Gettysburg Five Forks Mine Run Appomattox

Brigade Regiments Three Wisconsin regiments—the Second, Third and Sixth—the Twenty-fourth Michigan, the Nineteenth Indiana, and later in the war, the Ninety-first New York Artillery comprised the Iron Brigade. Its commanders were Gens. Rufus King, John Gibbon, Solomon Meredith, Lysander Cutler and Edward S. Bragg. Recently Adjutant General R. C. Drum, U. S. A., compiled a table from the official records in Washington, showing the losses from death sustained by the Iron Brigade during the war—the grand total, 1,721, being practically two regiments out of five. Many of the veterans attending the G. A. R. Encampment proudly wore a little red badge of felt in their hat. They were members of the Iron Brigade. It seems that when the brigade was about to go into action, the commander of the first division of the first corps of the Army of the Potomac was fretting because he could not distinguish the men of his command. He called in an orderly and ordered red blankets cut up in small strips and ordered each member of the Iron Brigade to wear one of the red pieces. "It may be an aiming mark, but at least any man hit there will not be taken prisoner," the veterans report their commander as stating. Thereafter the little red circle of felt became the proud insignia of the unit. The Iron Brigade is now but a memory, but what a noble one!

ANNUAL REUNION OF THE IRON BRIGADE ASSOCIATION

Janesville, Wisconsin, June 17, 1924 The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a. m., June 17th, in the office of the Chamber of Commerce, with Comrade Franklin Wilcox presid­ ing. Prayer by Comrade A. O. Butler. Secretary-treasurer's report called for and minutes of last meeting read. I have the honor to submit the following report of receipts and dis^ bursements since last report. DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN G. A. R.

Deficit on October 25, 1923 $ 78.00 To printing 600 leaflets 15.00 To postage for leaflets and correspondence 12.00 To paper and envelopes 8.00 Total deficit $113.00 Cash received since January 25, 1924 75.75 Still due June 17, 1924 $ 37.25 Respectfully submitted in F., C. and L.,

MES. FRANK DAGLE, Secretary-Treasurer. Report was approved as read. A motion was made by Comrade Hoffman, seconded by several, that the association proceed at once to make up the deficit, which was done, resulting in a collection of $41.00, thus paying the deficit and leaving $3.75 in the treasury. A son of one of the veterans and a World War veteran donated very generously to the collection. It will take $32.00 more than we have on hand to get out and mail the report of this meeting. This amount, we hope, will be made up as the comrades receive these booklets. Six of our members have been very liberal and have been a great help in keeping the Glorious Old Brigade before the public. Then came the election of officers. President Frank Dagle and Sec­ retary-Treasurer Mrs. Frank Dagle were unanimously re-elected to serve the ensuing year. Vice President for Second Wisconsin—R. V. Dey, Wyocena, Wis. Vice President for Sixth Wisconsin—Franklin Wilcox, Mauston, Wis. Vice President for Seventh Wisconsin—Herman H. Hoffman, Amherst, Wis. Vice President Nineteenth Indiana—Elihu Thornburg, R. R. 4, Muncie, Ind. Vice President for Twenty-fourth Michigan—Robert Bolger, 3438 Brook­ lyn Ave., Detroit, Mich. Vice President for Battery B—Hugh Evans, Amherst, Wis. Business being finished, the time was given over to reminiscences of different battles and campaigns in which the Brigade was engaged, well interspersed with jokes that had been played on each other and tales of narrow escapes from the enemy. During this time nine-year-old Francis S. Peterson, great grandson of Gen. E. S. Bragg, was brought to the meeting and received a warm welcome, shaking hands with all present. When asked if he realized who he was shaking hands with he an­ swered, "Yes, sir, I do; with the best soldiers of the war." "1 Later he marched at the head of the Brigade in the parade, when all present at the meeting were in line, making a good showing as a sepa­ rate division and receiving cheers all along the line. According to the list of the Iron Brigade which was received March 25, 1924, there were 555 members still living and of this num­ ber there were 27 present, they being as follows: FlFTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT

Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry I Sargt. Frank Dagle, Co. E, 601 Flynn Bldg., Des Moines, Iowa. Swift E. Best, Co. G, 1622 John Ave., Superior, Wis. George Wilkinson, Co. I, Mifflin, Wis. R. V. Dey, Co. G, Wyocena, Wis. Henry Burkhardt, Co. I, 1253 Park Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. Fred Pettygrove, Co. C, Charles City, Iowa. Wm. M. Loofbourow, Co. I, Monroe, Wis. Philip Fox, Surgeon, 122 E. Johnson St., Madison, Wis. • Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry L. B. T. Winslow, Co. I, 1120 Milwaukee Ave., Janesville, Wis. Franklin Wilcox, Co. K, R. D. 4, Mauston, Wis. John R. Towle, Co. K, 1214 East Sixty-second St., Chicago, 111.

Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Capt. B. F. Moore, Co. H, 615 Fifth St., Janesville, Wis. OrnuC. Crandall, Co. B, Hot Springs, Ark. J. C. Cummins, Co. B, Orting, Wash. Willis Hyde, Co. K, Genoa City, Wis. A. O. Butler, Co. B, Beaver Dam, Wis. Herman H. Hoffman, Co. E, Amherst, Wis. Hugh Evans, Co. G, Amherst, Wis. Chas. R. Muzzy, Co. B, Waterloo, Wis. Edward M. Hopkins, Co. K, Beloit, Wis., R. R. 29, Box 38. Joseph Heathcock, Co. H, Linden, Wis. W. P. Fuller, Co. E, Westfield, Wis. John W. Rowe, Co. I, 1329 Church St., Marinette, Wis. Geo. C. Bush, Musician, National Home, Wis. John W. Ball, Drummer, National Home, Wis.

Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry Timothy Shien, Co. K, 523 W. Seventh St., Superior, Wis. Mathew Notier, Co. I, 82 West Twelfth St., Holland, Mich. The beautiful city of Janesville, represented by its Chamber of Com­ merce, and the Wisconsin G. A. R., represented by Assistant Adj. Gen. E. B. Heimstreet, did everything in their power to keep the Old Brigade before the public and to make them comfortable and happy, even fur­ nishing splendid free quarters and some meals, as well as transporta­ tion. The Janesville Gazette detailed a World War veteran, Capt. Lewis C. French, to special duty in writing up everything concerning the Iron Brigade, a duty which seemed a pleasure and which he did with credit to himself and the Gazette, helping to make this meeting of the Boys in Blue one never to be forgotten. MRS. FRANK DAGLE, Secretary.