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The Wisconsin Iron Brigade

The Iron Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. One of the most significant roles that the Army played was fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg. The force was characterized by its high sense of discipline, its outstanding fighting ability and a unique uniform that gave them a uniform appearance. Such characteristics earned the men the name Iron Brigade to connote men who fought with iron dispositions. Furthermore, the group comprised of men from Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin and who were considered the toughest soldiers in the Army of Potomac. It is important to note that the composition of men from the three states made people refer to them as the ‘Iron Brigade of the West’. Ideally, the name Black Hats arose from the Hardee hats that were given to army regulars rather than the blue ones that were offered to other Union Army Units (Wisconsin, 2006). The Iron Brigade was imperative to Wisconsin. The reason for this is that the Civil War touched almost every family in the state. From 1861-1865, at least 91000 men left Wisconsin to fight in the south and only 12000 made it back home (Wisconsin, 2006). The largest and the most common Civil War unit of Wisconsin was the Iron Brigade. While many of the soldiers fought in the army, numerous local Wisconsin residents opposed the Civil war and severely denounced President Lincoln’s suspension of fundamental civil rights (Delozier, 2016). However, as the war continued and many Wisconsin soldiers died, the public opinion took a different turn, and a majority of local citizens backed Lincoln’s efforts to preserve the union. Like every other war, there was wartime prosperity for Wisconsin that can be attributed to the role its men played in it. For instance, the war aided in the consolidation of transportation industry through increasing eastward-moving trade. Furthermore, railroads were overwhelmed with business activities, and there was a rise in shipping costs. Ideally, while some men left for war, the few that were left saw their wages increased. Also, farmers benefitted tremendously since there was a rise in crop prices because the army’s demand for wheat, which was the major crop for the state skyrocketed. Conversely, the increase in demand for food led to the increase in demand for farm equipment. The farm equipment industry was one that had its roots deeply rooted in south-eastern Wisconsin. All the activities of the

Civil War and the role of the Iron Brigade, therefore, positively impacted the state of Wisconsin. The Iron Brigade and the role they played in the Civil War impacted heavily on today’s ways of life in almost every aspect. For instance, on political and social impact, there was the 13th Amendment that banned slavery and the 14th amendment that gave citizenship to all people in the US. Also, there was the passing of the Homestead Act, the Reconstruction laws and the passing of the Jim Crow Laws (Towner, 2011). Ideally, the efforts of the soldiers set a stage for modern medicine where millions of poorly schooled physicians were provided with a large training ground. Furthermore, because the Civil War was the first modern war, it contributed to the development of equipment and tactics that have been with time refined. Therefore, the Iron Brigade did not only change the way things were done at that time, but also they changed America.

References Delozier, D. (2016, July 1). ​Wisconsin's Iron Brigade played key role in Battle of Gettysburg​ . Retrieved from A Channel3000 Web site: http://www.channel3000.com/news/local-news/wisconsins-iron-brigade-played-key-role-in-battle-of-gettysburg_2016111 503231132/158141894 Towner, B. (2011, June 1). ​The Civil War: Freedom and 49 other Ways it Changed American Life​ . Retrieved from A AARP Web site. Wisconsin, S. H. (2006). ​Wisconsin Historical Collections, Volume II (1856).​ Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin.