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Those Damned Black Hats! The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign
written by Lance Herdegen
Studio : Savas Beatie
by Savas Beatie
Publisher : Savas Beatie
Released : 2008-10
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9781932714487
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 11 reviews)
List Price : $32.95
Our Price : $21.11
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Product Description |
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The Iron Brigade--an all-Western outfit famously branded as The Iron Brigade of the West--served out their enlistments entirely in the Eastern Theater. Hardy men were these soldiers from Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan, who waged war beneath their unique black Hardee Hats on many fields, from Brawner's Farm during the Second Bull Run Campaign all the way to Appomattox. In between were memorable combats at South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, the Overland Campaign, and the grueling fighting around Petersburg. None of these battles compared with the "four long hours" of July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, where the Iron Brigade was all but wrecked.Lance Herdegen's Those Damned Black Hats! The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign is the first book-length account of their remarkable experiences in Pennsylvania during that fateful summer of 1863. Drawing upon a wealth of sources, including dozens of previously unpublished or unused accounts, Herdegen details for the first time the exploits of the 2nd, 6th, 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, and 24th Michigan regiments during the entire campaign. On July 1, the Western troops stood line-to-line and often face-to-face with their Confederate adversaries, who later referred to them as "those damned Black Hats." With the help of other stalwart comrades, the Hoosiers, Badgers, and Wolverines shed copious amounts of blood to save the Army of the Potomac's defensive position west of town. Their heroics above Willoughby Run, along the Chambersburg Pike, and at the Railroad Cut helped define the opposing lines for the rest of the battle and, perhaps, won the battle that helped preserve the Union.Herdegen's account is much more than a battle study. The story of the fighting at the "Bloody Railroad Cut" is well known, but the attack and defense of McPherson's Ridge, the final stand at Seminary Ridge, the occupation of Culp's Hill, and the final pursuit of the Confederate Army has never been explored in sufficient depth or with such story telling ability. Herdegen completes the journey of the Black Hats with an account of the reconciliation at the 50th Anniversary Reunion and the Iron Brigade's place in Civil War history."Where has the firmness of the Iron Brigade at Gettysburg been surpassed in history?" asked Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin. Indeed, it was a fair question. The brigade marched to Gettysburg with 1,883 men in ranks and by nightfall on July 1, only 671 men were still to be counted. It would fight on to the end of the Civil War, and do so without its all-Western makeup, but never again was it a major force in battle.Some 150 years after the last member of the Iron Brigade laid down his life for his country, the complete story of what the Black Hats did at Gettysburg and how they remembered it is finally available. REVIEWS "... brings to life the story of the men who sacrificed so much... Herdegen is able to weave all of the letters and personal accounts into a seamless that is hard to put down. ...a great tribute to the men who served in one of the most famous units in the Civil War."Collected Miscellany, 1/2009 |
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33 fine chapters of some of the best damned Civil War reporting I have ever seen |
Lance Herdegen understands the Civil War. He has written and taught extensively about Iron Brigade. Sometimes I forget that he's not a veteran of the 2nd, or the 6th or the 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment or the 19th Indiana or 24th Michigan Infantry Regiment. When he tells a story, you can smell the camp fire, and have trust that the tale is mostly true.
The best part of all of this is he writes as if he is reporting a current event. Sometimes it is as hot as the headlines.
This is his 4th book about the Iron Brigade. He started with The Bloody Railroad Cut at Gettysburg, The Men Stood Like Iron, and the Civil War Journal of William R. Ray.
I promise, you will know a lot more about Gettysburg when you finish reading Those Damned Black Hats.
Illustrated with some 50 photographs, numerous maps, a long bibliography, plenty of notes, The Damned Black Hats is splattered with 33 fine chapters of some of the best damned Civil War reporting I have ever seen, damn it!
Richard N. Larsen
Reviewer
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well built story |
This book is a splendid narrative of some key moments in the most famous battle of the war, never before talked about. Awesome! Gettysburg lovers worldwide have further proof that in terms of percentage of losses, the story of the Iron Brigade at Gettysburg Day 1 dwarfs the ferocity of the famous battles of Gettysburg day 2 and 3, and such bravery was needed because the stakes were highest.
Herdegen has incredible insight into the dramatic last days of John Reynolds, and how the Iron Brigade was more than just a tip of his saber that would pierce the throat of those invading his home state.
There are many new golden nuggets of information for the hungry Iron Brigade and Gettysburg fans! The story is well told and I PROMISE you will enjoy this book -- disregard the singular reviewer who didn't. |
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Sorry to rain on the parade |
Mr. Herdegen has proven himself to be a great researcher. I commend him for that, and for offering a variety of common soldier insights with this new book. However, I have a variety of complaints that justify my two-star review.
1. There are a few incorrect dates that no Iron Brigade expert should write -- Haskell was killed in 1864, not 1863. Also, the First Corps was disbanded in March 1864, not January. No one is perfect, but the world's leading expert on the brigade shouldn't make such mistakes.
2. Sloppy editing -- grammar and proof reading errors abound. I wonder if this is a Herdegen problem, or more the fault of publisher Savas Beatie. Nonetheless, the errors are quite annoying. It seems this book was a rush job, and it shows.
3. Repetition of key points gets quite bothersome -- the 24th's Michigan's escort of Lincoln's funeral procession is mentioned 3 times late in the book. Other such problems are evident throughout the book.
4. Herdegen has now published several books on the Iron Brigade. Why not just do a new history of the unit? Nolan's great work is now nearly 50 years old. Instead of writing a book about how the brigade won its name and the brigade at Gettysburg (which includes unnecessary pages before and after the battle), just do a new history of the Iron Brigade already!
I'm a big Iron Brigade fan, and I have high regard for Mr. Herdegen's knowledge of primary sources. I just don't think this book deserves the treatment it is getting from other reviewers here. |
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A personal look at July 1, 1863 |
The Iron Brigade was one of the premier combat units of the Army of the Potomac. Comprised of western regiments their distinctive headgear made them stand out in any formation. Headgear is not a combat record but the Iron Brigade compiled a very distinguished one in a very short time. They bore the proud designation of First Brigade, First Division, and First Corps, a heavy responsibility that they never shirked.
I expected a history of the brigade and the book provides a good one. There is enough history to allow us to understand how the brigade received its' name and designation.
I expected a history of the fighting on July 1, 1863 and the book provides an excellent account of that day. There are sufficient tactical details to make an understandable account without being bogged down and losing sight of the overall battle. The author is able to focus us on the Iron Brigade without losing sight of the bigger battle, keeping us in both the sharp tactical fighting details and making clear the general course of the battle.
I expected a history of the regiments that made up the brigade to the end of the war. The book provides a clear account of the different paths each of the regiments took after Gettysburg. These three-year regiments had to reenlist in 1864 to maintain their regimental designation. We have an excellent account of what happens first to the Iron Brigade after the devastation of Gettysburg and after I Corps is disbanded. This gives the reader a look into the problems associated with maintaining regiments over time. This is the saddest part of the book and we understand the heartache of these men when associations built in battle were broken.
I expected a post war history too. Again, the book does not disappoint providing an excellent look at the associations formed and the histories written after the war. A secondary story is how a Western Brigade fared in an Eastern Army. We have very little about the politics of Union veteran associations and this is a valuable contribution.
What I did not expect was the author's ability to make Gettysburg a personal experience! The fighting is a combination of the standard "Company F fired a volley" and the words of the men firing that volley. I have never read a Gettysburg book that rendered the battle in such personal detail. This was almost talking to these men and hearing them describe what they did.
This is an excellent book, full of historical details and personal experiences. The author has done an excellent job in pulling this all together in a very readable and enjoyable book. Bradley M. Gottfried's excellent maps both complement and support the text. This is another excellent Civil War book from Savas Beatie and is entitled to full membership in that exclusive club. |
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great insight |
Herdegen's "Those Damned Black Hats" is a powerful and moving story of the 2nd, 6th, 7th Wisc, 19th Indiana and 24th Michigan in the fighting of July 12-3 1863, Gettysburg. The book uses many previous unused primary sources which give the reader a much more human insight into the fighting solider of the Iron Brigade during this time. What I didn't realize was how the Black Hats came together with their foes in friendship at the Gettysburg reunions of 1903 and 1913. The book contains excellent maps and many previously unseen photos of the Black Hats. Also included is a list of all who registered at the Iron Brigade Tent during the 50th anniversary of the battle. The "Damned Black Hats" is well-written and 1st rate scholarship
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