Brigade histories regimental histories american civil. The midwesterners of the 17th and 72nd indiana, the 98th and 123rd illinois mounted infantry and the 18th indiana battery of colonel john t. Army command and staff college 2014, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. One of the first things that comes to mind in any discussion of breechloading repeating rifles in the civil war are the exploits of wilders brigade commanded by colonel john t.
Suffice to say that rosecrans, short of cavalry going into the spring of 1863, liked wilder s idea to. Lightning at hoovers gap the story of wilders brigade. The lightning brigade, also known as wilders brigade or the hatchet brigade was a novel, for the us army formation in the american civil war, mounted infantry brigade in the union army of the cumberland from march 8, 1863, through the november of 1863. Wilders brigade in the tullahoma and chattanooga campalgns by u.
John thomas wilder was an officer in the union army during the american civil war, noted principally for capturing the key mountain pass of hoovers gap during the tullahoma campaign in central tennessee in june 1863. The history of the famous union army brigade during the civil war traces the development of the iron brigade in the early years of the civil war, examining the battles that fostered its reputation as one of the best combat infantry brigades in the union army. Wilder, commander of the lightning brigade, by samuel c. The brigade gained its initial fame armed with spencer rifles, but production had shifted to carbines in the fall of 1863 and as arms were replaced from loss or damage, carbines showed up along side rifles in. Quickly advancing from its reserve position four hundred yards to the southwest, wilders brigade struck manigaults men a devastating blow. The story of the conception, conversion, and equipping of the brigade is well known and need not be discussed in detail again.
By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. I really wish there were more army of tennessee brigade histories like this one. Wilders mounted infantry brigade in the battle of chickamauga. The 123rd illinois was assigned to the brigade on may 6, 1863 replacing the 75th indiana that voted not to become mounted infantry.
Leading a mounted brigade of midwestern farm boys from late 62 to the wars end his success was due, in part, to his use of the springfield repeating rifle. John wilder and his lightning brigade of mounted infantry. In 1863 general rosecrans, commander of the army of the cumberland, authorized wilder to mount the brigade on horseback and rearm it with spencer repeating rifles, giving the brigade. Wilders infantry brigade in the tullahoma and chickamauga campaigns of the american civil war. Priest promoted 2nd lieutenant, died june 24, 1864. On johnsons left brigadier general john greggs regiments were checked by wilders brigade, which now occupied a reserve position at the western edge of the viniard farm. The lightning brigade from the many, one may best describe col. And there is yet another reason we should be alarmed by this action. Colonel wilders lightning brigade the new york times. The prose can drag a bit, getting bogged down in quotes from individuals letters home for example, but for anyone interested in wilders lightning brigade, this book remains the 800 pound gorilla in the reading room. Wilders brigade the person pushing rosecrans to mount infantry regiments was none other than the colonel of the 17th indiana infantry regiment, colonel john t. You see, the brigade is not just any group of soldiers they are all jewish 5000 strong. The author howard blum highlighted three jewish friends that spearheaded the war on. Indiana bankers agreed to advance the money if each solider would sign, and wilder would cosign, a note for his weapon.
Durham was raised in the waveland area and starts his memoirs as a young man still in school. All are excellent books and worth a look at if you enjoy wilders brigade. Lightning brigade us army of the cumberland 1863 wikipedia. Good history of the only unit fully equipped with the spencer rifles. Identified spencers from real fighting units are rare. In march 1863 wilder wrote to the henrys manufacturer asking if the firm would supply his brigade, assuming the soldiers paid for the weapons themselves. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Some of these books are out of print, but they come up on ebay from time to time. The repeating rifle most often associated with wilders brigade is the spencer repeating rifle. With a potent combination of rapidfiring spencer rifles, aggressive and determined leadership, and unlimited confidence in themselves, the soldiers of colonel john t. The use of fire support by 3 commando brigade royal marines during the 1982 falkland islands war for free with a free 30day trial. Wilders brigade also known as the hatchet brigade and lightning brigade proved themselves in battle during the tullahoma campaign.
The brigade was unique because it was created as a unit that could move with the speed of. Sanders enlisted in the 123rd illinois infantry in august 1862 and was wounded september 19, 1863 during the wilder brigades brilliant fight at. Page 600 in the prison cell i sit, thinking, mother dear, of you, and our bright and happy home so far away. The story of wilders brigade by glenn sunderland confederate. The brigades artillery support was supplied by captain eli lilly s 18th indiana battery, which featured six 3inch rodman guns. Laura ingalls wilders little house books, based on her own. In 1863 general rosecrans, commander of the army of the cumberland, authorized wilder to mount the brigade on horseback and rearm it with spencer repeating rifles, giving the. Love your stories and pictures that you have shared. Indeed, wilders books were highly nuanced, and one can read them as part of the ongoing debate over government policy toward native americans in the 19th century. See more ideas about brigade, american civil war, civil war. Wilders mounted infantry brigade in the battle of chickamauga baumgartner, richard a. Stellar research and engaging writing style combine to bring to life the men of wilders lightning brigade. Wilder developed a novel plan involving his brigade of mostly indiana and illinois farmers.
And the tears they fill my eyes spite of all that i can do, though i try to cheer my comrades and be gay. In early 1863, wilders brigadearmed with the newest gun, the spencer repeating rifleand the hoosiers trained as they marched on through kentucky and into tennessee. Wilders brigade spent part of the winter of 1862 protecting union supply lines against raids by col. Wilder, presentation to the chattanooga area historical association, january 24, 2004.
Frustrated at trying to chase confederate raiders such as john hunt morgan and nathan bedford forrest on foot, wilder proposed to mount his brigade. This medal has the original ribbon but not the brooch. Received as a gift form a friend and fellow history buff very readable history, well told, and a early view of j. Feb 10, 20 regimental flag for the 98th illinois mounted infantry. Corporal records of the 72nd indiana wrote our entire line from right to left opened out upon them with artillery and small arms. Regimental flag for the 98th illinois mounted infantry.
Wilders lightning brigade researching your civil war. Wider quickly learned that his immobile infantry was unable to keep pace with cavalry on horseback, so he requested, and received, permission to. Manigaults right regiments participated in defeating walworths brigade, and his left units were on the verge of capturing the glenn house when disaster struck. United states history civil war, 18611865 regimental histories. John thomas wilder january 31, 1830 october 20, 1917 was an officer in the union army.
Wilders brigade regimental histories american civil war forums. Wilders brigade in the battle of chickamauga will undoubtedly emerge as one of the best civil war books of 1997. Wilders books are full of practical advice and recipes for living in the big north woods, on the northern prairie, etc, without electricity or. The thesis is a historical analysis of colonel john t. General john t wilder commander of the lightning brigade. Although my read predates my involvement on goodreads, i remember liking this detailed look at a fascinating brigade in the union army.
In 1863 general rosecrans, commander of the army of the cumberland, authorized wilder to mount the brigade on horseback and rearm it with spencer repeating rifles, giving the brigade unsurpassed. On his right colonel john fultons brigade drifted to the northwest, where it routed kings brigade and inadvertently assisted bate in clearing the brotherton field. Wilder had personally ensured that his lightning brigade of mounted infantry was equipped with the new spencer repeating rifle, though he initially had to appeal to his men to pay for these weapons themselves, before the government agreed to carry the cost. They went on to prove themselves in the capture of chattanooga the battle of chickamauga, the atlanta campaign, wilsons raid and the capture of macon. Librarians airbrush laura ingalls wilders name from award. Wilders brigade remained focused on lafayette road, which was now held by the confederates, who were aligning with fixed bayonets, and marching toward west viniard field.
Two are on the 72nd indiana and one is on the 92nd illinois and one on wilders brigade at chickamauga and one on wilders brigade at hoovers gap. Sunderland, wilders lightning brigade and its spencer. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. Books like little house on the prairie give testimony to the regrettable mindset behind one of the worst genocides in history historians estimate that in 1492, at the time of columbus landing in the caribbean, there were some 10 million indigenous peoples living in what is now the united states. History of the first and second missouri confederate brigades. Learn from brigade experts like cap history library and lieutenant colonel thomas r. Wilders lightning brigade montgomery county indiana. A wonderful book of civil war memoirs from a montgomery county soldier that served in the 11th indiana infantry. Wilder s infantry brigade in the tullahoma and chickamauga campaigns of the american civil war. Civil war letters of a soldier in wilders lightning brigade book book details. Wilders lightning brigade civil war medal wilders lightning brigade civil war medal. This book contains both a history of the first and second missouri confederate brigades as. Read brigade books like wwii 1st army staff guide and no shells, no attack.
Wilders brigade at the start of the chickamauga campaign consisted of the 17th and 72nd indiana and the 92nd, 98th and 123rd illinois. Particularly appealing are the many primary source documents quoted and cited that add depth and personality, and the dozens of neverbeforepublished photographs create a sense of reality often lacking in historical texts. Wilders lightning brigade civil war medal military and. This is the story one of the unsung leaders and innovators of the civil war. Dana ordered him not to join thomas, nor attack the rebels between wilders current position and snodgrass hill. Hicks editors, the 17th indiana rgt a historyhardpress publishing and mentions in bgray.
Just before the start of the battle of chickamauga, wilders brigade played a. Its regiments were nominally the 1st brigade of mgen joseph j. View more articles from journal of the illinois state historical society 19081984. Wilder was an engineer from indiana who joined the army shortly after the war started. Every real librarian not just libertarian librarians should be angry. Wilders mounted lightning brigade so christened during the summer of 1863 solidified a reputation in the savage battle of chickamauga as one of the union armys hardest fighting and most effective combat organizations. The unit was made up of citizen soldiers from the farms of indiana and illinois. Id really like to see a good brigade history done on liddellsgovans arkansas brigade of cleburnes division. For anyone interested in chickamauga, the western theater or one of the premier fighting units of the war, baumgartners latest book is an excellent addition to the civil war bookshelf. The webs source of information for ancient history. Suffice to say that rosecrans, short of cavalry going into the.
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