John Barrett Murphy

Civil War Soldier

Compiled and Edited

by

Al Palmer

Lambertville, MI

May 2009

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Table of Contents

John Barrett MurphyCivil War Soldier.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Day by Day in the Civil War with the Iron Brigade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Appendix A: Maps of the Iron Brigade inVirginia 1862 - 1865. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Appendix BJohn B. Murphy’s Compiled Military Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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John Barrett MurphyCivil War Soldier

John B. Murphy (1404) was born 10 January 1839 in either Glen, MontgomeryCounty or Hastings, Hastings County, New York, USA. Family records list the Glenlocation while a biography, noted below, notes his birthplace as Hastings, NY. Hisparents were Arthur Murphy and Della (Delia) Colton Murphy.

Arthur was born in Ireland about1811. Delia was born in Ireland on28 March 1818. It is not knownwhen either came to the U.S., butthey were married in 1835 in NewYork, New York. One of greatmysteries, yet to be unraveled, iswhether they met in the U.S. orIreland.

The 1840 census reports the family living in Glen, Montgomery County, New York. 1850 was the first U.S. census to list the family members and John appears in theArthur Murphy household that year. By then, the family has moved to Waukesha,Waukesha County, Wisconsin. John’s occupation (remember he was about 11 yearsold) was listed as farmer.

He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Millville, Grant, WI, USA, in thehousehold of his parents, Arthur Francis Murphy (1408) and Delia Colton (1971). 11

He lived on 10 Jul 1860 at Millville, Grant, WI, USA. 22

He began military service on 31 Aug 1861 at Madison, WI, USA. He enrolled inCompany H, of the 7th Wisconsin Infantry for a period of three years on 20 Jul 1861at Fennimore, WI. John B. Murphy, then 22 years old, was subsequently mustered33

into the army at Madison, Wisconsin on 31 August 1861.

The account of his service which follows is based on his cumulative military record, abrief published biography, and a history of his regiment(http://www.secondwi.com/wisconsinregiments/eastern.htm). All are consistent, with

Arthur Murphy Delia Colton Murphy

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the exception being a few battles listed in the biography that were not noted in hismilitary record. It is assumed that record keeping, being what it was during the war,the biography is probably more accurate, since it was based on John’s recollections.

Lincoln appealed to the state governors for soldiers, initially asking for one regimentof 1000 men from Wisconsin. They were to serve for a period of ninety days, as itwas assumed that the war would be over by then. The number was raised in oneday and became the Wisconsin 1 . The next call was for three year volunteers andst

that was the call answered by John.

To be an officer, you only needed to raise a company of 100 or so men. The menwere gathered together and enrolled. A captain was elected by popular vote and theprominent citizen who probably put up the money and persuaded the men to join,generally got the honor. Other officers were elected and previous militaryexperience was rarely a factor in who was chosen. Once enrolled and the companyformed, the men went to the training camp where they were formally mustered intothe army.

Ten companies comprised a regiment which was led by a Colonel, generallyappointed by the Governor, often as a political favor. The number of soldiers in aregiment ranged from 830 to 1010. Four regiments were formed into a brigade,commanded by a Brigadier General. (http://www.ironbrigade.net/unit-organization.htm).

John Murphy was mustered into company H of the 7 Wisconsin Infantry regiment. th

They were trained at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin and initially deployed in thedefense of Washington, DC. until March of 1962 when they began to move intoVirginia. Initially, the brigade was comprised of the 2nd Wisconsin, 6th Wisconsin,7th Wisconsin, and 19th Indiana regiments. The 24th Michigan regiment wasadded later after the brigade took heavy losses. Battery B - 4th US Artillery was alsoincluded. The Rufus King brigade, as they were known, wore black felt hats forwhich they were known throughout the south. For its heroic efforts at Gainesvilleand Antiteam, it became known as the “Iron Brigade.”

The men of the Iron Brigade first made a name for themselves simply asmembers of "Rufus King's Brigade". But as commanders and uniformschanged, and the conflict advanced to the war's most critical momentat Antietam, they earned some more titles. The men of the south knewthem first as "That damn Black Hat Brigade" and latter to all as the "IronBrigade" because they "stood like Iron" in the face of withering enemyfire. The truth is, the history of the Iron Brigade begins like a song ofglory and victory assumed, and ends with the brigades virtual

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destruction on the first day of Gettysburg. The men were not of iron,but of flesh and blood and they anointed their nations fields with moreof themselves than any other regiment in the Union. (http://www.ironbrigade.net/index.html)

On 10 March 1862, the Army Corps. is reorganized and the 7 Wisconsin becomesth

part of the first Division under the command of Rufus King. They break camp onMarch 10 and after a series of marches, reconnaissance activities and a fewskirmishes end up in the vicinity of Falmouth and Fredericksburg, Virginia at the endof April, 1862. In all, they have traveled about 48 miles and contemporaneousreports describe the weather as horrendous for most of the month. They remain inthat area experiencing little or no action until July, 1862.

After a reconnaissance mission to Orange Courthouse, and an eighty mile march inthree days, they are camped at Gordonville, VA.

Aug. 28th , at an early hour, we march to Gainesville, turn to the rightBethlehem Church road, and halt and lay on arms until 5 P.M. when wereturn to the pike and march slowly toward Centerville. At about 6 P.M.,and two miles from Gainesville, while marching by the flank a rebelbattery, posted on a wooded eminence to the left of the road, open fireon our column. The old Second promptly faced to the front, anddirected by Gen, Gibbon, advance by quick time upon the battery, andsoon met the enemy’s infantry emerged from the woods. Here fortwenty minutes the Iron Brigade checked and sustained the onset ofStonewall Jackson’s whole division of rebel infantry under one of themost intensely concentrated fires of musketry ever experienced by anytroops in this or any other war. (http://www.secondwi.com/wisconsinregiments/battles2.htm)

This brief summary does not do justice to the savagery of the battle of Gainesville. John Murphy and his comrades had only experienced light skirmishes with theConfederate Army to this point. At Gainesville, they were outnumbered by anexperienced corps led by Stonewall Jackson. The two armies faced each other overopen ground, often separated by less than one hundred yards. The musket fire waswithering from both sides. The 7 Wisconsin and the other regiments stood theirth

ground and held the line. Jackson elected to withdraw and the Union armyproceeded on to Manassas. John Murphy received a “slight” wound to the head on29 August 1862.

The losses on both sides were horrendous with over 1/3 of the 7 Wisconsin, dead orth

injured. The head of John’s company, Captain Randolph, died in the battle. John

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Murphy survived and on 4 September 1862, was promoted from private to corporal. One would like to think that it was because he showed leadership during one of thebloodiest battles of the Civil War.

Through the first half of September 1862, the Army of Virginia marched norththrough Georgetown and Washington DC, eventually stopping at South Mountainnear Middletown, VA on September 14. The Confederate Army was dug in and the7 Wisconsin was assigned the task of storming the pass and securing it for theth

passage of the Union army. They succeeded in driving the opposition from behindthe stone walls and up the pass. It was after this battle that the brigade becameknown as the “Iron Brigade of the West.”

On September 15 , the army pursues the confederates through Boonsboro toth

Antiteam Creek near Sharpsburg. That battle has generally been considered one ofthe bloodiest of the entire Civil War. Again, John Murphy survived an encounter withan experienced and determined opposing army. At the same time, he is serving withan equally determined corps rapidly gaining experience and a reputation for braveryand fortitude.

On 19 September 1862, the confederate army retreats across the Potomac river andthe Iron Brigade remains at Sharpsburg, VA, burying the dead, recruiting andtraining.

Breaking camp on 20 October 1862, John Murphy and his companions marchsouthward through Warrenton, Fayel, Morrisville, and Brooks Station where theycamp from November 28 to December 9 , during which time it snowed heavily. th th

They fought in the battle of Fredericksburg from December twelfth to the fifteenth,though their part of the line saw little action. On December 23, 1862, the Army of

Virginia, makes camp for the winter at Belle Plaine, VA.

On 21 April 1863, at the opening of the 1863 campaign,John is promoted from Corporal to Sergeant. The photo atthe left shows him with his stripes.

Now known as the Army of Potomac and under thecommand of General Hooker, the Corps remained in campuntil 28 April 1863. One notable event occurred duringthat time when the army was reviewed on 9 April by Gen.Hooker, President Lincoln, Secretary Seward, Gen.Stoneman of cavalry fame, and Gen. Sickles, accompaniedby their wives. John Murphy probably saw Abraham

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Lincoln and may have even had the opportunity to meet him.

On 29 April 1863, opening the campaign of 1863, the army advanced to Fitzhugh’scrossing where a pontoon bridge was to be erected across the Rappahannock river. The Confederate army was entrenched on the opposite side and their fire preventedthe erection of the bridge. The 6 Wisconsin took the advance by taking commandth

of the boats and transported the remainder of the brigade across under thewithering fire of the enemy. In less than 20 minutes the Iron Brigade had securedthe line and the bridge was erected.

The entire brigade crosses the river by 2 May 1863 and through the month marchesto Millsville, VA. arriving on 26 May 1863.

From 12 June 1863 to 30 June 1863 the army marches 123 miles through Virginiaand Maryland to Marsh Creek, PA just south of Gettysburg. They are placed in theline of battle. General Meade is now in command of the army.

The Iron Brigade marched into Gettysburg on a beautifulJuly 1 morning. They were quickly ordered to attack thest

Confederate army entrenched in McPherson’s Woods. Inspite of a severe artillery barrage, the line was able toadvance and force the Confederate army to retreat. After alull of two hours or so, the Confederate army advanced andforced the Union forces, including the 7 Wisconsin toth

retreat back through Gettysburg finally reorganizing onCemetery Hill at the end of the first day. The regiment sawlittle action during the second and third days of the battle ofGettysburg.

The Seventh Wisconsin bore its share in thebattle with characteristic gallantry, andsuffered severely. During the action, CaptainHollon Richardson, who was acting on GeneralMeredith's staff, seized the colors of aPennsylvania regiment, and attempted to rallythem back into the fight, but it was in vain, andalthough he made a conspicuous mark by thisaction, he retired unharmed. (http://www.secondwi.com/wisconsinregiments/gettysbu.htm)

The Iron Brigade lost a total of 1212 men while the regiment lost 178 at the battle

Gettysburg NationalPark--Meredith Ave.,Gettysburg, PA

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of Gettysburg and John Murphy survived another major battle of the Civil war.

After the battle of Gettysburg, the Army of the Potomac including the Iron Brigadepursued the Confederate army south for the next four months.

From July 5 to July12, they chased the rebel army to the banks of the Antiteam river,a distance of 56 miles. With the Confederate army still in retreat, the 7 Wisconsinth

in company with the other members of the Iron Brigade chased them 75 miles overthe next 11 days.

On 1 August 1863, they broke camp, crossed the Rappahannock River and formed aline of battle where they remained until 7 August. They then recrossed the river andwent into camp where they remained until 15 September 1863. They are to spend agreat deal of time in the area of Warrenton, Brandy Station, Rappahannock Station,and Kelly’s Ford, VA.

16 September 1863 found the Army of the Potomac breaking camp and marchingthe 12 miles to Poney Mountain where they again made camp. On 17 September1863, the citizens of Wisconsin and Michigan presented the Iron Brigade with a standof silk colors. After a festival, they broke camp and marched to the Rapidan riverwhere they formed a line at Martin’s Ford.

Leaving Martin’s Ford on 11 October 1863, the army moved the twenty-five milesthrough Stevensburg, Brandy Junction, finally forming a battle line at WarrentonJunction.

They remain on that line until 14 October 1863 when they march over the plains ofManassas and found themselves on the old familiar territory around Gainesvillewhere they received their first taste of the horrors of war just fourteen monthsearlier. They have covered many miles since then and seen more bloodshed thanany person should have to endure. The horror is certainly compounded when theyare ordered to return to the battlefield at Gainesville and bury their dead who haveremained in the field since August 1862

After voting in the national election at the company headquarters on 4 November1863, they march seven miles to Catlett’s Station.

Marching and fighting the fifteen miles through Rappahannock Station, on 8November they captured several pieces of artillery, a bridge, a train and 2000prisoners. They remained in camp at Beverly’s Ford repairing the railroad andearthworks and engaging in picket duty until 26 November 1863. The army is backand forth across the river until 4 December 1863 when they arrive at Kelley’s Ford to

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lay out a camp for the winter. John Murphy is granted a furlough and goes home toGrant County Wisconsin on 19 December 1863. John’s military record indicates thathe was sent home sick and authorized to remain there until 5 March 1864.

24 December finds the army again breaking camp and marching to Culpepper CourtHouse where they build another camp for the winter.

John remains home recovering from his illness and on recruiting duty until 12 June1864, when he rejoins the regiment just before the siege of Petersburg.

In the meantime, the Army of the Potomac has broken camp on 6 February 1864and marches to Belleville where they engage in a skirmish with sharpshooters. Theyreturn to camp on 7 February 1864 to prepare for the “final battle.” The army of thePotomac is now under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant.

On 6 May 1864, the Iron Brigade engages the Confederate forces in what has cometo be known as the Wilderness Campaign. It marks the beginning of an elevenmonth period in which the armies are always within musket shot of each other. General Wadsworth who had led the 7 Wisconsin at Gettysburg is killed in thisth

engagement. Additional skirmishes occurred around the Wilderness area until 14May when the brigade formed behind the breastworks at Spotsylvania Court House.

Throughout May they moved south arriving near Jericho Ford on 26 May 1864. Theterms of service for the members of the 2 Wisconsin regiment ended on 11 Junend

1864 and they were relieved of duty and started for home.

From early May when the 1864 campaign began until near the middle of June, theArmy of the Potomac had lost nearly 60,000 men. At the battle of Cold Harbor,Grant lost 7,000 men in twenty minutes. John Murphy returned from recruiting dutyjust after this battle. The 7 Wisconsin was involved in preparations for the siege ofth

Petersburg which ultimately lasted from 16 Jun 1864 until 2 April 1865. Theconditions on the Union line were acceptable, but the Confederate forces insidePetersburg quickly ran out of food and were in desperate straits throughout theperiod.

On 18 August 1864 Grant began a campaign to destroy the Weldon railroad whichwas being used to supply the Confederate forces at Petersburg. In a battle thatraged for five days, the Union forces were only able to control a small portion of therailroad. In a biographical sketch published in 1901, it was noted that John Murphyhad participated and was wounded in the hand at the battle for the Weldon railroad.

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John Murphy’s regiment remained in the siege until 6 February 1865 when itparticipated in actions designed to disrupt the wagon trains attempting to deliversupplies to Petersburg. For two days the two armies skirmished in the vicinity ofDabney’s Mill, Rowanty Creek and Gravelly Run.

The Union forces finally won a decisive victory at Five Forks on 1 April 1865 cuttingoff all supply chains to Petersburg and Lee ordered the evacuation of that city andRichmond.

The 7 Wisconsin, probably with John Murphy, was present at the battle atth

Appomatox Court House when Lee made one last attempt to reach his supply line atLynchburg, only to find his army surrounded by Union forces.

After Lee’s surrender on 9 April 1865, the regiment wasmoved to Washington DC duringthe month of May. Theyparticipated in the Grand Reviewon 23 May 1865 in WashingtonDC and were moved to Louisville,KY on 16 June 1865. JohnMurphy, now twenty six year old, and his surviving comrades weremustered out on 3 July 1865 atJeffersonville, IN. During itshistory, 1630 men were enrolledin the 7 Wisconsin and 281 fell inth

the conflict. John had been testedin some of the most severecombat in the war, received two promotions and lived on to

the age of 78 on 31 Aug 1861. He ended military service on 3 Jul 1865 atJeffersonville, IN, USA. 44

John married Alice Graham (1405), daughter of William Graham (1416) and ElizaButton (1417), on 24 Dec 1865 at Woodman, Grant, WI. He had been home for55

six months. It would be wonderful to know how and when they met. Had she beenwaiting for him those three long years? No known letters exist to describe thatrelationship.

John B. MurphyAlice Graham Murphy

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He and Alice Graham (1405) appeared on the1870 Federal Census of at Woodman, Grant, WI,USA, enumerated 24 Jun 1870. Their childrenFrank Graham (202), Lilliam (1406) and Jennie(Jane) (1407) were listed as living with them. 6

According to that census, he was a farmer atWoodman, Grant, WI, USA. 77

He and Alice Graham (1405) appeared on the1880 Federal Census of at Marion, at Grant,,enumerated 18 Jun 1880, Their children Lilliam(1406), Frank Graham (202) and Jennie (Jane)(1407) were listed as living with them. That88

census records his occupation as, “farmer.”

The following biography appeared in the "Commemorative Biographical Record ofthe Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette Wisconsin," Chicago: J. H.Beers & Co., 1901.

J. B. MURPHY, one of the prosperous farmers of Marion township,Grant county, enjoys the honor of being chairman of the town board,and was born at Hastings, N.Y., on Jan. 10, 1839, being a son of Arthur and Delia (COTTON) MURPHY, natives of Ireland. The father came to New York at the age of eighteen, while the motherwas brought to this country when but an infant. In 1856 the familycame to Grant county, and although the father was a stonemason bytrade, he took up land in Woodman township, which he greatlyimproved, and resided upon the farm until his death, which occurred in 1878, his wife surviving him until 1896.

To them were born children as follows: Mary, clerk in the land office atWashington, which position she has held for twenty years; Edward, ofWoodman; Caroline, Mrs. BALLINGER, of Bloomington township, Grantcounty; Kate, of Colorado; Anna, Mrs. LEWIS, of Iowa; Alice, of Bloomingtontownship, this county; Walter, of Bowen county, Iowa; our subject.

J. B. MURPHY was reared in Waukesha county, Wis., and then moved toIowa county, whence in 1856 he accompanied the family to Woodman,Grant county, later going to Millville, and finally to Marion township, in1866, where he purchased a farm of 200 acres, now counted as one ofthe finest pieces of farming property in Grant county.

John B. Murphy (far right) andCivil war Comrades. Dateunknown.

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In August, 1861, Mr. MURPHY enlisted in Co. H, 7th Wis. V.I., for threeyears or duing the war. The regiment was mustered in at Madison,Wis., and was assigned to te Army of the Potomac, forming part of thefamous "Iron Brigade." During his term of service Mr. MURPHYparticipated in the battles of Gainesville, second battle of Bull Run,South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg,Gettysburg, Wilderness and Petersburg, and also took part in thecapture of the Weldon railroad. On account of a gunshot wound,received in the hand, Mr. MURPHY was honorably discharged inSeptember 1864, having served bravely and been promoted to the rankof sergeant.

In 1866 Mr. MURPHY was married, in Fennimore, to Miss AliceGRAHAM, born in Venango county, Penn., daughter of William andEliza (DIXON) GRAHAM, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to MountIda township in 1858, opening up a farm, where the mother died in1879, and the father in 1888. They were prominent pioneers of MountIda township, and will long be remembered as representative farmers.

Five children have been born to our subject: Lillian, Mrs. SMITH, ofRepublic, Wash.; Frank, married and resides in Mason City, Iowa;James, of Mason City; Alta and Grace.

Mr. MURPHY is an active member of John McDermott Post, G.A.R., No. 101, Boscobel.

In political matters, Mr. MURPHY sympathies are with the Democratic party,and he has acceptably served as chairman of Marion township for ten years,prior to the present term. Few men are more popular in Grant county thanMr. MURPHY, and he may well be regarded as one of the leading exponentsof the best agricultural interests of the great commonwealth of Wisconsin. (Pgs. 925-926).

He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of at Boscobel, at Grant,, enumerated 3May 1910. Alice Graham Murphy does not appear in that census since she died on99

17 December 1902. He was a retired farmer on 3 May 1910 and living at Boscobel,Grant, WI, USA. 1010

He died on 14 Mar 1918 at Boscobel, Grant, WI. He was buried after 14 Mar 1918at Boscobel Cemetery, Boscobel, Grant, WI; .

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Day by Day in the Civil War with the Iron Brigade

The compilation which follows was taken from a number of on line sources. It givessome idea of the activities of John B. Murphy’s military unit. As you read, rememberthat the movements may have involved as many as 30,000 soldiers plus all of theothers that accompanied the troops. There were no wagons for moving men andonly the officers had horses. Everyone else walked and they didn’t have Nike crosstrainers on their feet. Imagine the sight of 30,000 men, supply wagons, cannons,etc., moving by your small isolated farm in rural Virginia.

1862

March 10, the campaign opened with a general advance on Manassas; breakcamp, march out on the turnpike to Fairfax Courthouse, bivouacingnear Germantown or where Germantown was. It rained all day,marching heavy, distance sixteen miles.

March 11th remained quiet.

March 15th returned in a heavy cold rain to within about three miles ofAlexandria, distance marched 14 miles

March 16th, returned to Camp Tillinghast and occupy the old winter quarters,distance 16 miles.

March 18th, marched 8 miles by way of Alexandria, go into camp at FairfaxSeminary

April 5th, We march to Centerville, camp on Hunting Creek, distance 15 miles.

April 6th we march at an early hour through Fairfax and Centerville toBlackburn, where we camp on the old battlefield, distance 22 miles.

April 7th march from Manassas junction to Milford on Broad Run and camp,distance 8 miles.

April 8th march to Kettle Run and camp. At this camp we experience one ofthe most disagreeable, cold, wet, and chilly snowstorms known tooccur in this climate, and in the morning we call it snow camp.

April 12th the major part of the Second Wisconsin out on the Orange andAlexandria road and the balance with the other regiments of the

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Brigade march to Catlett’s station on Cedar Run to rebuild therailroad bridge destroyed by the enemy, distance 7 miles

April 21st march towards Fredericksburg to Elk Run. In consequence of heavyrain it is flooded, cannot pass it, go into camp, distance 5 miles.

April 22d, rain ceases at an early hour. By 9 o’clock we pass over the river,march to Howard Station, distance 16 miles.

April 23rd, march at an early hour, pass through Falmouth about 4 P. M., campabout a mile from the village on the heights opposite the City ofFredericksburg, Va., distance 10 miles.

April 27th, march to Potomac Creek, 5 miles to repair railroad bridge,

May 2d, regain the brigade and march rapidly to within two miles ofFredericksburg and camp, distance 12 miles.

May 11th, Maj. Duffera, upon a reconnaissance with a squadron of cavalry ofthe Harris Light, makes a dash upon the enemy’s pickets on theplains at the mouth of the Massapanox Run, captures a ConfederateOfficer and several men, succeeds in getting up quite an excitementin camp, from which action is visible by the troops, being on dressparade, the dashing major being placed under arrest fordisobedience of orders for bringing on a skirmish, though it wasevidently successful without much loss. While in this camp Co.s Dand F of the Second are detached with the construction corps toassist in repairing bridges, the enemy making us plenty of work.They engage us in good honest labor.

May 23rd our division is reviewed by President Lincoln , being highlycomplemented for its splendid appearance and bearing on thisauspicious occasion.

May 26, cross the Rappahannock and pass through the city on the BowlingGreen road to Guinies Station and camp on the grounds occupiedand called Camp Alexandria by the enemy only a few days before,distance 8 miles. We suppose the object of this move was to form ajunction with the army on the Peninsular, a portion of which at thistime occupied Hanover Junction, 26 miles distant.

May 29th, break camp march back through Fredericksburg across the

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Rappahannock, out through Falmouth Camp on the Catletts Roadafter a march of 13 miles.

May 30th up at an early hour, but do not march until 9 A. M. By which time itis very warm. During the fore part of the day, in consequence of ahot sun and dusty road, many of the men falling out and straggleafter the marching column when the ambulances are full. In theafternoon we are reinforced with a shower of rain, and march mucheasier. At Town Run at dark. At dusk we halt and make coffee,thence to Elk Run and camp, distance marched 22 miles.

June 2nd, when General King’s division march by way of Greenwish to Haymarket under a scorching hot sun, and the men straggle badly;camp at sunset, distance 12 miles.

June 3rd, rained in torrents all night. We are nearly drowned out , blankets,clothing all wet as water can make them; continues raining until the5th. The division is here concentrated.

June 6th, at an early hour, we march out on the Warrentown pike and onthrough New Baltimore and camp, distance 13 miles. The IronBrigade is now playing a game of hide and seek, making short andrapid marches back and forth over a strip of country for the solepurpose of keeping the enemy from slipping into Washington; at thesame time the enemy scarcely keeps up in appearance, if anythinghe is playing with us about here and there as a kind of ruse, whichhas more or less of Confederate smartness in its makeup. We arenot in the secret of the part we are expected to play, we take to thework right humbly and view the country around Warrentown with arelish that defies competition.

June 7, found the brigade quiet in camp near the beautiful little town ofWarrentown, the capital of Fauquier County, Virginia. The townconsists of a handsome court house, a jail, a town hall, fourchurches, two academies (one for male and one for female), severalstores, two hotels, two printing offices and, previous to thebeginning of the war, 2,000 inhabitants. Here the women folk weresomewhat haughty and arrogant at us Lincoln chaps, and seemed todelight in taunting those of the soldiers who stood guard over Gov.Smith’s residence.

Many of the Iron Brigade will remember the free bath they received

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by the ladies then in charge of the governor’s residence.

June 8th opened with a fine summer morning, many of the boys going to theEpiscopal Church to hear a sermon by the resident rector, but beforethe text was read marching orders were received, services wereabruptly broken up and each soldier repaired to his regiment. Aftera march of ten miles go into camp at Warrentown Junction.

June 9th brings to Elk Run, ten miles distant.

June 10th we make ten miles under a heavy rain, camping to the right nearHarwood Church.

June 11th we reach Fredericksburg, after a march of 10 miles, and go intocamp on the Lacy farm opposite the end of the city. Here orderswere given to make ourselves comfortable, and we take advantageof the privileged and proceed to enjoy the short respite from a greatdeal of marching over pike roads. Previous to the war thisFredericksburg had a population of about 6,000 people.

June 13th, Second and a section of Battery L, First N. Y. Artillery and asquadron of cavalry cross the river to reconnoiter immediatelysouthwest of the city, a distance of seven miles over the telegraphroad, returning to camp without so much being permitted as toexchange the usual morning salutations with our enemies.

July 24th, when the Second Regiment of the Iron Brigade, marched towardGordonsville. At night we bivouacked near Chancellorsville. The nextday we proceeded on the plank road until about 3 P.M.

July 27 At night we go into camp in Wilderness, after having marched overth

eighty miles to ascertain the purpose of the rebels gathered in thevicinity of Gordonsville. .

July 29 our camp is moved to escape malaria that is prevalent along thisth

river this season of the year

Aug. 6 at early hour, advance to Beaver Dam Station to Matt river, Stuart’sth

cavalry harassing our rear. A full thirty miles march that day

Aug. 7th march to Spottsylvania Court House

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Aug. 10th. Break camp, send the sick toward Washington and march toHarnwood Church up to the Rappahannock, cross the river at AllesFord and bivouac. Distance twenty miles.

Aug. 11 march at an early hour through Stevensburg, leaving Culpeperth

Court House to the right, pass on and join the main body of Gen.Pope’s army now massing at this point. Distance twenty-five miles.

Aug. 16th we move out across the field of Cedar Mountain and camp at itsbase.

Aug. 19th commence the movement known as Pope’s retreat. We marchthrough Culpeper to Rappahannock Station. Distance 17 miles.

Aug. 20th cross the river and camp about half mile from the station back of therailroad, the enemy’s cavalry hanging close on our rear, coming upwithin range of our cannon, when a skirmish ensued with loss onboth sides

Aug. 21st move to the right to prevent the enemy from crossing the river atBeverly’s Ford, and skirmish with them, sustaining some loss. Theentire regiment is put on picket duty.

Aug. 22nd remain in line near Beverly’s Ford, and at times are subject to heavecannonading, and luckily without loss. About nine march up the rivertoward Warrentown. In the afternoon it rains. Marching becomesvery heavy. Bivouac just before reaching Warrentown. Distance 15miles.

Aug. 28th , at an early hour, we march to Gainesville, turn to the rightBethlehem Church road, and halt and lay on arms until 5 P.M. whenwe return to the pike and march slowly toward Centerville. At about6 P.M., and two miles from Gainesville, while marching by the flanka rebel battery, posted on a wooded eminence to the left of theroad, open fire on our column. The old Second promptly faced to thefront, and directed by Gen, Gibbon, advance by quick time upon thebattery, and soon met the enemy’s infantry emerged from thewoods. Here for twenty minutes the Iron Brigade checked andsustained the onset of Stonewall Jackson’s whole division of rebelinfantry under one of the most intensely concentrated fires ofmusketry ever experienced by any troops in this or any other war.

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Aug. 29 we lay at Manassas Junction near the railroad. On the afternoon weth

marched up the Sudley to its crossing of the Warrentown pike andtook position in the rear of and in supporting distance of Gen.Siegel’s troops who have been engaged all day.

Aug. 31st fall back of Centerville and camp. The weather rainy and chilly.Distance 5 miles.

Sept. 2nd we march by the way of Falls Church to Upton’s Hill and camp.Distance 10 mile. We had four days’ rest.

Sept. 6th we recross the Potomac at Aqueduct bridge, pass throughGeorgetown and Washington out on the Oakville Pike and campnear Leesboro. Distance 18 miles.

Sept. 11th to New Lisbon on National Road leading from Baltimore to Harper’sFerry. Distance 7 miles.

Sept. 12th march to New Market. Nine miles.

Sept. 13th march to Monocacy. Seven Miles.

Sept. 14 Early in the morning the whole army advance over the Catoctinth

Ridge of mountains into the middle Valley,. The First Corps throughFrederick city and Middletown to South Mountain, where the enemywas found strongly posted. The Iron Brigade was assigned the task,together with the old Battery B, Fourth U.S., of storming the pass. Itwas late in the afternoon, near sunset when Gen. Gibbon advanceda regiment on each side of the National Turnpike in line of battle,preceded by strong skirmish line, and followed by the two otherregiments, and the old Battery B moving on the road within rang ofthe enemy’s guns which were firing on the advancing column fromthe gorges, the Iron Brigade advancing steady, driving the enemyfrom behind stone walls and up the pass.

Sept. 15th we pursue the enemy closely through Boonsboro and Keedysville toAntietam Creek, where we skirmish some, but with no loss.

Marched in three days thirty miles.

Sept. 16th, during the fore noon we lay in position a little to the right ofSharpsburg road and near Antietam River. In the afternoon Hooker’s

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Corps, consisting of Rickert’s, Meade’s and Doubleday’s divisions,cross to the south side of Antietam to attack and, it if possible turnthe enemy’s left flank. The enemy were met and engaged by Gen.Meade’s Division and driven back, but darkness coming on we restfor the night on our arms. Distance three miles.

Sept. 17 we are aroused at day break by sharp firing of the pickets on ourleft, and fall into line, advanced nearly parallel to the road leadinginto Sharpsburg in a cornfield near Dunkard Church.

Sept. 18th. Everything is quiet, thought the enemy appear in front. Details aresent out to bury the dead where it can be done without an exposureto the enemy’s pickets.

Sept. 19th, at an early hour, it is reported that the enemy have retreated acrossthe Potomac. We march across the battlefield and camp near thePotomac a mile west of Sharpsburg. Distance 3 miles. For severaldays details are made to bury the enemy's dead, the work beingdecidedly unpleasant, the weather being very warm anddecomposition had set in.

Sept. 29th we remain resting, recruiting and drilling for several weeks.

Oct. 20th break camp at 1 P.M. March through Keedysville in a heavy rainstorm. Distance 12 miles.

Oct. 27 pass through Pleasant Valley, crossing South Mountain atth

Crampton's Gap, through Burkittsville and Petersville in MiddleValley toward the Potomac. Eight miles.

Oct. 30th cross the Potomac at Berlin and march to Lovettsville, VA. Sevenmiles. March to Purcellville. Eight miles.

Nov. 3rd to Snickersville. Five miles.

Nov. 4th being the day for general election in Wisconsin, polls were openedat each company's headquarters, and vote. Gen. Gibbon beingassigned to command Rickert's Division, Col. Morrow, of the 24thMichigan, assumes command of the Brigade. In the afternoon wemarch to Bloomfield, four miles.

Nov. 5th march to Rectortown, twenty miles.

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Nov. 6th to Warrentown, eighteen miles.

Nov. 7th remain in camp enjoying a snowstorm.

Nov. 9th, Col. Cutler returns, Sixth Wisconsin, having been absent on accountof wounds, assumes command by virtue of his rank.

Nov. 10th the army is reviewed by Gens. McClellan and Burnside, the formerrelinquishing his command and Burnside assuming command.

Nov. 11th march to Fayel, six miles.

Nov. 17 to Morrisville, ten miles. th

Nov. 18th to Harwood Church, 10 miles.

Nov. 19th & 20th, to Stafford Court House, six miles.

Nov. 22nd march to Brooks Station of the Aqua Creek and FredericksburgRailroad, where we go into camp.

Nov. 28th Gen. Sol Meredith, formerly Col. of the Nineteenth Indiana, isordered to assume command of the brigade.

Dec. 5th quite a heavy snowstorm.

Dec. 9th break camp, march about three miles southward across the railroad- Potomoc Creek. The whole army is on the move.

Dec. 10th change position to the left.

Dec. 11th march to near Fitzhugh Crossing two miles.

Dec. 12 Crossing the Rappahannock with Franklin’s grand division, in theFirst Division, under General Doubleday, they occupied a veryimportant position, on the extreme left, during the battle, but did notbecome engaged with the enemy’s infantry, except a littleskirmishing with the supports of a battery, and also a brush with aportion of Stewart’s cavalry. A change of position during the battle,exposed the brigade to heavy artillery fire, but their range wasinaccurate, and the loss of the brigade was very light. In the monthlyreports of the Second Regiment, Corporal Arthur Rangott, of

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Company F, was reported killed. Ten were wounded.

Dec. 14th lay in line of battle.

Dec. 15 still remain under arms and about same as two days previous.th

Scarcely a man but what breaths easier as he touches the north sideof the river.

Dec. 16th move back on heights, form line of battle. Distance four miles.

Dec. 20th march to White Oak Church and bivouac on Buttard's Branch.Distance ten miles.

Dec. 23rd. March down near Belle Plaine, landing for the purpose of going intocamp. Four miles. From camp we have a pretty view of the PotomacRiver. We have now reached 1863.

The following extract gives some idea of what it was like to be in camp.

"If there is any place on God's fair earth where wickedness 'stalketh abroad indaylight' it is in the army," wrote a Confederate soldier in a letter to his family backhome. Indeed, life in the army camps of the Civil War was fraught with boredom,mischief, fear, disease, and death.

Army regulations called for the camps to be laid out in a fixed grid pattern, withofficers' quarters at the front end of each street and enlisted men's quarters alignedto the rear. The camp was set up roughly along the lines the unit would draw up in aline of battle and each company displayed its colors on the outside of its tents.Regulations also defined where the mess tents, medical cabins, and baggage trainsshould be located. Often, however, lack of time or a particularly hilly or narrowterrain made it impossible to meet army regulations. The campgrounds themselveswere often abysmal, especially in the South where wet weather produced thick mudfor extended periods in the spring and summer; in the winter and fall, the mudturned to dust.

In summer, troops slept in canvas tents. At the beginning of the war, both sides usedthe Sibley tent, named for its inventor, Henry H. Sibley, who later became aConfederate brigadier general. A large cone of canvas, 18 feet in diameter, 12 feettall, and supported by a center pole, the tent had a circular opening at the top forventilation, and a cone-shaped stove for heat. Although designed to fit a dozen mencomfortably, army regulations assigned about 20 men to each tent, leading tocramped, uncomfortable quarters. When ventilation flaps were closed on cold or

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rainy days, the air inside the tent became fetid with the odors of men who had scarceaccess to clean water in which to bathe. s the war dragged on, the Sibley was replaced with smaller tents. The Federal armiesfavored the wedge tent, a six-foot length of canvas draped over a horizontalridgepole and staked to the ground at the sides with flaps that closed. off one end.When canvas became scarce in the South, many Confederates were forced to rigopen-air beds by heaping straw or leaves between two logs. In autumn and winter,those units that were able to find wood built crude huts, laying split logs on the earthfloor and fashioning bunks with mattresses of pine needles.

When not in battle, which was at least three quarters of the time, the averagesoldier's day began at 5 A.M. in the summer and 6 A.M. in the winter, when he wasawakened by reveille. After the first sergeant took the roll call, the men ate breakfastthen prepared for their first of as many as five drill sessions during the day. Here themen would learn how to shoot their weapons and perform various maneuvers. Drillsessions lasted approximately two hours each and, for most men, were exceptionalexercises in tedium. One soldier described his days in the army like this: "The firstthing in the morning is drill. Then drill, then drill again. Then drill, drill, a little moredrill. Then drill, and lastly drill."

In the few intervals between drill, soldiers cleaned the camp, built roads, dugtrenches for latrines, and gathered wood for cooking and heating. Finding cleanwater was a constant goal: the lack of potable water was a problem that led towidespread disease in both armies. At the outset of the war, the soldiers on bothsides were relatively well-fed: the mandated daily ration for a Federal soldier in1861 included at least 20 ounces of fresh or salt beef, or 12 ounces of salt pork;more than a pound of flour, and a vegetable, usually beans. Coffee, salt, vinegar,and sugar were provided as well. Supplies became limited when armies were movingfast and supply trains could not reach them in the field.

When in the field, soldiers saw little beef and few vegetables; they subsisted for themost part on salt pork, dried beans, corn bread, and hardtack-a flour-and-waterbiscuit often infested with maggots and weevils after storage. Outbreaks of scurvywere common due to a frequent lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.

By far, the most important staple in the minds of the soldiers was coffee. Menpounded the beans between rocks or crushed them with the butts of their rifles toobtain grounds with which to brew the strong drink. Although most Federals werewell-supplied with coffee, the Confederates were often forced to make do withsubstitutes made from peanuts, potatoes, peas, and chicory.

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Most armies were forced at some point to live off the land. The Confederates, whofought mostly on home ground, tried harder to curb pillaging, preferring to requestdonations from townspeople rather than steal supplies or take them by force.Attached to most armies was the sutler, a purveyor of all goods not issued by thearmy, including tobacco, candy, tinned meats, shoelaces, patent medicines, friedpies, and newspapers. Sutlers were known for their steep prices and shoddy goods,but soldiers desperate for cigarettes, sweets, and news from home were willing touse their pay for these treats.

Boredom stalked both armies almost as often as did hunger. When not faced withthe sheer terror of battle, the days in camp tended to drag endlessly. The sheertedium of camp life led the men to find recreational outlets. "There is some of theonerest men here that I ever saw," wrote a new recruit, "and the most swearing andcard playing and fitin [fighting] and drunkenness that I ever saw at any place."

When not drilling or standing guard, the troops read, wrote letters to their lovedones, and played any game they could devise, including baseball, cards, boxingmatches, and cockfights. One competition involved racing lice or cockroaches acrossa strip of canvas. As hard as most commanders attempted to control vice in camp,both gambling and drinking were rampant, especially after payday. ConfederateGeneral Braxton Bragg concurred: "We have lost more valuable lives at the hands ofwhiskey sellers than by the balls of our enemies."

Army regulations prohibited the purchase of alcohol by enlisted men, and soldierswho violated the rule were punished, but men on both sides found ways around it.Members of a Mississippi company got a half a gallon of whisky past the campguards by concealing it in a hollowed-out watermelon; they then buried the melonbeneath the floor of their tent and drank from it with a long straw. If they could notbuy liquor, they made it. One Union recipe called for "bark juice, tar-water,turpentine, brown sugar, lamp oil, and alcohol."

When not drinking or gambling, some men escaped the tedium of daily army life byenjoying "horizontal refreshments," as visiting prostitutes became known. Thousandsof prostitutes thronged the cities in the war zones and clustered about the camps. By1862, for instance, Washington, D.C., had 450 bordellos and at least 7,500 full-timeprostitutes; Richmond, as the center of prostitution in the Confederacy, had about anequal number. Venereal disease among soldiers was prevalent and largelyuncontrolled. About eight percent of the soldiers in the Union army were treated forvenereal disease during the war and a great many cases were unreported; figuresfor the Confederacy are unavailable, but assumed to be about equal in proportion.With the invention of penicillin more than 70 years away, treating venereal disease

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with herbs and minerals such as pokeweed, elderberries, mercury, and zinc sulfatemay have eased symptoms but did nothing to cure the disease.

Even more pervasive than boredom, gambling, or venereal disease washomesickness. Men spent more time writing letters and hoping to receive them thanany other leisure activity. Furloughs were rarely granted, and most soldiers had fewopportunities to spend extended periods of time away from the army. Federal troopswere often stationed too far from home to have time to get home, while Southernarmies, short of manpower, needed every available soldier to fight. For better orworse, Civil War soldiers were forced to call camp home for the duration of theirterms of service.Source: The Civil War Society's "Encyclopedia of the Civil War" http://www.civilwarhome.com/camplife.htm 1863 Jan. 20 Up to this day we were in winter quarters at Belle Plaine. Gen.th

Burnside attempts a winter campaign, and today we break campand march up the Rappahannock towards Banksford, a cold windblowing from the northeast with rain since sunset. We are all wet,and stop for the remainder of the night, without fire or shelter on abarren ridge.

Jan. 21st remain with the trains near Stoneman's Switch on the Aqua Creekand Fredericksburg Railroad.

Jan. 23rd a council of war was held, campaign abandoned.

Jan 24th return to our winter quarters at Belle Plaine, but marching throughmud and rain about forty miles. The campaign is termed Burnside'sStuck in the Mud.

Feb. 12th the Second and Sixth Regiments go down the Potomac on a foragingexpedition; return by boat at night. March ten miles, bring back aquantity of hams, grain and bacon, horses, mules and prominentConfederate prisoners.

March 25th. The routine of dull camp life is again broken by an expedition underCol. Fairchild to Mechsdoe Creek, with a detatchment of cavalrymen on a steamer.

April 9th. Our corps is to-day reviewed by Gen. Hooker, President Lincoln,

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Secretary Seward, Gen. Stoneman of cavalry fame, Gen. Sickles,accompanied by their wives.

April 14th. Supplied with eight days rations.

April 22nd the regiment is visited by Gov. Soloman.

April 28th break camp, form brigade line, march in rain by White Oak Churchtoward the Rappahannock and bivouac near Fitzhugh Crossing.Evidently spring campaign has begun. Distance seven miles.

April 29th, about midnight, the Iron Brigade moves down to the river and lay abridge at Fitzhugh Crossing, Sixth Wisconsin and Twenty forthMichigan in advance, followed closely by the Second, Seventh andNineteenth Indiana, all at doublequick. When the boats were filledthey were quickly pulled over the stream under a galling fire fromthe enemy, gaining the banks in less than twenty minutes, twohundred rebels being taken prisoner, twenty-nine killed, after whichBattery B crosses over, takes position between the bridges, where weentrench and remain here several days, subject to a good deal ofshelling.

May 2nd. Recross the Rappannock, take up the pontoons, march up the riverat United States Ford. Distance fourteen miles.

May 3rd. Cross on a pontoon bridge at an early hour, join the main armynear Chancellorsville, 6 miles.

May 6th, march to Brewer's house on the Catlett road, eight miles.

May 7th, march to the heights near Fitzhugh Crossing and camp, ten miles.

May 21st the Iron Brigade starts down the northern neck to rescue the EighthIllinois Cavalry, who were reported cut off by the enemy at night.Bivouac at Millsville.

May 26th, reach camp, having marched in one day thirty-one miles, in anotherthirty-two.

June 12th, break camp, march to Deep Run, twenty miles.

June 13th, by Morrisville and Spotted Tavern to Liberty, above Bealton Station,

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twelve miles.

June 14th, march to Warrentown Junction, thence along the Orange andAlexandria road to Kettle Run. About dusk, make coffee, cross BroadRun after midnight and reach Manassas Junction about sunrise, formline and stack arms, rest about four hours; then to Blackbird's Ford,reaching Centerville Heights about noon, where we pitch tents.Distance marched thirty miles.

June 20th, march up the railroad to Guilford Station, three miles.

June 25th, by Frankville to Edward's Ferry, cross the Potomac, march throughPoolville and Barnesville, sixteen miles.

June 26 , march over Sugar Loaf Mountain, cross the Monocacy at Greenfield,th

through Adamstown on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, over theCatoctin Mountains to Jefferson in Middle Valley, Md. Distancefifteen miles.

June 27th, march up the valley through Middletown, camping ten miles above.Distance eight miles.

June 28th, early in the afternoon long roll is beat, fall in and march over theCatoctin Range to Frederick City, nine miles.

June 29th, march northward by Lewistown and Mechanicsville to Emmittsburg,twenty-four miles. Gen. Hooker was today relieved and Gen. Meadesucceeds to command.

June 30th, march about eight o'clock to March's Creek (Gettysburg) and bivouacin line of battle, eight miles.

June 31st The Army of the Potomac seems to be mad clean through. The IronBrigade marched in the following order: First, Second Wisconsin;second, the Seventh Wisconsin; third, the Nineteenth Indiana;fourth, the Twenty-fourth Michigan; and fifth, the Sixth. The IronBrigade was, as the rest of the army, mad clear through.

July 1 "At an early hour, Wednesday, July 1, the men partook of theirst

frugal meal of hardtack and coffee. The Pennsylvania line had beenreached and passed , and the forces of the enemy must be reachedvery soon, but we did not suspect that the foe was within a few

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hours' march.

It was a beautiful day and a beautiful season of the year. The fieldswere either green with grass or yellow with the golden grain.

Nature had put forth her loveliest colors. Here and there an oldPennsylvania farmer and the women and children would greet usloyally and pleasantly as we passed by, little dreaming that theywere living near a spot that was destined soon to be thebattleground of one of the greatest battles of the century.

The Iron Brigade marched along the Emmitsburg turnpike, and whenwithin sight of Gettysburg we could see General Buford's cavalrydismounted, fighting with the enemy's infantry, west of the town.General Reynolds had gone forward to confer with General Buford,when, as we reached a point about a mile from town, a staff officercame dashing up to General Meredith and directed him to form hisbrigade in line and charge the enemy in McPherson's Woods. Thebrigade formed in line on the double quick, in order - the Secondand Seventh Wisconsin, Nineteenth Indiana and Twenty-fourthMichigan (the Sixth Wisconsin being held in reserve to be usedwhenever required); the men loaded and fixed bayonets while onthe move.

The Brigade passed rapidly over the undulating ground between theEmmitsburg road and a rail fence that ran parallel to our lines a fewhundred yards from McPherson's Woods. We were delayed at thisfence a few moments caused by this obstruction, and the terrific fireof the enemy which made great gaps in our line. Then the brigadepulled itself together and with a cheer, dashed forward. Wm H.Harries, read Oct. 8, 1895

At this time, Wadsworth's division moved on and entered a field ashort distance to the left of the Gettysburg Seminary, the IronBrigade in the advance, in the following order: the Second andSeventh Wisconsin, Nineteenth Indiana, Twenty-fourth Michigan,and Sixth Wisconsin. An order was given to double quick in line,loading and fixing bayonets as they went. As they came to the browof a hill, the Second Wisconsin, under Colonel Fairchild, discoveredin their front, a body of the enemy who were advancing rapidly to avery advantageous position.

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These immediately opened fire, and gave the regiment atremendous volley, which cut down thirty percent of their numbers.Lieut. Col. Stevens, of the Second, fell soon after the regiment gotunder fire, mortally wounded, and Col. Fairchild received a ball inthe left are, which compelled him to leave the field. The brigadepushed forward, driving the enemy before them, who soon brokeand fled, and the division held the position. Wisconsin in the War,Quiner

As we reached the edge of the timber, the enemy's lines began towaver and then break; General Archer, whose brigade was in front,evidently refused to be borne to the rear with his troops and wastaken prisoner together with about two hundred and fifty of hismen." .

Late in the evening the Iron Brigade, then reduced to the size of avery small regiment, was placed in position on Culp's Hill to the rightof the Baltimore Pike." 1st Lieut Cornelius Wheeler, paper April 5,1893

July 3rd dawns upon the army about the same position as the night before.Gettysburg. Most unmercifully punished, thwarted in every point andworsted in every encounter, they fall back to gather their remnantsand prepare to evacuate the Key Stone State. We lay down in laurelsof victory.

July 4th the enemy are reported on retreat, and a portion of our army marchout in pursuit.

July 5th we advance to the Emmetsburg road, and toward eve pitch tents. Inthree or four days we have marched about 10 miles.

July 6th, march to Emmetsburg, ten miles.

July 7th, through Adamsville and Lewiston across Catoctin Mountain atHampberry and camp, twenty miles.

July 8 , through Middletown to Turner's Pass in South Mountain, where weth

take position on the west slope and entrench, seven miles.

July 10th, march down to Boones borough and again entrench a position onthe Hagerstown road, five miles.

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July 12th, march to Funkstown, and after changing position for the secondtime, finally halt on the west bank of the Antietam River, havingcome upon the rebels, and a skirmish follows; four miles.

July 14th, the enemy has retreated to the south side of the Potomac; we moveto Williamsburg and camp, four miles.

July 15th, by Keedysville to Campton's Gap, eighteen miles.

July 16th to Petersville, four miles. July 18th, cross the Potomac and camp at Waterford, Va., ten miles.

July 19th, to Hamilton, eight miles.

July 20th, to Middleburg, fifteen miles.

July 22nd, to White Plains, nine miles.

July 23, via New Baltimore, to Warrenton, eleven miles.

July 25th, to Warrenton Junction and camp.

August 1st, break camp, march to Beverly Ford.

August 2nd, cross on pontoon bridge over the Rappahannock River below therailroad and bivouac in line of battle. In this position we remain until

Aug. 7th, when we recross the river to go into camp on the riverbank near thepontoon bridge. Whole distance marched, eight miles.

Sept. 16th, again strike tents, march through Brandy Station and Stevensburg toPoney Mountain and pitch tents, 12 miles.

Sept. 17th, on this day the citizens of Wisconsin and Michigan residing inWashington present the old Iron Brigade with a beautiful silk standof colors. On this occasion we have a grand festival.

Sept. 24th, break camp and march to the Rapidan, taking up position at Martin'sFord.

Oct. 11th, march to Stevensburg at Kelley's Ford.

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Oct. 12th, cannonading in direction of Brandy Station, toward which point wemarch rapidly.

Oct. 14th, midnight, we receive marching orders, move rapidly to WarrentonJunction, form a line of battle, break ranks and make coffee, marchalong railroad stopping at Bristow Station. Distance twenty-fivemiles.

Oct. 14th, march over the plains of Manassas and prepare for action. CrossBull Run at Blackburn's Ford, bivouac on Centerville Heights.Distance ten miles. Have a fight, capture five cannon, nearly fivehundred prisoners.

Oct. 15th, take position behind entrenchments on Warrenton Turnpike. In theevening make a demonstration at Blackburn's Ford. At an early hourwe advance upon Warrenton turnpike, through Gainesville and HayMarket and bivouac.

Our cavalry, under Kilpatrick, advance, become closely embarrassedin a position about Bucklin's Mills and are compelled to fall backthrough our infantry picket line. The Iron Brigade is called out tocheck the enemy's advance, which they decline, but succeeded incapturing a number of our pickets, thirty of whom were from theHuckleberry Seventh. Late in the evening we move back ofHaymarket and bivouac in the open plains. Distance twelve miles.

Oct. 20th, on the afternoon we break up and march through ThoroughfareGap. The Second Wisconsin and the Nineteenth Indiana guardingthe trains. It is one o'clock at night when we camp at the foot of BlueRidge near the village of Georgetown. Distance fifteen miles.

Oct. 24th, march out seven A. M. by Gainesville and Bristow Station; heavyrain. When we camp at night the Iron Brigade is about played out.Distance twenty-five miles. Right here Col. Fairchild visited the IronBrigade. We send a detail to the battlefield of Gainesville to bury theremains of our dead comrades killed there in August, 1862, andlying exposed.

Nov. 2nd we are again called on to exercise the elective franchise. The pollsare opened at all company headquarters. Quite a spirited politicalcontest ensues, but the result, well, that is best shown by anexamination of the returns.

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Nov. 5th, march to Catlet's Station, Iron Brigade the rear guard. It is nearmidnight when we go into camp. Distance seven miles.

Nov. 7th, march about sunrise toward Kelley's Ford, cannonading all theafternoon in the direction of Rappahannock Station and the Ford.We camp for the night at Morrisville. Distance fifteen miles.

Nov. 8th, march at an early hour across the river at Kelley's Ford, thence upthe railroad, bivouacking for the night in line of battle at BrandyStation. Distance ten miles. In yesterday's battle at RappahannockStation and Kelley's Ford our army captured several pieces ofartillery, a bridge, a train and 2000 prisoners. (Here is whereFillmore got in his work.)

Nov 9th, about 4 o'clock A. M. march back, recrossing the RappahannockRiver on a pontoon bridge to repair the railroad from WarrentownJunction to the river. We go into camp near Beverly's Ford. Distanceseven miles. Remain here doing picket duty and fatigue duty on therailroad and earthworks until

Nov. 26th. March to Culpepper Ford on the Rapidan. Twelve miles.

Nov. 27th, cross the river on a pontoon bridge before daybreak, marching ourupon the plank road leading from Chancellorsville to GermaniaMills.

Nov. 28th, at an early hour our advance is made and soon the enemy's picketsare engaged. At Robertson's Tavern we form in line of battle andhalt.

Dec. 1st, late in the afternoon we fall back through the Wilderness, recrossthe Rapidan at midnight near Germania Mills. Distance seven miles.

Dec. 2nd are detailed to guard Mitchell's Ford, to which place we march, fivemiles.

Dec. 3rd, rejoin the division.

Dec. 4th, lay out a camp at Kelley's Ford and commence to build winterquarters. Remain here until

Dec. 19th John B. Murphy goes on furlough and returns to Wisconsin.

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Dec. 24th, when we break camp and march to Culpepper Court House, wherewe again build winter quarters about three-quarters of a mile westof village, and here we are strongly quartered for the winter.

1864

Feb. 6, From our quiet winter life we are early on the march to PoneyMountain bivouacing in the woods near Raccoon Ford on theRiparian. Distance twelve miles. In the evening detachments fromthe several regiments of the Iron Brigade , Under Col. Morrow,proceed under cover of darkness to Belleville on Raccoon Ford andset fire to the village, the buildings have served for a cover for theenemy's sharpshooters.

Feb. 7th. March back to camp, occupying former quarters Distance ten miles.And thus we are awaiting the preparations going on for the finalconflict. Gen. Grant in command.

May 5th. This morning we read an order from General Meade and at an earlyhour we march by Stevensburg, cross the Rapidian at GermaniaFord and go upon picket duty along the railroad nearChancellorsville. Distance, twenty miles. This was the beginning of11 months of constant fighting in which the two armies were alwayswithin gunshot of each other.

May 5th, march to Wilderness Tavern, engage the enemy in the woods;distance, ten miles.

May 6th, move forward, engage the enemy in the afternoon.

May 7 , march towards Spottsylvania Courthouse.th

May 8th, our march continues all night. Here we build our rifle pits and awaitthe arrival of the main army.

May 10th, move forward and charge the enemy's breastworks, but find thesetoo strong to take by assault.

May 11th, march to rear of line of battle.

May 12th, March to left of line of battle.

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May 13th, march back toward the right, three miles.

May 14th, march to left of line in rear of Ninth Corps; seven miles.

May 21st, march to Guinea, eight miles.

May 22nd, to Wolf's Church, twelve miles.

May 23rd, cross the North Anna River at Jericho Ford, ten miles.

May 25th, march to left of line, two miles.

May 26th, recross the North Anna.

May 27th, march nearly parallel with the Pamunky river all day. Distancetwenty-two miles. Cross about six miles from Moneabuck.

May 28th, cross the Pamunky river about four miles from New Castle; distanceeight miles.

May 29th, march toward the Chickahominy river, bivouac in line about sixmiles from the river; distance four miles.

May 30th, march southward about three miles and form line. Here we remainuntil

June 5th, when we march to the left. Camp near Cold Harbor; distance twelvemiles. March to Bottom bridge on the Chickahominy; distance eightmiles. Here we remain until June 11 .th

June 12th John B. Murphy returns from furlough.

June 12-18 Advance to Petersburg, begin siege.

Aug. 18 Warren reached the Weldon Railroad and drove off the Confederatepickets. He ordered the division of Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin todestroy the track.

Aug 19, Maj. Gen. William Mahone's Confederate division attacked Brig.Gen. Samuel W. Crawford's division, driving back its flank. Warrenbrought up reinforcements and counterattacked.

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Aug. 20 The Federals succeeded in retaking nearly all the lost ground by theday's end. Warren had established a strong defensive position in anL-shape around Globe Tavern

Aug. 21 Hill attacked Warren's new position. Parts of three Confederatedivisions assailed the Union works but were repulsed. The IX Corpsextended the Union siege lines to connect with Warren's currentposition. The battle raged for five days and in the end theConfederates had lost the Weldon Railroad and were forced to cartsupplies 30 miles from the railroad at Stony Creek up the BoydtonPlank Road into Petersburg.

October 27, Hancock marched across Hatcher's Run, brushed aside Confederatepickets and moved around the Confederate flank towards BurgessMill. After days of fighting the tables had thus turned and theConfederates, now threatened with encirclement, retreated up theBoydton Plank Road. Hancock retained his hold on the BoydtonPlank Road and Grant left to him the decision whether to remain orwithdraw to the initial Union lines. Although Hancock had repulsedthe Confederate attack, his position was still very unstable. Thatnight Hancock marched his men back to their original position.

Dec. 7 We started at daylight taking the Jerusalem Plank road and crossedthe "Nottoway" the first night and there camped, making some 20miles from camp the first day.

Dec. 8 Started at daylight and marched all day without accident, the 5 corpsin advance, camping at night near "Jarratt's Station." The 5 corpswere busy tearing up the railroad (Weldon) that night, and in themorning we commenced following their example. We have made acomplete wreck of the Weldon road for nearly 20 miles

Dec. 12 Return to camp. Coming back, we made clean work of the buildingson the route in retaliation for some of our men who were unable tokeep up with the column, being murdered and mutilated.

1865

February 5, Bvt. Brig. Gen. David Gregg’s cavalry division rode out to theBoydton Plank Road via Ream's Station and Dinwiddie Court Housein an attempt to intercept Confederate supply trains. Maj. Gen. G.K.

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Warren with the V Corps crossed Hatcher’s Run and took up ablocking position on the Vaughan Road to prevent interference withGregg’s operations. Two divisions of the II Corps under Maj. Gen.A.A. Humphreys shifted west to near Armstrong’s Mill to coverWarren’s right flank.

February 6, Gregg returned to Gravelly Run on the Vaughan Road from hisunsuccessful raid and was attacked by elements of Brig. Gen. JohnPegram’s Confederate division.

Apr. 1 the V Corps under Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren attacked andoverwhelmed the Confederate left flank, taking many prisoners.Sheridan personally directed the attack, which extended Lee’sPetersburg lines to the breaking point. Loss of Five Forks threatenedLee’s last supply line, the South Side Railroad. The next morning, Leeinformed Jefferson Davis that Petersburg and Richmond must beevacuated.

April 9, At dawn, the Confederate Second Corps under Maj. Gen. John B.Gordon attacked Sheridan's cavalry and quickly forced back the firstline under Brevet Brig. Gen. Charles H. Smith. The next line, held byBrig. Gens. Ranald S. Mackenzie and George Crook, slowed theConfederate advance[3]. Gordon's troops charged through theUnion lines and took the ridge, but as they reached the crest theysaw the entire Union XXIV Corps in line of battle with the Union VCorps to their right. Fitz Lee's cavalry saw these Union forces andimmediately withdrew and rode off towards Lynchburg[4]. Ord'stroops began advancing against Gordon's corps while the Union IICorps began moving against Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's corps tothe northeast. Colonel Charles Venable of Lee's staff rode in at thistime and asked for an assessment, and Gordon gave him a reply heknew Lee did not want to hear: "Tell General Lee I have fought mycorps to a frazzle, and I fear I can do nothing unless I am heavilysupported by Longstreet's corps." Upon hearing it Lee finally statedthe inevitable: "Then there is nothing left for me to do but to go andsee General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths."

Brig. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain was the Union officer selected to lead theceremony, and later he would reflect on what he witnessed on April 12, 1865, andwrite a moving tribute:

The momentous meaning of this occasion impressed me deeply. I

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resolved to mark it by some token of recognition, which could be noother than a salute of arms. Well aware of the responsibility assumed,and of the criticisms that would follow, as the sequel proved, nothing ofthat kind could move me in the least. The act could be defended, ifneedful, by the suggestion that such a salute was not to the cause forwhich the flag of the Confederacy stood, but to its going down beforethe flag of the Union. My main reason, however, was one for which Isought no authority nor asked forgiveness. Before us in proudhumiliation stood the embodiment of manhood: men whom neithertoils and sufferings, nor the fact of death, nor disaster, nor hopelessnesscould bend from their resolve; standing before us now, thin, worn, andfamished, but erect, and with eyes looking level into ours, wakingmemories that bound us together as no other bond;—was not suchmanhood to be welcomed back into a Union so tested and assured?Instructions had been given; and when the head of each divisioncolumn comes opposite our group, our bugle sounds the signal andinstantly our whole line from right to left, regiment by regiment insuccession, gives the soldier's salutation, from the "order arms" to theold "carry"—the marching salute. Gordon at the head of the column,riding with heavy spirit and downcast face, catches the sound of shiftingarms, looks up, and, taking the meaning, wheels superbly, making withhimself and his horse one uplifted figure, with profound salutation ashe drops the point of his sword to the boot toe; then facing to his owncommand, gives word for his successive brigades to pass us with thesame position of the manual,—honor answering honor. On our part nota sound of trumpet more, nor roll of drum; not a cheer, nor word norwhisper of vain-glorying, nor motion of man standing again at theorder, but an awed stillness rather, and breath-holding, as if it were thepassing of the dead! – Joshua L. Chamberlain, Passing of the Armies,pp. 260-61

Apr. 14 Abraham Lincoln Assassinated.

May March to Washington, DC

May 23 Participate in Grand Review.

June 16 Moved to Louisville, KY

July 2, 1865 7 Wisconsin Infantry and John B. Murphy mustered out of the army th

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Appendix A: Maps of the Iron Brigade inVirginia

1862 - 1865

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Appendix BJohn B. Murphy’s Compiled Military Record

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