Iron Brigade Civil War Medal - The Black Hats - 1st Corps Army of the Potomac

Description

Iron Brigade Medal
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Reproduction measures 3½” (95mm) overall and the cross itself is appx. 1½” (40mm).
Suspended from the frock with a barrel safety clasp and comes packed in a clear plastic, foam lined presentation case.
Lifetime Limited Warranty (see details below)
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The Iron Brigade
The
Iron Brigade
was an infantry unit serving in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.
Although it fought entirely in the Eastern Theater, it was composed of regiments from Western states.
Noted for its strong discipline, its unique uniform appearance, and its tenacious fighting ability, the Iron Brigade suffered the highest percentage of casualties of any brigade in the war.
The Iron Brigade initially consisted of the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiments, the 19th Indiana, Battery B of the 4th U.S. Light Artillery, and was later joined by the 24th Michigan.
This composition of men from three Western states led it to be sometimes referred to as the Iron Brigade of the West.
They were known throughout the war as the Black Hats because of the black 1858 model Hardee hats issued to Army regulars, rather than the blue kepis worn in most other units.
The Iron Brigade initially consisted of the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiments, the 19th Indiana, Battery B of the 4th U.S. Light Artillery, and was later joined by the 24th Michigan.
This composition of men from three Western states led it to be sometimes referred to as the Iron Brigade of the West.
They were known throughout the war as the Black Hats because of the black 1858 model Hardee hats issued to Army regulars, rather than the blue kepis worn in most other units.
The Black Hats earned their famous Iron Brigade nickname while under the command of Brig. Gen. John Gibbon.
The designation "Iron Brigade" is said to have originated during the brigade's action at Turners Gap, during the Battle of South Mountain in 1862.
Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, commanding I Corps, approached Army of the Potomac commander Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, seeking orders.
As the Western men advanced up the National Road, forcing the Confederate line all the way back to the gap, McClellan asked, "What troops are those fighting in the Pike?"
Hooker replied, "[Brigadier] General Gibbon's brigade of Western men." McClellan stated, "They must be made of iron."
Hooker said that the brigade had performed even more superbly at Second Bull Run; to this, McClellan said that the brigade consisted of the "best troops in the world".
Hooker supposedly was elated and rode off without his orders.
There are a few stories related to the origin, but the men immediately adopted the name, which was quickly used in print after South Mountain.
Additionally, the Iron Brigade took great pride in its designation, "1st Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps", under which it played a prominent role in the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.
The Iron Brigade Association was active from the 1880s up to 1903 and then fell silent, with the last known reunion taking place in Kansas City in 1916.  The last known survivor of the 7,259 men who served in the Brigade was William Riley who assigned to Company I, 6th WI and passed on March 23, 1939 at the age of 98. The medal recreated here not issued during the war, but in all probability came into being as a membership medal or a reunion remembrance.
Like early Association medals and on State financed Iron Brigade monuments erected after the war, any mention of Battery B, 4th U.S. Light Artillery was omitted.  In its place, in the center "they" used the USV designation of the United States Volunteers.
Regardless, on the Arlington National Cemetery headstones of General Gibbon and Major James Stewart, who commanded Battery B, which were
paid for and erected by the Veterans of the Iron Brigade
, along with the grave marker for Colonel Edward Stuyvesant Bragg, Commanding, 6th Wisconsin Vols, in Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, there is a clear indication of the high regard in which the men of the Iron Brigade held Battery B, 4th U.S. Light Artillery.
Therefore, this reproduction pays homage to their memory as well.  The use of a red ribbon is indicative of the Iron Brigade's service in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac.
This recreation is a must for the Civil War enthusiast, re-enactor, living historian, student of the American Civil War, and medal collector.
Because we strive to exactly replicate the original of each item we offer, we continually research and modify our offerings as necessary.
In addition, where applicable, all are inscribed on the reverse or edge with our name and/or the mold creation date; so as not to be confused with, or presented to, some trusting individual as an authentic period piece. (rev. 4 Dec 12)
We are a Combat Disabled Veteran owned small business.  Since creating our first reproduction medal in 2007, we have been guided by the principle that we would provide you -- our customer -- with the highest quality, most accurate reproductions possible, at an affordable price.  Each product we sell has been painstakingly developed, often over many months, injected with as much WOW factor as we can muster, and then carefully packaged and shipped within one business day.  If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason – or for no reason at all – please give us an opportunity to set things right, or we will gladly refund the purchase price!
(rev. 1 Oct 20)
If, for any reason outside of normal wear and tear, any medal, pin, badge, buckle, or brooch
we stock
should ever fail, we will replace it for the cost of shipping and handling and, on that,
you have our word
! (rev. 1 Oct 12)
We cannot be responsible for any items shipped outside of the United States if damaged, refused, or seized by customs regulators in your country, etc.  Import duties, taxes and other charges you might incur due to overseas shipping are not included in the item price and are the buyer’s responsibility.  Please check with your country's Customs Office and /or Postal Service to determine what, if any, additional costs will be added prior to bidding/buying.  Delivery time to your country can vary widely, from a few days to many weeks, depending on your local mail processing and/or customs inspection requirements.
To knowingly falsify a Customs Declaration is Illegal under International Law!  So, when you purchase an item from us, it must be declared as merchandise and cannot be changed!
(rev. 11 Feb 21)
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We will combine all item shipped at the same time and to the same address and you will only pay Shipping and Handling on the highest cost item, regardless of how many items you purchase.  So, if purchasing multiple items, please ask us to send you an invoice so we can properly deduct any excess S & H charges. (rev. 3 Mar 12)
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RETURN POLICY:  If anything in this offering has been misstated, we will take the item back and refund all your money, including return postage, once the item, in “like new” condition, is in our possession.  If you received an item in error, we will replace it once the incorrect item is in our possession, and we will reimburse you for the actual cost of return postage.  All other returns must be approved by us, in advance, received within 14-calendar days of your receipt, and are to be packaged and insured to assure deliver in “like new” condition.  Refunds on returned items exclude all postage, handling, payment processing fees, insurance, etc. associated with the sale of this item.
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