Brigade histories regimental histories american civil. I ordered my book through another book club that offered bdb and band of brothers together. The ancient history encyclopedia logo is a registered eu trademark. Lightning brigade us army of the cumberland 1863 wikipedia. T wilder his drive and passion for the union cause, and his vision of how he and his men could. Let me first say that his book, blue lightning is an excellent and a must read for anyone interested in either the spencer rifle or wilders brigade. Artfully written account of the jewish brigades history during the second world war fighting as part of the british eighth army in the italian campaign against the germans towards the wars end. The famous lightning brigade, as wilder s regiments collectively were known, was one of the civil wars most unusual and successful fighting conglomerations, and the brigade s 31yearold commander was primarily responsible for both those characteristics. History of the seventysecond indiana volunteer infantry wilders lightning brigade 9780962886638. Colonel wilders lightning brigade the new york times. Baumgartner uses commentary along with letters and journals of the soldiers of the lightning brigade to tell the story. Wilder developed a novel plan involving his brigade of mostly indiana and illinois farmers. With a potent combination of rapidfiring spencer rifles, aggressive and determined leadership, and unlimited confidence in themselves, the soldiers of colonel john t.
John thomas wilder january 31, 1830 october 20, 1917 was a colonel in the union army during the american civil war, noted principally for capturing a key mountain pass hoovers gap in the tullahoma campaign in central tennessee in june 1863. I was a civil war addict and reenactor searching for john hargraves heroic journey and apparently, for a good deal more than that. You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2. The thesis is a historical analysis of colonel john t. The repeating rifle most often associated with wilders brigade is the spencer repeating rifle. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Wider quickly learned that his immobile infantry was unable to keep pace with cavalry on horseback, so he requested, and received, permission to. History of the seventysecond indiana volunteer infantry. General john t wilder commander of the lightning brigade. Id really like to see a good brigade history done on liddellsgovans arkansas brigade of cleburnes division. Wilders mounted infantry passing the blockhouse of the. This was likely taken in or after 1863, during the american civil warwar between the states.
I sat rereading passages from benjamin magees old regimental history of the 72nd indiana. The brigade was unique because it was created as a unit that could move with the speed of. Wilder, commander of the lightning brigade, by samuel c. Corporal records of the 72nd indiana wrote our entire line from right to left opened out upon them with artillery and small arms. Baumgartners book is the premier book on colonel wilder, a man of immense forsight and vision, as he had the common sense to see that the spencer repeating rifle was going to be the weapon of the future in 1861, and was a pivotal and deciding factor at the battle of hoovers gap, where his unit defeated a force of confederates 3 times its size, due entirely to the firepower of the spencer. He extensively covers the battle of chickamauga but does not cover any. Wilders infantry brigade in the tullahoma and chickamauga campaigns of the american civil war. Scotts brigade of confederate cavalry, driving it toward tunnel hill, then skirmished for half an hour with a second rebel force before driving the enemy back toward buzzard roost. 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. Although the confederates attacked again and again, the support provided by wilders brigade and lillys battery was effective and the confederates eventually retreated. Wilders mounted infantry passing the blockhouse of the nashville and chattanooga railroad. Wilders brigade began moving south down the manchester pike at three in the morning.
The brigades artillery support was supplied by captain eli lillys 18th indiana battery, which featured six 3inch rodman guns. Wilders brigade spent part of the winter of 1862 protecting union supply lines against raids by col. He was a civil war relative that rode with the 72nd indiana, mounted infantry in wilders lightning brigade. Frustrated at trying to chase confederate raiders such as john hunt morgan and nathan bedford forrest on foot, wilder proposed to mount his brigade. Civil war letters of a soldier in wilders lightning brigade book book details.
First published in 1882 it was the chronicle of an indiana regiments threeyear service during the civil war. The lightning brigade from the many, one may best describe col. Love your stories and pictures that you have shared. I found this to be a real page turner as the book s exciting episodes unfolded. 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. This is the story one of the unsung leaders and innovators of the civil war.
Ambrose remley, 72nd indiana infantry wilders brigade. Lightning at hoovers gap the story of wilders brigade. Click download or read online button to get general john t wilder commander of the lightning brigade book now. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Although my read predates my involvement on goodreads, i remember liking this detailed look at a fascinating brigade in the union army. Indiana bankers agreed to advance the money if each solider would sign, and wilder would cosign, a note for his weapon. Very readable history, well told, and a early view of j. 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. Wilders brigade mounted infantry living history society the lightning brigade mounted infantry during the winter of 18621863 colonel john t. Its a oral history about a canadian and amercian commando brigade so the guys in the line tell their own storys in their own ways.
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. Page 600 in the prison cell i sit, thinking, mother dear, of you, and our bright and happy home so far away. He extensively covers the battle of chickamauga but does not cover any of the brigades history after wilder resigns from service. 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. It told the semiautobiographical story of fiveyearold laura and her life growing up in the rugged american midwest between 1870 and 1894. The unit was made up of citizen soldiers from the farms of indiana and illinois. Eight miles to the southeast of murfreesborough at big springs creek, the brigade ran into the confederate pickets of the 3rd kentucky cavalry. Baumgartners book is the premier book on colonel wilder, a man of immense forsight and vision, as he had the common sense to see that the spencer repeating rifle was going to be the weapon of the future in 1861, and was a pivotal and deciding factor at the battle of hoovers gap, where his unit defeated a force of confederates 3 times its size. 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. Born in 1867, wilder was a wisconsin school teacher whose first book, the little house in the big woods 1932, wasnt published until she was 65years old. Wilders lightning brigade researching your civil war. 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.
Wilders famous lightning brigade, eventually an elite unit of mounted infantry. Wilders lightning brigadeand its spencer repeaters. Its regiments were nominally the 1st brigade of mgen joseph j. 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. Joseph springers the black devil brigade may be one of the best books about wwii to come out of 2001. Wilders brigade in the battle of chickamauga will undoubtedly emerge as one of the best civil war books of 1997. Civil war letters of a soldier in wilders lightning brigade. Magee, benjamin f books skip to main content try prime. Priest promoted 2nd lieutenant, died june 24, 1864. Wilders brigade at the start of the chickamauga campaign consisted of the 17th and 72nd indiana and the 92nd, 98th and 123rd illinois. The story of wilders brigade by glenn sunderland confederate. 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.
Home civil war materials wilders mounted infantry passing the blockhouse of the nashville and. By far the best book on the lightning brigade and col. This site is like a library, use search box in the. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Off to the civil warthe search for john hargrave of. 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. Laura ingalls wilders name nixed from major childrens book award over stereotypical attitudes the childrens division of the american library association voted saturday to remove laura ingalls wilders name from a major award based over how the little house on the prairie author portrayed. The confederates massed before them and opened fire on union soldiers on september 18. Here is a picture of james armstrong, who fought in company c of the 72nd regiment indiana infantry mounted, part of john t. On average, each regiment in wilders brigade during 1863 had 10 scouts. Forewarned by his advance guard of scouts, wilder ordered five companies of the 72nd illinois to. Wilders lightning brigade montgomery county indiana.
Wilder was an engineer from indiana who joined the army shortly after the war started. Off to the civil warthe search for john wesley hargrave. And the tears they fill my eyes spite of all that i can do, though i try to cheer my comrades and be gay. Wilder had personally ensured that his lightning brigade. Battle of chickamauga, james walker images not included in original article the midwesterners of the 17th and 72nd indiana, the 98th and 123rd illinois mounted infantry and the 18th indiana battery of colonel john t. In his communication to me dated january 2, 2012 he stated. Wilder was given the unenviable task of chasing down morgans cavalry with regular infantry. History of the 72d indiana volunteer infantry of the. Wilders brigade was now attached to crittendens corps and on september 11 had marched near ringgold, ga.
1043 1097 801 276 513 640 945 289 420 1270 1112 863 373 552 1072 18 1035 29 42 234 333 928 943 890 1091 1323 769 9 1489 449 444