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. Lightning brigade us army of the cumberland 1863 wikipedia. Wilder s 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. He was a civil war relative that rode with the 72nd indiana, mounted infantry in wilders lightning brigade. Doing a history paper and im really confused about this brigade unitcompany. The thesis is a historical analysis of colonel john t. Baumgartner uses commentary along with letters and journals of the soldiers of the lightning brigade to tell the story. 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 wilder s brigade. Wilder had personally ensured that his lightning brigade of mounted infantry. The story of the jewish brigade attached to the british army in world war ii, the book focuses on three men and their missions that went beyond their duties in the brigade. The story of the conception, conversion, and equipping of the brigade is well known and need not be discussed in detail again.
The lightning brigade, also known as wilder s 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. In the area of the viniard farm, daviss division, aided by woods, fought elements of confederate divisions under bushrod johnson and hood. John thomas wilder january 31, 1830 october 20, 1917 was an officer in the union army during the american civil war, noted principally for capturing the key mountain pass of hoovers gap during the tullahoma campaign in central tennessee in june 1863. Feb 01, 1997 although my read predates my involvement on goodreads, i remember liking this detailed look at a fascinating brigade in the union army. He extensively covers the battle of chickamauga but does not cover any of the brigades history. 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. Lightning at hoovers gap the story of wilders brigade. Oct 25, 2015 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. This book was written by one of the members of the 72nd indiana mounted infantry. Colonel wilders lightning brigade the new york times.
Posts about wilders lightning brigade written by 40thindiana. Wilder, commander of the lightning brigade, by samuel c. Wilder s brigade in the battle of chickamauga will undoubtedly emerge as one of the best civil war books of 1997. Rosecrans, and earning themselves the moniker wilders lightning brigade. John thomas wilder january 31, 1830 october 20, 1917 was an officer in the union army.
Hoods attack drove davis and wood back, but wilders brigade, fighting on foot from a wellchosen position, stopped hoods attack. Off to the civil warthe search for john wesley hargrave of. Wilder was given the unenviable task of chasing down morgans cavalry with regular infantry. Although my read predates my involvement on goodreads, i remember liking this detailed look at a fascinating brigade in the union army. By far the best book on the lightning brigade and col. Wilders lightning brigade researching your civil war.
Jun 11, 2015 posts about wilders lightning brigade written by 40thindiana. We might add a history blog or a host of other ideas we have. Wilders lightning brigade montgomery county indiana. In that letter, in addition to listing the accomplishments of the raid, wilder said that the brigade had lost two stragglers. The man was neither understood nor appreciated by military or civilian, black or white, northerner or southerner. Various blue acorn press books will soon be listed for sale and ready for purchase online. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide williams, samuel cole, 18641947, general john t. 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. 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. Browse new and enduring titles on ancient history, european history, the civil war, u. Wilder s brigade was now attached to crittendens corps and on september 11 had marched near ringgold, ga.
Dec 25, 2012 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. 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. All i know is that wilder never captured captain dickinson sanders of the 2nd georgia cavalry. During the june 1863 tullahoma campaign wilders men succeeded in driving confederates from hoovers gap, winning a key victory for maj. Wilders brigade mounted infantry living history society the lightning brigade mounted infantry during the winter of 18621863 colonel john t. Civil war letters of a soldier in wilders lightning brigade. 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. The person pushing rosecrans to mount infantry regiments was none other than the colonel of the 17th indiana infantry regiment, colonel john t. Wilder, presentation to the chattanooga area historical association, january 24, 2004.
He extensively covers the battle of chickamauga but does not cover any of the brigades history after wilder resigns from service. Edward wild, the controversial union general who headed the allblack african brigade in the civil war, was one of the most loved and most hated figures of the 19th century. With a potent combination of rapidfiring spencer rifles, aggressive and determined leadership, and unlimited confidence in themselves, the soldiers of colonel john t. Civil war letters of a soldier in wilders lightning brigade book book details. Wilders brigade in the battle of chickamauga will undoubtedly emerge as one of the best civil war books of 1997. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Wilder had personally ensured that his lightning brigade of mounted infantry was. Sep 01, 2001 the black devil brigade is an indepth account of the first special service force from the words of the men that fought the battles. Wilder and his lightning brigade of mounted infantry. The ancient history encyclopedia logo is a registered eu trademark. Manigualts advancing brigade, forcing it to retreat. Wilder, chattanooga regional historical quarterly, vol. 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. History of the seventysecond indiana volunteer infantry wilder s lightning brigade 9780962886638.
And the tears they fill my eyes spite of all that i can do, though i try to cheer my comrades and be gay. The brigade was unique because it was created as a unit that could move with the speed of. Wilders lightning brigadeand its spencer repeaters. Corporal records of the 72nd indiana wrote our entire line from right to left opened out upon them with artillery and small arms. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Colonel john wilders lightning brigade prevented total disaster historically, the battle of chickamauga is recorded as a twoday battle starting on september 19, 1863. Page 600 in the prison cell i sit, thinking, mother dear, of you, and our bright and happy home so far away. Wilder had personally ensured that his lightning brigade of mounted infantry was equipped with the new spencer repeating rifle, though. This site is like a library, use search box in the. Finally, the editor of the book morning to midnight in the saddle. 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. Jun 25, 20 all i know is that wilder never captured captain dickinson sanders of the 2nd georgia cavalry. He was a part of the history committee that was elected to put the book together.
Wilders lightning brigadeand its spencer repeaters book. 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. In his communication to me dated january 2, 2012 he stated. Will include dust jacket if it originally came with one. Love your stories and pictures that you have shared. Wilders mounted infantry brigade in battle of chickamauga by richard a.
The brigade was unique because it was created as a unit that could move with the speed of cavalry but fight with the power of infantry. The lightning brigade from the many, one may best describe col. History of the seventysecond indiana volunteer infantry. The brigade, insultingly underused in the war, achieved its greatest distinction in fighting for the independence and sovereignty of israel. 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. Wilder was an engineer from indiana who joined the army shortly after the war started. Jan 10, 2010 can someone please explain the regiments the wilder brigade had.
It told the semiautobiographical story of fiveyearold laura and her life growing up in the rugged american midwest between 1870 and 1894. Living history society the lightning brigade mounted infantry during the winter of 18621863 colonel john t. The unit was made up of citizen soldiers from the farms of indiana and illinois. History of the 72d indiana volunteer infantry of the mounted. Later that summer, wilder, reinforced by elements of thomas woods division, led a diversionary action in. General john t wilder commander of the lightning brigade. Click download or read online button to get general john t wilder commander of the lightning brigade book now. Rick saved almost every letter received through the years be that from a german wwi veteran or fellow historian. 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. The same day morgans troops were breaking camp, the union colonel john t. Good history of the only unit fully equipped with the spencer rifles.
The unit became known as the lightning brigade, and it would. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. On average, each regiment in wilder s brigade during 1863 had 10 scouts. However, i would find in another book, richard baumgartners more recent work on wilders brigade, a copy of a letter colonel wilder had written to his wife shortly after the early april raid. History of the 72d indiana volunteer infantry of the. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. The wilder brigade fought, among many sharp skirkishes, at the september 1863 battle of chickamauga, geo. 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 the book this terrible sound, author peter cozzens states the fire from wilders spencers was so heavy that gen. Off to the civil warthe search for john wesley hargrave. On average, each regiment in wilders brigade during 1863 had 10 scouts. Off to the civil warthe search for john hargrave of.
The webs source of information for ancient history. Suffice to say that rosecrans, short of cavalry going into the. Wilders lightning brigade montgomery county indiana civil. Some books capitalize on numbers and troop movements, strengths, etc. Wilders infantry brigade in the tullahoma and chickamauga campaigns of the american civil war. The arrival of sheridans division stabilized the situation for the federals. We plan on sharing some of that content in a letters to rick section. Its regiments were nominally the 1st brigade of mgen joseph j. This is the story one of the unsung leaders and innovators of the civil war. Captain sanders wrote in his memoirs in 1910 that when they were being sought by wilder and his men, when they would go to sleep at night, they slept fully dressed including wearing their boots and with.
Wilders mounted infantry brigade, the fabled lightning brigade, the battle actually started a day earlier. Wilders brigade was now attached to crittendens corps and on september 11 had marched near ringgold, ga. Indiana bankers agreed to advance the money if each solider would sign, and wilder would cosign, a note for his weapon. He was a civil war relative that rode with the 72nd indiana, mounted infantry in wilder s lightning brigade. Wilders mounted infantry brigade in the battle of chickamauga. I was a civil war addict and reenactor searching for john hargraves heroic journey and apparently, for a good deal more than that. Then, on september 20, wilders men attacked the left flank of confederate general arthur m. James longstreet hearing the clatter from nearly a half mile off, thought. Part of the military history commons, and the united states history commons. The black devil brigade is an indepth account of the first special service force from the words of the men that fought the battles. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Wilders brigade consisted of the 92nd 98th and 123rd illinois infantry, the 17th and 72nd indiana infantry, and the 18th indiana battery. Although the official history of the jewish brigade group a unit of some 5,000 jews who fought with the british eighth army in italy in the waning months of the conflict has been written, blum. This is the best book i have found on wilders lightning brigade.
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