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