The Iron Brigade, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Brawner's Farm, August 1862 by Chris Collingwood [Print]

 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 particular composition of men, from the 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 by most other Union Army units. Battle of Second Manassas, Brawner's Farm, August 28, 1862. In order to draw Pope's army into battle, Jackson ordered an attack on a Federal column that was passing across his front on the Warrenton Turnpike on August 28. In a fierce firefight in which the opposing lines were scarcely 100 yards apart, Jackson's men locked horns with the Midwesterners of Brig. Gen. John Gibbon's Black Hat Brigade, known thereafter as the Iron Brigade. The fight at the Brawner Farm lasted several hours and resulted in a stalemate. Convinced that he had trapped Jackson. Pope concentrated the bulk of his army against him. On August 29th, Pope launched a series of assaults against Jackson's position along an unfinished railroad grade. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. At noon, Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on Jackson's right flank. On August 30th, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly unaware that Longstreet was on the field. When massed Confederate artillery devastated a Union assault by Fitz John Porter's command, Longstreet's wing of 28,000 men counterattacked in the largest, simultaneous mass assault of the war. The Union left flank was crushed and the army driven back to Bull Run. Only an effective Union rearguard action prevented a replay of the First Manassas disaster. Pope's retreat to Centreville was precipitous, nonetheless. The next day, Lee ordered his army in pursuit. This was the decisive battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign.