The venerable Iron Brigade earned one of the most stellar reputations in the Army of the Potomac.  Dependable and disciplined, the brigade took some of the highest recorded casualties on both the regimental and brigade levels.

The 24^th Michigan holds the distinction of taking the highest number of casualties among all US regiments present at Gettysburg, while the entire brigade held steady on left flank of the Union line on July 1^st.  The brigade also inflicted the highest number of casualties on an individual Confederate regiment during the battle and assisted in the repulse of multiple enemy divisions, retook the famed Railroad Cut and captured hundreds of trapped Mississippians, and subsequently fortified the northwestern sector of Culp’s Hill, where their breastworks are still visible.  Prior to Gettysburg, the Iron Brigade was so named for withstanding withering fire during the Battle of South Mountain in September of 1862.  It is said that General McClellan’s staff observed their conduct and prompted the commander to say “those men must be made of Iron.”  A few days later, the Iron Brigade was deployed on the northern edge of Antietam’s infamous Miller Cornfield and given orders to advance through the bloody maze of crops where, despite extreme casualties, it established a firing line in the face of some of the Army of Northern Virginia’s best troops.

After fighting at Gettysburg, the Iron Brigade virtually ceased to exist, with consolidations and replacements making up the balance of the huge number of men who had been lost in combat up to that time.  Still, they continued on in service with the Army of the Potomac through all remaining campaigns to Appomattox.  One of their regimental commanders, Rufus Dawes, has been studied as one of the first publicly documented cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which progressively destroyed his mental and physical state.

After the war, the Iron Brigade Reunion Association first realized its goal of assembling the survivors of the brigade in 1873.  Each reunion, save for a select few were held in the Midwest region, primarily in the home states of the Brigade’s regiments.

This ribbon was part of a badge, distributed and worn at the 1882 Reunion, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The ribbon is in excellent condition, with most stenciled text still very clear and sharp.  The red 1882 reunion heading is a bit faded relative to the rest of the ribbon.  Featured on the silk fabric is the banner text “REUNION 1882” over unit distinction, a 1^st Corps badge with “REYNOLDS” and “WADSWORTH” – the Corps and Division commanders, a list of brigade commanders, the units of the brigade, and the brigade’s battle honors.  The bottom edge is scarcely fraying, something rare among most delicate veteran ribbons. The fabric is free of stains, save for a minor spot of adhesive residue on the reverse. The overall dimensions are approximately 8” x 2.25”.

Among Civil War veteran memorabilia, finding a piece from the famed Iron Brigade is exceedingly rare. This is a must-have for any veteran or Civil War memorabilia collection.  [CM][ph:L]

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