Iron Brigade of the West

Iron Brigade
Iron Brigade unit badge, a maltese cross design, showing the Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, Union Army regiments, who were the core of the Brigade, on a historical marker, at Gettysburg National Military Park.
Active	October 1861-June 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States
Branch	Union Army Army of the Potomac U.S. Volunteers
Type	infantry
Size	Five regiments, regiment nicknames: 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Ragged Asstetical" 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Calico" 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Huckleberries" 24th Michigan later, merged into 4th U.S. Light Artillery "Featherbedders" 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Babies"
Nickname(s)	The Black Hats, Black Hat Brigade, Iron Brigade of the West, King's Wisconsin Brigade
Engagements	American Civil War Northern Virginia Campaign Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Mine Run Overland Campaign Siege of Petersburg Battle of Appomattox Court House
Commanders
Notable commanders	Brig. Gen. Rufus King Brig. Gen. John Gibbon Col. William W. Robinson Brig. Gen. Edward S. Bragg

Union Army

Army of the Potomac

Five regiments, regiment nicknames:

2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Ragged Asstetical"

6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Calico"

7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Huckleberries"

24th Michigan later, merged into 4th U.S. Light Artillery "Featherbedders"

American Civil War

The Iron Brigade, also known as The Black Hats, Black Hat Brigade, Iron Brigade of the West, and originally King's Wisconsin Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Although it fought entirely in the Eastern Theater, it was composed of regiments from three Western states that are now presently within the region of the Midwest. Noted for its strong discipline, its unique uniform appearance, and its tenacious fighting ability, the Iron Brigade suffered the highest percentage of casualties of any brigade in the war.