They Nearly All Died
The Nineteenth Indiana Regiment in the Civil War
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Personally directing his men, General Reynolds encouraged his men to drive the Rebels from the woods. With these words, the 2nd Wisconsin and then the other regiments of the Iron Brigade deployed and slammed into Confederate General Archer's oncoming troops. They hurled the enemy back into Willoughby Run. After a sharp and desperate conflict, nearly 1,000 prisoners from Archer’s Brigade were captured. The Iron Brigade then reformed their lines on high ground beyond the ravine. The Iron Brigade including the 19th Indiana had attacked and flanked the Confederate right, capturing many Alabamians, including General Archer himself. General Archer was being led to the rear when he was encountered by General Doubleday, his old West Point classmate. Seeing Archer for the first time in years, Doubleday remarked how glad he was to see him. Archer replied before he was escorted back to the rear “Well I’m not glad to see you by a damned sight Doubleday”. The Iron Brigade had overrun the Rebel positions. One Rebel recalled that 20,000 Yanks hollering surrender. The Hoosiers had smashed the 1st Tennessee. But fate was not so kind to General Reynolds. As he was directing men into action along McPherson's Ridge, he was shot in the neck. He died instantly. Abner Doubleday assumed command in the field. The Hoosiers disarmed most of the officers and men of the 1st Rebel Tennessee Regiment who had surrendered as prisoners. Over 400 stands of arms were destroyed in an hour and one-half. North of the Chambersburg Road, Davis's brigade flanked Cutler's right and rolled it up, forcing the 76th and 56th Pennsylvania and the 147th New York into retreat. But two of Cutler's Regiments, the 95th and 84th New York, along with the 6th Wisconsin from the Iron Brigade, attacked Davis and captured over 200 Confederates.
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About the Book
Ten young men from a small Indiana town volunteer to take up arms against the Confederates as war breaks out between North and South. The men will prove their mettle as part of Company K of the Nineteenth Volunteer Regiment, part of the Union Army of the Potomac’s Iron Brigade. Known as fierce fighters, the brigade will suffer some of the heaviest casualties during the Civil War. They will fight important battles over three years, including Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and the battle of the Wilderness. Their actions will help determine the fate of a nation. This in-depth history explores what divided North and South, why disease was more dangerous than enemy soldiers, and what actions were taken on a daily basis to survive, touching on key generals and political figures. Primary documents, including letters written by soldiers, provide insights into how the war progressed. Discover what it meant to be a Union soldier in They Nearly All Died.
About the Author
William E. Galyean received an engineering degree from Marshall University and retired as a structural engineer. A lifetime member of the West Virginia and National Society of Professional Engineers, he has written technical publications and enjoys researching the Civil War. He lives with his wife in Huntington, West Virginia, and Florida.