IIRC, they were also known as the Iron Brigade, some very tough men from , Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. I think July 1, 1863, was the one and only time they ever fled on the field of battle. When after a bloody fight, the Tar Heel’s chased them through the streets of Gettysburg.
Yep, they were retreating past the Seminary on their way to Little Roundtop where they would have the high ground.
BTW, 6/15/39 here you old fart.
The Iron Brigade had given ground in past battles. In fact the original battle where they earned their “Iron Brigade” name, they had to fall back after chasing a Confederate unit up a hill. At Gettysburg they defeated a CSA unit twice their size and captured the opposing general in a unfinished railroad cut after taking frightful losses of 175 of their 400 men. They attacked across open ground towards the cut losing one man every yard. Once they reached the cut the protection it gave the CSA proved to be their undoing as they were trapped and the CAS general surrendered. Other Union units did not fair well that day and the 225 remaining Black Hats were exposed at both flanks. They fell back through the streets of Gettysburg never breaking, as the Union position had collapsed. Once they arrived at Culps Hill, their commander, Rufus Dawes had them dig in even though they had been fighting the entire day and were exhausted. They even counter attacked at night from their entrenched position to keep the rebels off balance. At one point, the Confederates in their confusion, were firing on their own men. Once the Union reinforcements arrived at Culps Hill it should have been impregnable. On the other side of the position, General Sickles, disobeyed orders and everything changed.