Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop: The Iron Brigade Part 5
October 18, 2010
Major General John F. Reynolds, in the center of the painting on the black horse, prepares to direct his First Corps across the fields of the Codori Farm towards McPherson’s Ridge. To assist in this “short cut” that avoided the town, soldiers have taken down some fences by the Emmitsburg Road. The white-haired First Division commander, Brigadier General James Wadsworth, is smoking a cigar to the left of Reynolds. The white bearded Brigadier General Lysander Cutler sits on his black horse, in front of his staff, waiting for orders to take his brigade across the fields. The Iron Brigade followed Cutler’s Brigade. Little Round Top and Big Round Top are in the left background. The artist has also placed above the Codori House, in the air and in the trees, Gettysburg’s turkey buzzards/turkey vultures. This image, titled “Time to Fight” by artist Dale Gallon is courtesy of Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art Inc., 9 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Their telephone number is 717-334-8666. Their e-mail address is [email protected]. Their web address is gallon.com.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Dr. Rich Goedkoop is the host for a series on Iron Brigade of the United States’ Army of the Potomac. He is a professor of Communication at LaSalle University. Rich began his professional career in education as a Graduate Assistant at Central Michigan University. He received his Masters there in 1977 and went on to Pennsylvania State University to receive his Doctorate in 1980. Rich joined La Salle that same year. Throughout his career, Rich has taken an active interest in news and public affairs television programming which inspired his book, Inside Local Television News (1988). His numerous reviews and articles have appeared in such publications as Journalism Quarterly, The Journal of Broadcasting, Feedback, and Critical Studies in Mass Communication.
Rich Goedkoop writes, “I appreciate the contributions of Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides Stuart Dempsey and Cliff Detweiler in helping me put together this series, and Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art, Gettysburg, PA (Gallon.com) for the gracious use of four of Dale Gallon’s paintings for illustrations of key moments of the Iron Brigade at Gettysburg.”
In our first Iron Brigade post, Rich Goedkoop introduces us to the Iron Brigade series, explains how the unit was organized at the beginning of the war, and describes their distinctive uniform.
In the second Iron Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop explains how the Iron Brigade acquired its nickname, and discusses their actions in the battles of Brawner’s Farm and Antietam.
In the third Iron Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop describes the makeup of the First Division of the First Corps, and in particular, the 6th Wisconsin.
In the fourth Iron Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop briefly presented the rest of the regiments of the Iron Brigade and their commanders.
In today’s Iron Brigade post, Richard Goedkoop shows the direction the Iron Brigade took across the Codori Fields, where they entered McPherson’s Woods, and where they captured members of Archer’s Brigade.
This map shows the location of the videos for Iron Brigade posts. Videos #1-#13 were shown in our previous Iron Brigade posts. Video #14 was taken at the Codori Farm on the Emmitsburg Road. Video #15 was taken by the Reynolds’ Marker at the eastern edge of McPherson’s Woods/Reynolds’Woods/Herbst’s Woods. Video #16 was taken by the Archer’s Brigade Marker in McPherson’s Woods on Meredith Avenue. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:00 AM on Saturday, October 16, 2010.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is the host for the Iron Brigade series. He is standing by the Codori House. The truck in the right background is driving north along the Emmitsburg Road. The Iron Brigade marched north along the Emmitsburg Road to this point on the morning of July 1, 1863. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
In Video #14 (Videos #s 1-13 were shown in our previous Iron Brigade posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing at the Codori Farm along the Emmitsburg Road. He shows how the Iron Brigade cut across the Codori Fields on their way to McPherson’s Ridge and Seminary Ridge. This view was taken facing south to northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing by the marker in the area where Major General John Reynolds was killed on the morning of July 1, 1863. It is located at the eastern edge of McPherson’s Woods/Reynolds’Woods/Herbst’s Woods. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
In Video #15 Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing by the marker showing where Major General John Reynolds was killed. He shows how the Iron Brigade was deployed as they entered McPherson’s Woods. This view was taken facing northwest to west to southwest to northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was the first Iron Brigade unit to enter McPherson’s Woods. This image shows them charging down West McPherson’s Ridge towards Willoughby Run as they route and capture Confederates from Archer’s Alabama and Tennessee brigade. Notice how unlike today, the area was cleared of undergrowth. This image, titled “Final Glory” by artist Dale Gallon is courtesy of Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art Inc., 9 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Their telephone number is 717-3348666. Their e-mail address is [email protected]. Their web address is gallon.com.
Dr. Richard Goedkoop is standing by the marker to Archer’s Brigade of Alabama and Tennessee soldiers. It is located in Herbst’s Woods/McPherson’s Woods along Meredith Avenue. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
In Video #16 Rich Goedkoop describes how the Iron Brigade routed and captured Archer’s Brigade on the morning of July 1, 1863. This view was taken facing northwest to southwest to northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
Brigadier General James Jay Archer (1817-1864) was born in Bel Air, Maryland. He attended Princeton University, became a lawyer, and served in the Mexican War as a Captain, and was brevetted to the rank of Major. He practiced law until 1855 when he joined the regular U.S. Army as a Captain. He served primarly in the Pacific Northwest before the Civil War and never married. At the beginning of the Civil War he became Colonel of the 5th Texas Infantry of Hood’s Brigade. He was promoted to Brigadier General on June 3, 1862 and commanded the Tennessee brigade formerly commanded by Robert Hatoon, who had been killed at Seven Pines. He fought in the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg, Archer became the first general officer to be taken captive from the Army of Northern Virginia since General Lee assumed command. He was sent to Fort Delaware and eventually to Johnson’s Island on Lake Erie where his health deteriorated. He was exchanged late in the summer of 1864, and briefly commanded his old brigade during the Siege of Petersburg. His health completely collapsed, and he died in Richmond, Virginia on October 24, 1864. James J. Archer is buried in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery.
Some statistics from the Iron Brigade’s action at Gettysburg.
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