Noted for its reliability in battle, the brigade developed a reputation which remained after it was disbanded late in the war, due to its annihilation from extremely high casualties.

It was deposited by Col. S. R. BEARDSLEY, and bears upon one side the inscription: "24th Regiment, Iron Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps.

They were sent in as skirmishers to assist Colonel Patrick's men and then were posted behind a fence awaiting the command to move forward.

They went in with a cheer, poured in a deadly fire, and drove the enemy from his position behind the fence, after a short and desperate conflict, and took post some yards beyond.

Although the enemy were strongly posted behind a fence, and apparently in larger force than our own troops, they could not withstand the terrific fire and steady veteran advance of my line.

The conflict at the fence became desperate, many of the enemy at this time being less than 8 rods in our front, but the undaunted bravery of officers and men enabled me to drive them from their position and capture a number of prisoners.

Having succeeded in forcing the enemy from their position, I advanced my line about 5 rods, where I obtained partial shelter for my men from an abrupt rise of ground.

It was the more striking that their line of duty did not require their presence on the field at that time, the former being acting commissary of subsistence, and the latter regimental quartermaster.

Major James Mero Matthews of the 2nd USSS wrote in his Journal the day they were transferred out of the First Iron Brigade: (December 30, 1862) Orders Came Late last night to join Berdan's 1st Regiment.

Colonel Phelps made a short heartfelt speech and then the brigade stacked arms and took leave of us by shaking hands.

Gen. Solomon Meredith, which had received considerable press attention as the Iron Brigade since the September 1862 Battle of South Mountain (then under Brig.

[citation needed] Ordnance returns for the regiment around the time of Fredericksburg show it had a mixture of "Springfield Rifled Muskets, model 1855, 1861, N.A.

[8] Below is the poem written by Captain Austin W Holden of the 24th New York State Infantry: "The Old Iron Brigade" From the camp and its now peaceful revels, The bugles will soon call us forth, The "Thirtieth" and "Red Legged Devils", "Twenty-second" and the brave "Twenty-fourth."

To terror each heart is a stranger, Tis cowards alone are afraid, Then on to the front line of danger, With the gallant old "Iron Brigade.

The Twenty-second passed through Washington last night and the Fourteenth remains alone...[11] Letter From Captain Levi Beardsley upon the 24th New York's Mustering out of Company I: In common with the gallant "24th," you have earned distinction, and are well worthy the title of "braves of the Iron Brigade."