Chesterton in Porter County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Erected 1995 by Indiana Historical Bureau; Porter County Tourism Commission; Indianapolis Civil War Round Table; David D. Porter Camp 116, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. (Marker Number 64.1995.1.)
Marker series. This marker is included in the Indiana State Historical Bureau Markers marker series.
Location. 41° 38.121′ N, 87° 3.493′ W. Marker is in Chesterton, Indiana, in Porter County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 20 and State Road 49, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 20. Touch for map. It is at the southeast corner of the SR 49 overpass. Marker is in this post office area: Valparaiso IN 46383, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dunes Hi-Way (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cowles Bog (approx. 1˝ miles away); The J.D. Marshall (approx. 1.7 Le Petit Fort (approx. 1.8 miles away); Edwin Way Teale (approx. 2˝ miles away); Century of Progress Homes (approx. 4˝ miles away); Recipe for a Sand Dune (approx. 4.8 miles away); Whose Home Is It? (approx. 4.8 miles away).
More about this marker. The Indiana Troops in the Iron Brigade came from Marion County (Indianapolis). This location was selected as only U.S. 20 traverses the three states where the volunteers of the Iron Brigade originated.
Regarding Iron Brigade. The Iron Brigade was activated on October 1, 1861, upon the arrival in Washington, D.C., of the 7th Wisconsin. The regiments in the original Iron Brigade were the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin, and the 19th Indiana. The brigade fought under the I Corps starting in 1862, when the Army of the Potomac was reorganized under Major General George B. McClellan. The 24th Michigan joined the brigade prior to the Battle of Fredericksburg.
The brigade fought in the Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Overland, Richmond-Petersburg, and Appomattox campaigns.
The brigade took pride in its designation, “1st Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps,” under which it played a prominent role in the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863. It repulsed the first Confederate offensive through Herbst’s Woods, capturing much of Brig. Gen. James J. Archer's Confederate brigade, and Archer himself. It suffered tremendous losses in the second, larger Confederate assault that afternoon.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. 19th Indiana Company A. (Submitted on May 4, 2007.)
2. Iron Brigade Homepage. (Submitted on September 27, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana.)
3. Manassas National Battlefield Park. The second action, inwhich the Iron Brigade took part was the 1st Battle of Manassas. (Submitted on September 27, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana.)
4. Gettysburg National Military Park. The Iron Brigade served in the Army of the Potomac and was present at the key battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1963 (Submitted on September 27, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana.)
5. Antietam National Battlefield. The bloodiest day of the Civil War. The Iron Brigade participated. (Submitted on September 27, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana.)
6. Fredericksburg and Spotslyvania County National Battlefield Memorial. Here too, the Iron Brigade served in the Union cause. (Submitted on September 27, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana.)
Categories. • War, US Civil •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 4, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 2,190 times since then and 7 times this year. Last updated on August 26, 2008, by Ian Histor of Calumet City, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 4, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.