This is the story of the most famous unit in the Union Army. Originally called the 'Black Hat Brigade' because soldiers wore the army's regular dress black hat instead of the more typical blue cap, the Iron Brigade was the only all-Western brigade in the Eastern armies of the Union. The Western soldiers earned and justified the proud name Iron Brigade. And when the war was over, the records showed that it led all Federal brigades in percentage of deaths in battle. The North might well have lost the battle of Gettysburg if not for the Iron Brigade's famous stand.

Foreword to the 1994 Edition by Gary W. Gallagher
Preface
"We Are Coming, Father Abraham"
Prologue
"Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys"
1. A Winter in Camp
2. Fredericksburg: A New Commander Orders Black Hats
3. John Pope's Army: An End to File Closing
4. The Battle at Brawner Farm
5. Second Bull Run
6. South Mountain: The Iron Brigade Is Named
7. Antietam
8. Reorganization
9. Return to Fredericksburg: The Tweny-fourth Michigan Earns the Black Hat
10. Belle Plain: Winter Quarters and Hopefulness
11. Chancellorsville and the March to Pennsylvania
12. Gettysburg: The Last Stand
"Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord"
Epilogue
Appendicies
1. The Iron Brigade Counties
2. Commanders and Officers
3. Bigraphical Note
4. The Uniform of the Iron Brigade
5. Source materials for the Battle of Brawner Farm
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index