Civil War CDV Union Colonel Alfred M Wood 14th Brooklyn Chasseurs
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:98531 |
Condition as seen. "Colonel Alfred M. Wood, 14th Brooklyn Infantry (USA)
Alfred M. Wood was born in Hempstead, Nassau County, New York on 19 April 1825. On 13 April 1858, Wood was commissioned as colonel of the 14th New York Militia. When the Civil War erupted, Wood enlisted on 4 April 1861 and commanded the 14th Brooklyn Infantry Regiment in Colonel Andrew Porter’s 1st Brigade of Colonel David Hunter’s 2nd Division at the First Battle of Bull Run on 21 Ju...ly 1861. Major William F. Barry placed the 14th Brooklyn, 11th New York, and 1st Minnesota at the crest of Henry House Hill. They found themselves confronting the 33rd Virginia Infantry on the left of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s line. Confused by the 33rd Virginia’s dark blue uniforms, Major Barry ordered the artillery to hold fire which allowed the Virginians to charge and capture the guns. Wood and the 14th Brooklyn, however, rushed up the slope and drove the Confederates back. They continued to fire into Jackson’s left flank and pushed the 33rd Virginia back through the 2nd Virginia. Jackson ordered the 4th and 27th Virginia forward and Wood was driven back in hand-to-hand combat. The 14th Brooklyn, 69th New York Militia, and 11th New York charged up Henry House Hill four times, trying to recapture the Union guns. The constant charging by the 14th Brooklyn caught Jackson’s eye and he famously stated to his troops: “Hold on boys! Here come those Red Legged Devils again!” The regiment would retain the nickname “Red Legged Devils” for the rest of the war. Wood was wounded and captured. He was exchanged and discharged for disability on 18 October 1861. After the war, Wood became very involved in the post-war affairs of his beloved 14th Brooklyn, helping the veterans of the unit. He became Mayor of the City of Brooklyn in 1864. Wood died on 28 July 1895.""The 14th Regiment New York State Militia (also called the 14th Brooklyn Chasseurs) was a volunteer militia regiment from the City of Brooklyn, New York. It is primarily known for its service in the American Civil War from April 1861 to May 6, 1864, although it later served in the Spanish–American War and World War I (as part of the 106th Regiment).
In the Civil War, the regiment was made up of a majority of abolitionists from the Brooklyn area. It was led first by Colonel Alfred M. Wood and later by Colonel Edward Brush Fowler. The 14th Brooklyn was involved in heavy fighting, including most major engagements of the Eastern Theater. Their engagements included the First and Second Battles of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. During the war, the men of the 14th Brooklyn were well known by both armies and throughout the country for their hard drill, hard fighting, and constant refusal to stand down from a fight. During their three years of service they never withdrew from battle in unorderly fashion.
On 7 December 1861, the State of New York officially changed the regiment's designation to the 84th New York Volunteer Infantry (and its unit histories are sometimes found under this designation). But at the unit's request and because of the fame attained by the unit at First Bull Run, the United States Army continued to refer to it as the 14th.[1]
The 14th Brooklyn received its nickname, the "Red Legged Devils", during the First Battle of Bull Run. Referring to the regiment's colorful red trousers as the regiment repeatedly charged up Henry House Hill, Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson yelled to his men, "Hold On Boys! Here come those red legged devils again!"[2]
In the early part of the war, when the 14th Brooklyn was in General Walter Phelps' brigade, the brigade was named "Iron Brigade". It would later to become known as the "Eastern Iron Brigade" after John Gibbon's Black Hat Brigade was given the name "Western Iron Brigade". At the conclusion of the war, all members of the "Eastern" or "First" Iron Brigade were given medals for their service within the Iron Brigade.
Alfred M. Wood was born in Hempstead, Nassau County, New York on 19 April 1825. On 13 April 1858, Wood was commissioned as colonel of the 14th New York Militia. When the Civil War erupted, Wood enlisted on 4 April 1861 and commanded the 14th Brooklyn Infantry Regiment in Colonel Andrew Porter’s 1st Brigade of Colonel David Hunter’s 2nd Division at the First Battle of Bull Run on 21 Ju...ly 1861. Major William F. Barry placed the 14th Brooklyn, 11th New York, and 1st Minnesota at the crest of Henry House Hill. They found themselves confronting the 33rd Virginia Infantry on the left of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s line. Confused by the 33rd Virginia’s dark blue uniforms, Major Barry ordered the artillery to hold fire which allowed the Virginians to charge and capture the guns. Wood and the 14th Brooklyn, however, rushed up the slope and drove the Confederates back. They continued to fire into Jackson’s left flank and pushed the 33rd Virginia back through the 2nd Virginia. Jackson ordered the 4th and 27th Virginia forward and Wood was driven back in hand-to-hand combat. The 14th Brooklyn, 69th New York Militia, and 11th New York charged up Henry House Hill four times, trying to recapture the Union guns. The constant charging by the 14th Brooklyn caught Jackson’s eye and he famously stated to his troops: “Hold on boys! Here come those Red Legged Devils again!” The regiment would retain the nickname “Red Legged Devils” for the rest of the war. Wood was wounded and captured. He was exchanged and discharged for disability on 18 October 1861. After the war, Wood became very involved in the post-war affairs of his beloved 14th Brooklyn, helping the veterans of the unit. He became Mayor of the City of Brooklyn in 1864. Wood died on 28 July 1895.""The 14th Regiment New York State Militia (also called the 14th Brooklyn Chasseurs) was a volunteer militia regiment from the City of Brooklyn, New York. It is primarily known for its service in the American Civil War from April 1861 to May 6, 1864, although it later served in the Spanish–American War and World War I (as part of the 106th Regiment).
In the Civil War, the regiment was made up of a majority of abolitionists from the Brooklyn area. It was led first by Colonel Alfred M. Wood and later by Colonel Edward Brush Fowler. The 14th Brooklyn was involved in heavy fighting, including most major engagements of the Eastern Theater. Their engagements included the First and Second Battles of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. During the war, the men of the 14th Brooklyn were well known by both armies and throughout the country for their hard drill, hard fighting, and constant refusal to stand down from a fight. During their three years of service they never withdrew from battle in unorderly fashion.
On 7 December 1861, the State of New York officially changed the regiment's designation to the 84th New York Volunteer Infantry (and its unit histories are sometimes found under this designation). But at the unit's request and because of the fame attained by the unit at First Bull Run, the United States Army continued to refer to it as the 14th.[1]
The 14th Brooklyn received its nickname, the "Red Legged Devils", during the First Battle of Bull Run. Referring to the regiment's colorful red trousers as the regiment repeatedly charged up Henry House Hill, Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson yelled to his men, "Hold On Boys! Here come those red legged devils again!"[2]
In the early part of the war, when the 14th Brooklyn was in General Walter Phelps' brigade, the brigade was named "Iron Brigade". It would later to become known as the "Eastern Iron Brigade" after John Gibbon's Black Hat Brigade was given the name "Western Iron Brigade". At the conclusion of the war, all members of the "Eastern" or "First" Iron Brigade were given medals for their service within the Iron Brigade.
