Isaiah Williams: A Soldier of the Iron Brigade
Early Life and Enlistment
Isaiah Williams was born on February 28, 1837, in Perry County, Ohio. By 1861, at the age of 24, he was living in Franklin, Wisconsin, when the call to preserve the Union reached every town square and courthouse in the North. On June 1, 1861, Isaiah enlisted as a corporal in Company I, 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, one of the first units raised in Vernon County for the war. He mustered into service at Camp Randall in Madison on July 16, 1861, joining what would soon become one of the most celebrated formations in the Union Army—the Iron Brigade.
The Iron Brigade: Distinction in Battle
The Iron Brigade, comprised mainly of Midwestern regiments from Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, was known for its distinctive black Hardee hats and unmatched fighting spirit. Commanded at various times by officers such as Brigadier Generals Abner Doubleday, John Gibbon, and Solomon Meredith, it earned its reputation through unyielding courage in the fiercest engagements of the Eastern Theater. Isaiah’s regiment, the 6th Wisconsin, quickly became known for its discipline, endurance, and devastating losses on the battlefield.
The 6th Wisconsin spent its first year in defensive positions around Washington, D.C., performing picket duty along the Potomac near Georgetown, Chain Bridge, and Arlington Heights. These early months prepared the regiment for the brutal campaigns to come.
Into Battle: Gainesville, Bull Run, and South Mountain
In August 1862, Williams and the 6th Wisconsin were drawn into the Northern Virginia Campaign under General John Pope. They fought at Gainesville on August 28 and again the next day at the Second Battle of Bull Run, where the regiment endured heavy casualties. Out of 800 men, many were killed or wounded, and by the end of the day, not a single field officer remained uninjured. Despite the losses, the regiment held firm, retreating only when ordered and crossing Bull Run as one of the last Union units to leave the field.
In early September, the regiment followed General McClellan’s Army of the Potomac into Maryland. At South Mountain on September 14, 1862, Company I lost six men in fierce combat and buried them together the next day. The regiment had little time to mourn before it was ordered onward to Sharpsburg, where the war’s deadliest single day awaited them.
The Battle of Antietam
At dawn on September 17, 1862, Isaiah Williams took part in the Battle of Antietam, as the 6th Wisconsin advanced into the infamous Cornfield. The Iron Brigade formed the right of General Joseph Hooker’s First Corps, launching the opening assault against Confederate forces hidden among the cornrows and along the Hagerstown Pike. Within minutes, the 6th Wisconsin was under withering musket and artillery fire. Their second enemy shell exploded within Company I, killing or wounding thirteen men.
Isaiah was struck by a musket ball that pierced his right lung, a wound that would end his military career and shadow him for the rest of his life. The injury was so severe that he was evacuated to Boonsboro, Maryland, where he was treated at Ringer’s Hospital, a makeshift medical facility supported by the Wisconsin Soldiers’ Aid Society. Reports from the period list “Corp. Isaiah Williams, Co. I, 6th Wisconsin, Viroqua, Vernon County – right breast” among the wounded.
He remained hospitalized for six weeks, receiving care from local residents and volunteer nurses—women and older men who tended to the hundreds of wounded left behind after the terrible battle. When able to walk again, he was transferred to Frederick City and later to a convalescent hospital near Alexandria, Virginia, before being discharged on January 28, 1863, due to his wound.
Life After Antietam
Despite his injury, Isaiah’s devotion to service endured. In 1864 he attempted to reenlist with the 35th Wisconsin Infantry, but military doctors rejected him as unfit for duty due to the lingering effects of his lung wound. He later remarked that he had been “a constant sufferer ever since I received the wound.” His pension application, filed in 1878, confirmed both his perseverance and his lasting sacrifice—beginning at $2 per month and gradually increasing over time.
Legacy and Commemoration
After the war, Isaiah moved to Brown County, Kansas, and later to Corning in Nemaha County, where he became a respected community member. He joined the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Post No. 259 in Corning, an organization of Union veterans dedicated to remembrance and mutual aid. He also belonged to I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 424, reflecting his lifelong commitment to fraternity and service.
In his later years, Isaiah remained active in veterans’ affairs despite declining health. When he died on December 7, 1928, at age 91, the Corning Gazette described him as “a loving father and grandfather, a kind and helpful neighbor, always interested in the welfare of those around him.” Members of the G.A.R. and I.O.O.F. attended his funeral in uniform, honoring a man whose service embodied the sacrifice of the Iron Brigade.
Conclusion
Isaiah Williams’s Civil War story mirrors that of countless Midwestern volunteers who left their farms and families to defend the Union. As a soldier of Company I, 6th Wisconsin Infantry, he marched through the crucible of Gainesville, Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam, where his courage cost him his health but secured his place among the Iron Brigade’s heroes. His life after the war—marked by resilience, civic duty, and faith—stands as a quiet testament to the endurance of those who fought and bled in America’s defining conflict.
SOURCES:
Find A Grave
Isaiah Williams Veteran
Birth 28 Feb 1837
Perry County, Ohio, USA
Death 7 Dec 1928 (aged 91)
Nemaha County, Kansas, USA
Burial Corning Cemetery
Corning, Nemaha County, Kansas, USA
Plot 292
Memorial ID 60613776 ·
Civil War Veteran
Residence, Franklin, Wisconsin, age 24, enlisted on June 1, 1861, and mustered into Company I, 6th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry (Union). Enlistment Rank: Corporal
Wounded in Action (Gunshot wound) at Antietam, Maryland, on September 17, 1862.
Discharged for disability on January 28, 1863.
Invalid Pension filed on April 11, 1878 (Application No. 252640 and Certificate No. 155884).
Member of G.A.R. Corning Post No. 259 at Corning, Nemaha, Kansas.
Source: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion; Kansas, U.S., Enrollment of Civil War Veterans, 1889, Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic Post Reports, 1880-1940; U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934.
Inscription: Co. I.6.Wis
Family Members
Parents

Richard Williams 1810–1885

Elizabeth McDonald Williams 1815–1910
Spouse

Sarah Jane Stiles Williams 1849–1926 (m. 1871)
Siblings

Emeline Williams Oliver 1835–1920

Mary Alice Williams Davis 1839–1915

Louis N. Williams 1843–1870

Almyra “Myra” Williams Waller 1847–1936

Benjamin Franklin Williams 1850–1931

Albert Richard Williams 1854–1932
Children

Nona Ray Williams 1875–1953

Essie Kate Williams Noel 1877–1981

Emma B Williams Noel 1885–1978
Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin) 1 Oct 1862, page 1 on Newspapers.com
Army Intelligence,
List of Wisconsin Soldiers in Maryland Hospitals—Recent Deaths in the Hospitals in Washington and vicinity—Names of Wisconsin Soldiers buried near the late Battlefields.
To His Excellency, Hon. Edward Salomon—Governor of the State of Wisconsin.
Sir:—Herewith I send you a list of the names of Wisconsin soldiers now in the hospitals of Frederick, Middletown, Boonsboro and Keedysville, Maryland, as prepared by the Wisconsin Soldiers’ Aid Society; also, the names of Wisconsin soldiers buried in the vicinity of the battlefields of South Mountain and Sharpsburg, Md.; and also the names of such Wisconsin soldiers as have died in the hospital of Washington and Georgetown, D. C., and Alexandria, Va., since the 18th day of August, 1862.
Most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Norman Eastman,
Sec’y Wis. Sold. Aid Society.
Washington, D. C., Sept. 26, 1862.
Boonsboro, Md – Ringer’s Hospital
Corp. Isaiah Williams, I, 6th, Viroqua, Vernon Co. right breast
Vernon County Censor (Viroqua, Wisconsin) 27 Jan 1864, page 2 on Newspapers.com
Co. I, 6th Wis. Infantry
Were the first troops raised in Vernon County, for the War. The 6th Wisconsin, is second to none in the Iron Brigade, and Co. I, is second to no company in the Sixth Regiment.—The gallant and fire proved Iron Brigade, have nearly all re-enlisted (with the exception of the 24th Michigan, who have not served out one half of their time yet, under their first enlistment) and are therefore at home on furlough. All are looking finely, and enjoying themselves in high style. “Long may they wave,” and when they meet the traitor foe again, may it be with full ranks; and as to victory, they always win, nor can they be whipped while even a handful of them remain alive.
Lieut. E. M. Rogers, brother of the present Sheriff of this County, has politely furnished us with the following interesting history of his gallant Company:
Discharged for Wounds Received in Action
Private Isaiah Williams, Wounded at Battle of Antietam
Kansashistory.gov/genealogy/genealogy_fraternal_necrologies
Death Notices of Members of Fraternal Orders
Williams, Isaiah
death date 7 Dec 1928
Lodge: IOOF Lodge No 424 (Corning, Nemaha County, Kansas)
Wikipedia
Grand Army Posts of Kansas
Post Name: Corning post #259 Corning, Kansas
Story saved on Ancestry about Isiah Williams’ Civil War Record by maxnkit
Isiah Williams enlisted June 1, 1861 for three years during the war in Company “i”, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry. Captain Johnson was mustered into the U. S. Service July 16, 1861 at Camp Randall, Madison Wisconsin. Left the state soon after for the seat of war. Was ordered to Washintong, D. C., arrived there after some delay on the road, went into camp on the Kalorama Heights, done pickett duty along the Potomac above Georgetown for sometime then moved to Chain Bridge and from there to Arlington Heights on the old Lee farm, stayed there and did pickett duty for the winter (1861-1862). Broke camp and started to Manassass Junction with McClellan in the spring. Was under McClellan, went to Fredericksburg. Was there doing guard duty while McClellan was on the Penninsula Campaign, was in Popes retreat from the Rappahannock to Bull Run, was in some light skirmishes until August 28 when we intercepted Jackson’s Division, the brigade to which the Sixth attached, last in. Killed and wounded about 800 men. Our Regiment did not have a field officer left at the second Bull Run. We was so hotly contested. Our Regiment was the last to cross the bridge over Bull Run, was on the march into Maryland until the 14th, met the enemy at South Mountain, Maryland. Last in our company, six killed, buried them in one grave the 19th, was engaged in the Sharpsburg or Antietam battle, was wounded early in the engagement being on the skirmish line. Shot through the right lung, went into the hospital at Boonesboro, Md., was given the best of nursing by ladies and old men of the place and surrounding country. Was there about six weeks, got able to walk around some, was moved to Frederick City, was there some time, was sent from there to a convalescent hospital near Alexandria, Virginia. Was discharged from the service as I was not likely to be of service to the country, came home and in 1864 wanted to enlist again in the 35th Wisconsin but they wouldn’t take me. Was drafted and rejected. Have been a constant sufferer ever since I received the wound. Applied for and received a pension of $2.00 per month in 1878, have had it incresed twice since that time and now dra $8.00.
Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic Post Reports, 1880-1940
Ancestry.com
Roster of Corning Post No. 259 at Corning, Nemaha Co. Kansas
March 15 1910
Williams, Isaiah Privt Co. 8 6th Wis Inft Corning, Kansas
US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Ancestry.com
Name: Isaiah Williams
Enlistment Date – 1 Jun 1861
Enlistment Rank – Corporal
Muster Date – 1 Jun 1861
Muster Place – Wisconsin
Muster Company – I
Muster Regiment – 6th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type – Infantry
Muster Information – Enlisted
Casualty Date – 17 Sep 1862
Casualty Place – Antietam, Maryland
Type of Casualty – Wounded
Muster Out Date – 28 Jan 1863
Muster Out Information – disch disability
Side of War – Union
Survived War? – Yes
Injured in Line of Duty? – Yes
Residence Place – Franklin, Wisconsin
Title -Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion
The Wisconsin State Register (Portage, Wisconsin) 4 Oct 1862, page 2
Letter from Frank A. Haskel
Battle-field, Sharpsburg, Md.
Sept. 22, 1862
….
On the 15th we pursued, and overtaking the enemy across the Antietam creek, we skirmished with them as we did also on the 16th, they still retiring, but slowly, and fighting as they retired. But our forces were now collected—the enemy must be swept from Maryland or captured—and so on the 17th, at Sharpsburg, a little after daylight the great battle of the war, so far, opened, by Hooker’s attack upon the rebel left. Hooker was our extreme right, and King’s (now Doubleday’s) Division was Hooker’s extreme right. Our Brigade moved out to battle at a little after sunrise, and before we had moved a hundred yards toward the enemy, their second shell—the first just passed above our heads—dropped and exploded in the 6th Wisconsin, and killed or wounded thirteen men and officers—Capt. D. K. Noyes, of Baraboo, being among the latter. He has had his right foot amputated, saving the heel and ankle joint—is doing well, and will undoubtedly recover.
We moved on to battle, and soon the whole ground shook at the discharges of artillery and infantry. Gainesville, Bull Run, South Mountain, were good respectable battles, but in the intensity and energy of the fight and the roar of firearms, they were but skirmishes in comparison to this of Sharpsburg. The battle raged all day, with short intervals, during which, changes were being made in the disposition of troops. At night we were in occupation of almost all we had gained of ground; this was a good deal.
The enemy’s dead and wounded were nearly all in our lines. The slaughter upon both sides is enormous. All hands agree that before, they had never seen such a fearful battle. The loss of the Brigade was in killed and wounded 380—47 per cent. of the men engaged. The victory was complete, but not decisive. The 18th was consumed in maneuvering and ascertaining the position of the enemy, and on that night he skedaddled out of Maryland, leaving his dead unburied, his wounded uncared for, and a large amount of arms, and some guns, in our hands. About twenty stands of colors were captured by us—two by the 6th Wisconsin. The flag of the 6th received four bullets in the flag-staff, and some fifteen in the flag. That of the 2d Wisconsin, three bullets in the staff and more than twenty in the flag. We are now near the field. I hope you may never have occasion to see such a sight as it is. I will not attempt to tell you of it. But amid such scenes we are all cheerful, the men were never more so—victory in two hard, great battles, and the rebels out of Maryland, made us glad.
Through all these four battles which I have hinted at, I have been, and am unharmed. I cannot tell how any one could have survived; but we are alive, and I have the belief that He who controls the destinies of nations and men, has saved me, and will, unharmed, in many more battles. I have not been afraid of anything in battle. One does not mind the bullets and shells much, but only looks to the men and the enemy, to see that all is right.
US Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Ancestry
Name
Isaiah Williams
Side
Union
Regiment State/Origin
Wisconsin
Regiment
6th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Company
I
Rank In
Private
Rank Out
Corporal
Film Number
M559 roll 33
Kansas Grand Army of the Republic Bound Post Records, 1866-1931: Corning Post NO 259
Image 17
No. 56
Name: Isaiah Williams
Age: 61
Birthplace: Ohio
Residence: Corning
Occupation: Farmer
Entry into service: June 1st
Rank: Private
Company: *
Regiment: Wis 6th Infty
Final Discharge date: Jan 29 1863
Rank: Private
Co. I
Regiment: 6th Wis Infty
Length of Service 19
Caus of Discharge: gunshot wound
Date of Muster into GAR: Aug 27 1898
“Marriage Licenses,” Brown County World, 18 Jan 1872, page 2
Below we give a list of the marriage licenses ussied by D. K. Babbit, Probate Judge of Brown County, for the year ending Dec. 31st 1871
Isaiah Williams to Sarah J. Stiles
Corning Gazette (Corning, Kansas) 13 Dec 1928, page 2 on seneca.advantage-presrvation.com
OBITUARY
Isaiah Williams was born in Perry County, Ohio, February 28, 1837, and passed away at his home in Corning, Kansas, December 7, 1928, aged 91 years, 9 months and 9 days.
In the spring of 1855 he moved with his parents to Virginia, Ill., where he remained until 1869, when he came to Brown Co., Kansas.
October 30, 1871 he was united in marriage with Sarah Jane Stiles, near Padonia, Kansas. To this union three children were born: Ray, Essie (now Mrs. M. O. Noel), and Emma, all of Corning. The family came to Corning, Nemaha County, Kansas, in January, 1898, and have resided here since then.
Mr. Williams volunteered in Co. I, 6th Wisconsin Infantry, June 1, 1861; was in battles of Gainesville, Second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam. Here he received a musket ball through the right lung, September 17, 1862, which cut short his army career. He was discharged January 29, 1863, and came home. In 1864 he again tried to enlist in the 35th Wis., but was rejected on account of the wound.
He has been a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge for 38 years, and is also a member of the G.A.R.
He has been in failing health for some time but was confined to the house only ten days. He was a loving father and grandfather, a kind and helpful neighbor, always interested in the welfare of those around him.
His wife passed away October 9, 1926.
He leaves to mourn their loss three children, fourteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Myra Waller, of Norton, Kan.; two brothers, A. R., of Seattle, Wash., and B. F., of Milton, Oregon, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at the Methodist church Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock, the pastor, Rev. C. B. Denison, officiating, assisted by Rev. Smitherman, of Barnes, Kansas, formerly pastor here. Rev. and Mrs. Smitherman sang, “There’ll Be No Night There.” The choir, consisting of Mrs. Denison, Mrs. Smitherman, Mrs. Wm. Hilbert, Rev. Smitherman and Mr. Almy Werner, sang “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Going Down the Valley, One by One,” Miss Jessie Randall presiding at the piano.
The pall bearers were grandsons, Paul, Dale and Gordon Noel, Roger and Carl Williams, and Percy Alexander. The flowers were many and beautiful. Members of the I.O.O.F. lodge and the H.S. football squad attended in bodies. The I.O.O.F. had charge of the services at the Corning cemetery.
Corning Gazette (Corning, Kansas) 13 Dec 1928, page 4 on seneca.advantage-presrvation.com
Resolutions of Respect
In Memory of
Brother Isaiah Williams, who died December seventh, 1928.
Once again death hath summoned a Brother Odd Fellow, and the golden gateway to the Eternal City has opened to welcome him to his home. He has completed his work in ministering to the wants of the afflicted, in shedding light into darkened souls and in bringing joy into the places of misery, and as his reward has received the plaudit, “well done,” from the Supreme Master.
And Whereas, The all-wise and merciful Master has called our beloved and respected Brother home;
And Whereas, He having been a true and faithful Brother of our Mystic Order, therefore be it
Resolved, That Corning Lodge, No. 424, I.O.O.F., Corning, Kansas, in testimony of its loss, be draped in mourning for thirty days and that we tender to the family of our deceased Brother our sincere condolence in their deep affliction, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family.
E. L. Massey
F. L. Mills
J. E. Woodworth
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many friends who assisted us during the sickness and death of our dear father and grandfather. Especially to the members of the I.O.O.F. lodge, Rev. Denison, for his words of sympathy, and the singers.
Ray and Emma Williams,
Mrs. M. O. Noel
and Grandchildren.
Wisconsin 6th Infantry (Union) on Fold3
Overview
Muster
Muster In Date:Jul 16, 1861
Muster Out Date:Jul 2, 1865
Other
Leaders:
Bvt MG Samuel W. Crawford
Brigadier GeneralAbner Doubleday
Brigadier GeneralJames S. Wadsworth
Brigadier GeneralJohn Gibbon
Brigadier GeneralSolomon Meredith
CaptainEdward A. Whaley
CaptainLouis A. Kent
ColonelEdward S. Bragg
ColonelJohn Azor Kellogg
ColonelWilliam W. Robinson
Lieutenant ColonelEdward S. Bragg
Lieutenant ColonelRufus Dawes
MajorJohn F. Hauser
MajorRufus R. Dawes
battles
Name
Start Date
End Date
Duration
Place
Antietam
Sep 17, 1862
Sep 17, 1862
< 1 day
Sharpsburg, Maryland
National Park Service
Battle Unit Details
Union Wisconsin Volunteers
6th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Overview:
Organized at Camp Randall, Madison, Wis., and mustered in July 16, 1861. Left State for Washington, D. C., July 28. At Harrisburg, Pa., till August 3, then moved to Washington. Attached to King’s Brigade, McDowell’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. 3rd Brigade, King’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps, to August, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
Service:
Camp on Meridian Hill and duty in the Defences of Washington, D. C., till March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-16. Advance to Falmouth April 9-19. Duty at Falmouth and Fredericksburg till August McDowell’s advance on Richmond March 25-29. Operations against Jackson June 2-11. Reconnoissance to Orange Court House July 24-27. Reconnoissance to Frederick’s Hail Station and Spottsylvania Court House August 5-8. Thornburg’s Mills (or Massaponax Church) August 5-6. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Action at Gainesville August 28. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly , September 1 (Reserve). Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battles of South Mountain , Md., September 14; Antietam, September 16-17. At Sharpsburg till October 30. Advance to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 22. Battle of Fredericksburg, December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Belle Plain till April 27. Expedition to Heathville February 12-14. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. Battle of Chancellorsville, May 2-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg , Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap. Va., July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan till October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Haymarket October 19. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 4-June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness , May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12 Spottsylvania Court House , May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, “Bloody Angle,” May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 23. On line of the Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor , June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg, June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Weldon Railroad , August 18-21, 1864. Boydton Road , Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Lewis Farm , near Gravelly Run, March 29. Boydton and White Oak Roads March 30-31. Five Forks , April 1. Fall of Petersburg , April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Courthouse, April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Washington, D. C., May. Grand Review May 23. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 17. Mustered out July 2, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 16 Officers and 228 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 112 Enlisted men by disease. Total 357.
Perplexity
What can you tell me about Company I, 6th Regiment of the Wisconsin INfantry at Antietam?
Company I of the 6th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry participated prominently in the Battle of Antietam as part of the famed Iron Brigade. The regiment was heavily engaged during the fighting on September 17, 1862, particularly in the bloody action around the Cornfield, where they suffered significant casualties and took part in some of the fiercest combat of the day.wikipedia+1
Role at Antietam
The 6th Wisconsin went into Antietam immediately after fighting at South Mountain and had approximately 400 men present for duty at the start of the battle.battlefields
Commanded at various times that day by Colonel Edward Bragg (who was wounded early on), command fell to Major Rufus Dawes, just 23 years old, who personally led elements of the regiment in the battle.battlefields
The regiment advanced into Miller’s Cornfield, one of the day’s epicenters of violence, enduring heavy artillery and musket fire. The regiment split, with part under Dawes charging into the cornfield while the other part under Bragg moved into more exposed ground near the Hagerstown Pike.emergingcivilwar+1
Company I, as part of the regiment’s line, participated in this advance, suffering casualties in the intense volley fire from Confederate forces concealed in the corn and behind fences.emergingcivilwar+1
Casualties and Legacy
The 6th Wisconsin suffered 152 casualties at Antietam, including both killed and wounded, making it one of the hardest-hit regiments of the battle. Company-level breakdowns for casualties exist in regimental records but are typical of the losses suffered across each company that day.wikipedia
Company I soldiers were among those hit in the opening volleys by concealed Confederate skirmishers, with some members fallen before reaching the front lines, including notable incidents of soldiers dying side by side.emergingcivilwar
The Iron Brigade’s actions at Antietam solidified their reputation for discipline and bravery even amid overwhelming losses and brutal combat conditions.wikipedia+1
Notable Incidents
Captain Werner Von Bachelle, a notable officer within the regiment, was killed during the battle; his Newfoundland dog notably guarded his master’s body after his death in the chaos.battlefields
The regiment, including Company I, pushed through the Cornfield under withering fire, at times being reinforced by other Union units like the 14th New York Zouaves as gaps in their ranks were filled on the fly.battlefields
Contemporaneous descriptions recall men in Company I and their neighboring companies being struck down at point-blank range as they reached the edges of the corn, highlighting the ferocity of their advance and the closeness of the engagement.emergingcivilwar+1
The 6th Wisconsin, including Company I, played a central role in one of the Civil War’s most iconic and bloody clashes, earning a reputation that would endure through the remainder of the conflict.wikipedia+2
https://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/wisconsin/6th-wisconsin/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Wisconsin_Infantry_Regiment
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2365
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UWI0006RI
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/rufus-dawes-epicenter
https://historica.fandom.com/wiki/6th_Wisconsin_Infantry_Regiment
https://emergingcivilwar.com/2021/04/22/death-at-antietam-friends-to-the-end/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/421453448746196/posts/1761768604714667/
https://antietam.aotw.org/officers.php?unit_id=161
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333827440359540/posts/1676692449406359/
https://www.civilwarmonitor.com/article/rufus-dawes-civil-war/
Directory of SVBordinate Lodges, I.O.O.F.
KANSAS
Nemaha, 19 — Seneca
Oneida, 213 — Oneida
Goffs, 377 — Goffs
Baileyville, 405 — Baileyville
Corning, 424 — Croning
Centralia, 443 — Centralia
Kelly, 570 — Kelly
PErplexity.AI
What can you tell me about th eIOOF in the late 180s and early 1900s in Kansas
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) was a leading fraternal society in Kansas during the late 1800s and early 1900s, known for its role in community-building, mutual aid, and charitable work. Its lodges often served as the first permanent structures in new Kansas towns, not only hosting meetings but also frequently doubling as churches, schools, or government buildings.facebook
Origins and Expansion in Kansas:
The Kansas Grand Lodge was founded on March 16, 1858, while Kansas was still a territory, quickly expanding as settlers moved west.facebook
By the late 19th century, local Odd Fellows lodges were common, with 693 operating within the state. Lodges frequently were central gathering places and even housed other civic functions.facebook
Membership and Fraternal Support:
IOOF membership was open to men in good standing; the organization emphasized secrecy in its rites and offered substantial benefits to members, including support during illness, unemployment, and bereavement.waters.kinsleylibrary+1
Members contributed annual assessments (e.g., 50 cents in 1899, increased to $1 after a 1900 fire) that funded operations and charitable works.wikipedia+1
Social Welfare and Homes:
One of IOOF’s most significant Kansas contributions was its homes for orphans and the elderly—model institutions providing food, shelter, and education in a setting far superior to typical public almshouses of the era.belvoirwinery+1
Admission to these homes required continuous lodge membership, and residents participated in farm work, which helped support these facilities. For example, the Odd Fellows Home in Missouri raised large quantities of crops and livestock, serving around 52 adults and 111 children in 1912.wikipedia+1
Community Impact and Decline:
The Odd Fellows’ role as community organizers made them the largest fraternal organization nationally by 1896, with a strong Kansas presence.facebook
During the Great Depression and following the advent of government social programs in the 1930s, many fraternal organizations including the IOOF saw declining membership and influence.belvoirwinery+2
The IOOF shaped Kansas communities by providing mutual aid, a social safety net, and civic infrastructure at a time when government support was minimal. Local lodge buildings were often enduring symbols of that era. The order’s commitment to members’ welfare and charitable homes distinguished it from other societies, and its integration into daily life left a lasting mark across the state.
https://ksgenweb.org/archives/1912/o/odd_fellows.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2668480993310550/posts/2998544976970815/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows
https://www.gbtribune.com/news/local-news/ioof/
http://www.belvoirwinery.com/our-history
https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/9iuf3a/does_anyone_know_how_an_odd_fellows_home_worked/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nm8UpD28v4
https://waters.kinsleylibrary.info/69-odd-fellows-convene-in-kinsley-1912/
https://www.facebook.com/kansasgastronomist/posts/i-think-odd-fellow-hall-in-historic-delano-district-in-wichita-kansas-is-a-prett/594554419965081/
https://citylifestyle.com/articles/reintroducing-the-odd-fellows
http://genealogytrails.com/kan/jefferson/reference/odd.html
https://iooflodgedirectory.org/directory-index/index/kansas.html
Is the Rebekah Lodge connected to the IOOF or to the Masons?
The Rebekah lodge is directly connected to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), not to the Masons. The Rebekahs began as the female auxiliary of the IOOF and were formally established as the “Daughters of Rebekah” in 1851.okhistory+1
Membership was originally intended for wives and daughters of Odd Fellows, but it now also includes both women and men. The purpose and rituals of the Rebekahs are closely tied to the IOOF principles, focusing on community service, charitable work, and the values symbolized by the Odd Fellows (including the beehive, dove, and lily).facebook+2
By contrast, the Masonic fraternity has its own women’s and youth auxiliaries, notably the Order of the Eastern Star for women, which is distinct and unrelated to the Rebekahs.wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_of_Rebekah_Assemblies
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=FR007
https://odd-fellows.org/about/rebekahs/
https://oddfellowsguide.com/2017/09/22/the-odd-fellows-and-freemasons-different-paths-to-the-same-goal/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ioofcommunity/posts/1120108545332662/
https://www.lowellmuseum.org/odd-fellows.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows
https://www.srmml.org/a-daughters-of-rebekah-quilt/
https://www.butlerborough.com/documents/Museum%20Stories/Independent%20Order%20of%20Odd%20Fellows%20Museum.pdf
INdependent ORer of Odd Fellows on Kansapedia (kansashistory.gov)
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was one the oldest and more popular fraternal societies in the state. This society became official in the 17th century, but has roots back in the 13th century C.E. The order originated from worker guilds, in which workers of the same labor would band together to aid one another. In small towns, where there often weren’t enough workers of one type to build a guild, workers from various labors would ban together. These groups were the original “odd fellows” because they were made up of various odd laborers. Later in the 17th century, when guilds began to fade away, and industry made people less connected, some people wished to continue to have groups which would work to support its members. It was then that these groups also began adding service to the poor and orphaned to their activities.
On April 26, 1819, in Baltimore, Maryland, Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. With this the Odd Fellows had jumped the pond and were now spreading their altruism across the United States. The first Kansas lodge was organized at Tecumseh in 1857. In 1892, Ernest Valeton de Boissiere gave the buildings and property that had made up his Silkville colony to the IOOF for use as an orphans’ home.
On September 20, 1851 the Odd Fellows became the first national fraternity to accept male and female members. The Daughters of Rebekah was the female component to the odd fellows which focused largely on service. In 1906 a Rebekah’s lodge opened an orphanage near Manhattan, Kansas.