Which Union brigade captured Confederate general James J. Archer on July 1?

The Iron Brigade captured Confederate General James J. Archer on July 1, 1863. The encounter occurred during the first day of Gettysburg as Archer’s brigade attacked through Herbst Woods west of the town.

The Iron Brigade was a Union infantry brigade famous for its discipline and hard fighting. It included regiments from Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and its soldiers were recognizable by their distinctive black Hardee hats. Their counterattack pushed Archer’s Confederates back across Willoughby Run and captured hundreds of men.

Archer was personally seized by Private Patrick Moloney of the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry, a regiment in the Iron Brigade. Moloney escorted him behind Union lines, where Archer briefly encountered his former colleague, Union General Abner Doubleday. Archer became the first general officer from Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia captured after Lee assumed command.

The Irish Brigade is a common distractor because Patrick Moloney was Irish-born, but he served in the 2nd Wisconsin. The brigade responsible was therefore the Iron Brigade.