Wilder Brigade Tower

Erected in 1892, the monument tower to Colonel John T. Wilder's "Lightning Brigade" stands over 80 feet high with an observation platform that can be reached after ascending a spiral set of interior stone steps. Once the Confederates broke the Federal lines at the Brotherton Farm on September 20, 1863, other Union units were simply overwhelmed and were forced to vacate the southern parts of the battlefield. The men of Wilder's mounted infantry brigade witnessed the withdrawal and counterattacked on foot with 7-shot Spencer repeating rifles. In the process, they managed to force Southerners back toward the La Fayette Road. Wilder soon realized that his brigade was isolated and he withdrew to this higher ground to defend against more attacks. His force eventually fell back to the northwest to protect the retreating wagon trains of the routed Federal right.