This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel, and it's a pleasure to speak to Colonel Jeff McCausen.

The United States Army retired, the author Jeff McCawson, of the book Battle Tested, Gettysburg Leadership Lessons for 21st Century Leaders.

It is July 1st, 1863. John Reynolds commands three corps, the left wing of the Union Army. He identifies that Gettysburg up ahead of him is likely to be a major battle. He pushes in with his advanced marching corps. There is one particular unit that we now call the Iron Brigade.

It's made up of men from the Midwest, in particular Wisconsin.

That's what he has to throw into a battle where Buford's men are reeling back.

Now, Jeff, this is a tough one because John Reynolds is much admired.

You know Gettysburg Battlefield very well.

There's a statute to where he fell.

And yet, and yet, why was he so far up front, the commander of three corps?

That's a great question.

In fact, he was not only the commander of three corps, John.

He had been given, we call the military, operational command of that entire

left wing of those three corps. So in total, for operational purposes, he was in command of

25,000 union soldiers. They arrive on Gaysburg. As you said, they go to McPherson's Ridge with the

Iron Brigade. Reynolds has been decisively engaged, and they're now moving the cavalry out to the flanks,

and the Iron Brigade and the infantry are now taking over the centerpiece of the battle.

Reynolds moves well forward and begins to position individual regiments, and he gets to a certain

area where the Iron Brigade is, and there is about 840 men

from a regiment from Wisconsin.

Reynolds actually rides up, only guy now on horseback in that area amongst the Union

soldiers, and he says, forward men forward, for God's sake, drive those people from the

trees right there.

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