John Gibbon began his military career in the artillery, but soon found himself promoted to the rank of brigadier general; his men being the known as King's Wisconsin Brigade. Gibbon soon brought his own style and traning to the brigade, issuing black Hardee hats, and white leggings. His brigade saw action in several of the early battles of the Civil War, but in 1862 at The Battle of South Mountain, his men were likened to "fighting like iron" by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan; from then on referred to as The Iron Brigade.