My reponse was serious. I don't know the exact day they took on the name Iron Brigade, but it was probably late Dec. 62 or early Jan, 1863, after he had built his cavalry from a regiment into a brigade and started back to Arkansas. When Shelby recrossed the White River into Batesville, Ark early in March, 1863, they were known as the Iron Brigade at that time. How much earlier than that, I don't how long they had used that name. I'm sorry you didn't get the humor of the name Copper Brigade, but what I was saying was the name "Iron Brigade" was a very popular term or name during the war. There were Brigades on both sides of the war, North and South that were known as the "Iron Brigade". I'm sure it had something to do with being tough, strong and not giving in or up. What better name of a brigade can you use in 1861-65 to define toughness. "Copper Brigade" was niether a popular term or strong enough for a Brigade to use that name. Again sorry for the humor.