Boys of 61

The following unit histories are brief summaries of each infantry unit that served from MInnesota. A complete history of all units as well as the units listed below may be seen under Civil War Links on the selection bar above. At that location we have the complete Volume #1 of Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars which includes company rosters of all units involved.

First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

Organization and early service:

The 1st Minnesota was the first state volunteer regiment formally tendered to the Federal government under Abraham Lincoln‘s call for 75,000 troops in 1861, being offered on April 14 for three months service, Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey happening to be in Washington at the time. It was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on April 29 and subsequently remustered for three years service on May 10.

The regiment suffered significant losses during its term of service in the Eastern Theater. At the First Battle of Bull Run, it took the heaviest casualties of any Federal regiment on the field, an unfortunate honor that it would hold in more than one battle. At the Battle of Antietam, the Minnesotans and their parent brigade, commanded by the regiment’s former colonel, Willis A. Gorman, were in General John Sedgwick‘s ill-famed assault on the West Woods, resulting in a Union rout from that part of the field. However, as always, the 1st Minnesota fought with courage and distinction.

The men of the 1st Minnesota are most remembered for their actions on July 2, 1863, during the second day’s fighting at Gettysburg, where the regiment prevented the Confederates from pushing the Federals off of Cemetery Ridge, a position that was to be crucial in the battle.

Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, commander of the II Corps, ordered the regiment to assault a much larger enemy force (a brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox) telling Col. William Colvill to take the enemy’s colors. The fateful charge bought the time needed while other forces were brought up. During the charge, 215 members of the 262 men who were present at the time became casualties, including the regimental commander, Col. William Colvill, and all but three of his officers.

The unit’s flag fell five times and rose again each time. The 47 survivors rallied back to General Hancock under the senior surviving officer, Captain Henry C. Coates. The 82 percent casualty rate stands second to only the 1st Texas Infantry regiment, which suffered 82.3% casualties at the battle of Antietam. The unit’s flag is now in the Minnesota Capitol’s rotunda.

Despite the horrendous casualties the 1st Minnesota had incurred, it continued the fight the next day, helping to repulse Pickett’s Charge. The surviving Minnesotans just happened to have been positioned at one of the few places where Union lines were breached during that engagement, and, as a result, charged the advancing Confederate positions one last time as a unit.

The monument to the 1st Minnesota at the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park bears the following inscription:

“

On the afternoon of July 2, 1863 Sickles’ Third Corps, having advanced from this line to the Emmitsburg Road, eight companies of the First Minnesota Regiment, numbering 262 men were sent to this place to support a battery upon Sickles repulse.As his men were passing here in confused retreat, two Confederate brigades in pursuit were crossing the swale. To gain time to bring up the reserves & save this position, Gen Hancock in person ordered the eight companies to charge the rapidly advancing enemy.The order was instantly repeated by Col Wm Colvill. And the charge as instantly made down the slope at full speed through the concentrated fire of the two brigades breaking with the bayonet the enemy’s front line as it was crossing the small brook in the low ground there the remnant of the eight companies, nearly surrounded by the enemy held its entire force at bay for a considerable time & till it retired on the approach of the reserve the charge successfully accomplished its object. It saved this position & probably the battlefield. The loss of the eight companies in the charge was 215 killed & wounded. More than 83% percent. 47 men were still in line & no man missing. In self sacrificing desperate valor this charge has no parallel in any war. Among the severely wounded were Col Wm Colvill, Lt Col Chas P Adams & Maj Mark W. Downie. Among the killed Capt Joseph Periam, Capt Louis Muller & Lt Waldo Farrar. The next day the regiment participated in repelling Pickett’s charge losing 17 more men killed & wounded.[1]

”

During the chaotic fighting that took place in the repulse of Pickett’s Charge, Private Marshall Sherman of Company C of the 1st Minnesota captured the colors of the 28th Virginia Infantry.^[2] Private Sherman received the Medal of Honor for his exploit. The flag was taken back to Minnesota as a prize of war and is kept but not publicly displayed at the Minnesota Historical Society. In the mid-1990s, several groups of Virginians threatened to sue the Society to return the 28th Virginia’s battle flag to the Old Dominion. However, the Minnesota Attorney General advised that such threats were without a legal basis and the flag remains in the possession of the Society to this day.

Cpl Henry O’Brien repeatedly picked up the fallen colors of the 1st Minnesota, and carried a wounded comrade back to the Union lines despite being knocked out by a bullet to the head and shot in the hand. He was awarded a Medal of Honor for his heroism.

The 1st Minnesota continued in the Army of the Potomac, serving later in 1863 in the Bristoe Campaign and the subsequent Mine Run Campaign. It was mustered out of service upon completion of its enlistment on April 29, 1864, at Fort Snelling. Enough of the regiment’s veterans reenlisted to form the nucleus of the 1st Minnesota Battalion of Infantry which returned to Virginia and served through the end of the war.[3] Other veterans provided officers for the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment.[4]

Casualties:

The 1st Minnesota Infantry suffered the loss of 10 officers and 177 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 2 officers and 97 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 286 fatalities.^[3]
Bull Run
Edwards Ferry
Fair Oaks
Savage Station
Glendale
Vienna
Antietam
Fredricksburg
Chancellorville
Gettysburg
Bristow

Colonels of the regiment:

• Colonel Willis A. Gorman – April 29, 1861, to October 1, 1861.
• Colonel Napoleon J.T. Dana – October 2, 1861, to February 3, 1862.
• Colonel Alfred Sully – February 3, 1862, to September 26, 1862.
• Colonel George N. Morgan – September 26, 1862, to May 5, 1863.
• Colonel William Colvill – May 6, 1863, to May 4, 1864. 

 

Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 2nd Minnesota Infantry was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and mustered in by companies for three years service beginning June 26, 1861 under the command of Colonel Horatio P. Van Cleve. Companies A and B mustered in June 26, 1861; Companies D and E mustered July 5, 1861; Companies F and G mustered in July 8, 1861; Company H mustered in July 15, 1861; Company I mustered in July 20, 1861; and Company K mustered in August 23, 1861.

The regiment was attached to R. L. McCook’s Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to December 1861. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, III Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Center, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XIV Corps, to October 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, XIV Corps, to June 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, XIV Corps, to July 1865.

The 2nd Minnesota Infantry mustered out of service on July 11, 1865.Dte Detailed service

Companies A and F sent to Fort Ripley on the upper Mississippi, Companies B and C to Fort Abercrombie on the upper Red River, and Companies D and E to Fort Ridgely on the upper Minnesota River, and garrison duty at these points until September 20, 1861. Regiment concentrated at Fort Snelling and left Minnesota for Louisville, Ky., October 14, arriving there October 22. Moved to Lebanon Junction, Ky., October 22, and duty there until December 8. Moved to Lebanon, Ky., December 8, 1861, and duty there until January 1, 1862. Expedition to Somerset January 1–18. Battle of Mill Springs January 19–20. At Somerset until February 10. March to Louisville, Ky., February 10–25, thence moved to Nashville, Tenn., February 26-March 2. Moved to Savannah, Tenn., and Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 20-April 9. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. At Corinth until June 22. March to Iuka, Miss., June 22–25, thence to Tuscumbia, Ala., June 27–29, and duty there until July 26. March to Athens, Ala., and Winchester, Tenn., July 26-August 7, thence to Dechard and Pelham Gap, Tenn., August 19–31, and to Manchester, Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tenn., September 1–7. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg September 14–26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1–20. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. March to Bowling Green, Ky., October 20-November 2, thence to Mitchellsville November 6–7. Guard Tunnel until November 23. Moved to Cunningham’s Ford, Cumberland River, November 23–25, and guard duty there until December 22, and at Gallatin until January 29, 1863. Moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., January 29, and duty there until March 2. Nolensville February 15. Moved to Triune March 2. Nolensville Ford, Harpeth River, March 4. Expedition toward Columbia March 4–14. Chapel Hill March 5. At Triune until June 23. Franklin June 4–5. Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Hoover’s Gap June 24–26. Occupation of Tullahoma July 1. At Winchester, Tenn., until August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga Campaign August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga, September 19–20. Rossville Gap September 21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23–27. Missionary Ridge November 24–25. Pursuit to Ringgold November 26–29. Regiment veteranized December 29, 1863. Veterans on furlough January 8 to April 9, 1864. Non-veterans on duty as provost guard at Division Headquarters until April 1864. Reconnaissance from Ringgold, Ga., toward Tunnel Hill April 29. Atlanta Campaign May l-September 8. Tunnel Hill May 6–7. Rocky Faced Ridge May 8–11. Battle of Resaca May 13–15. Guard trains May 21-June 2. About Dallas June 2–5. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11–14. Lost Mountain June 15–17. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Ruff’s Station July 4. Garrison duty at Marietta until July 13. Assigned as provost and depot guard at Marietta July 15-August 19. March to Atlanta August 19–20. Siege of Atlanta August 20–25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25–30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations in North Georgia and North Alabama against Hood September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Waynesboro December 4. Ebenezer Creek December 8. Siege of Savannah December 10–21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April 1865. Fayetteville, N.C., March 11. Battle of Bentonville March 19–21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10–14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett’s House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 30-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 14–20.

 Casualties:

The regiment lost a total of 281 men during service; 2 officers and 91 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 186 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders:

• Colonel Horatio P. Van Cleve – July 23, 1861 to March 21, 1862
• Colonel James George – May 15, 1862 to June 29, 1864
• Colonel Judson W. Bishop – March 5 to July 11, 1865

 

Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 3rd Minnesota was mustered in by companies at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, between October 2 and November 14, 1861, and was sent to Kentucky on November 14, 1861. It remained on garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee until most of the men were captured by Nathan Bedford Forrest at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on July 13, 1862. They were subsequently paroled and sent to Benton Barracks at St. Louis, Missouri, to await parole. Their commanding officer, Colonel Lester, and the other officers who voted for surrender were held accountable for the debacle at Murfreesboro and were dismissed from the service in December 1862.^[1]

The regiment was formally exchanged on August 27, 1862, and moved home to Minnesota, where it participated in the suppression of the Dakota War of 1862. In September 1862, it participated in Col. Henry Hastings Sibley‘s campaign against the Sioux, culminating in the defeat of the Indians at the Battle of Wood Lake on September 23. At the end of the brief campaign, the regiment returned to Fort Snelling to reorganize.

The 3rd Minnesota returned to garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee in January 1863 and remained there until joining in the Siege of Vicksburg until the surrender of the defenders on July 4, 1863. The regiment then participated in the campaign to capture Little Rock, Arkansas, from August 13 to September 10, 1863, and remained in garrison there after the fall of the city until April 28, 1864.

Enough of the soldiers of the regiment reenlisted in January 1864 to Veteranize it. Part of the 3rd Minnesota participated in an expedition up the White River to Augusta from March 30 to April 3, 1864, culminating in the Battle of Fitzhugh’s Woods on April 1, 1864. The regiment remained in various garrisons to the end of the war.

The 3rd Minnesota Infantry was discharged from service at Fort Snelling on September 16, 1865.

Casualties

The 3rd Minnesota Infantry suffered 17 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 4 officers and 275 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 296 fatalities.^[2]

Colonels:

• Colonel Henry C. Lester – November 15, 1861 to December 1, 1862.
• Colonel Chauncey W. Griggs – December 1, 1862 to July 15, 1863.
• Colonel Christopher C. Andrews – July 15, 1863 to June 13, 1864.
• Colonel Hans Mattson – June 13, 1864 to September 2, 1865.

 

Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 4th Minnesota was mustered into Federal service by companies at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, between October 4th and December 23rd, 1861, and moved to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri on April 23, 1862.

The 4th Minnesota participated in Maj. Gen. Henry Wager Halleck‘s advance on and Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, from May 18 to May 30, 1862. The regiment participated in Ulysses S. Grant‘s Central Mississippi Campaign from November 1862 to January 1863. Participation in Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign followed, with the 4th Minnesota fighting in the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1, 1863, the Battle of Raymond on May 12, the Battle of Jackson on May 14, the Battle of Champion’s Hill May 16, the Battle of Big Black River on May 17 and the Siege of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 4, 1863. The regiment performed garrison duty at Vicksburg followed the surrender, remaining at that location until September 12, 1863.

The regiment participated in the Third Battle of Chattanooga from November 23–27 1863, then was on garrison duty at Bridgeport and Huntsville in Alabama, until June 1864, having Veteranized during the spring of 1864. It participated in Sherman’s March to the Sea from November 15 to December 10, 1864, finishing the war during the Carolinas Campaign from January to April 1865 and then participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 24, 1865.

The 4th Minnesota Infantry was mustered out on July 19, 1865, and was discharged from service at St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 7, 1865.

Casualties

The 4th Minnesota Infantry suffered 3 officers and 58 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 3 officers and 175 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 239 fatalities.[1]

Colonels

• Colonel John B. Sanborn – January 1, 1862, to August 4, 1863.
• Colonel John E. Tourtellotte – October 5, 1864, to June 21, 1865.

 

Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 5th Minnesota was mustered into Federal service at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, between March 15 and April 30, 1862. The 5th Minnesota took part in the following battles and actions:

• Farmington, Miss., May 28, 1862 (Co. A)
• Redwood, Minn., Aug 18, 1862 (Co. B, Dakota Conflict)
• Fort Ridgely, Minn., Aug. 20-22, 1862 (Co.’s B & C, Dakota Conflict)
• Fort Abercrombie, Minn., Sept. 3-6, 1862 (Co. D, Dakota Conflict)
• Iuka, Miss., Sept. 19, 1862 (Co. A)
• Corinth, Miss., Oct. 4, 1862 (Co. A)
• Mississippi Springs, Miss., May 13, 1863 (5th Regiment from here on)
• Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863
• Assault on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863
• Sartaria, Miss., June 4, 1863
• Mechanicsburg, Miss., June 6, 1863
• Richmond, La., June 14, 1863
• Canton, Miss., Oct. 16, 1863
• Brownsville, Miss., Oct. 18, 1863
• Barton’s Station, Miss., Oct. 20, 1863
• Assault on Fort De Russy, La., March 14, 1864
• Henderson’s Hill, La., March 21, 1864
• Grand Ecore, La., April 2, 1864
• Compti, La., April 3, 1864
• Pleasant Hill, La., April 9, 1864
• Cloutierville, La., April 23, 1864
• Cane River, La., April 24, 1864
• Moore’s Plantation, La., May 3, 1864
• Bayou La Moure, La., May 6 and 7, 1864
• Bayou Roberts, La., May 7, 1864
• Mansura, La., May 16, 1864
• Bayou De Glaise, La., May 18 and 19, 1864
• Lake Chicot, Ark., June 6, 1864
• Tupelo, Miss., July 14, 1864
• Oxford, Miss., Aug. 21, 1864
• Abbeyville, Miss., Aug. 23, 1864
• Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15 and 16, 1864
• Fish River, Ala., March 24, 1865
• Capture of Spanish Fort, Ala., April 8, 1865
• Fort Blakely, Ala., April 9, 1865
• Garrison Duty at Montgomery, Selma, and Demopolis, Ala., until August, 1865

The regiment was mustered out on September 6, 1865.

Casualties

The 5th Minnesota Infantry suffered 4 officers and 86 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 4 officers and 175 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 269 fatalities.^[1]

Colonels

• Colonel Rudolph von Borgesrode – April 30, 1862, to August 31, 1862.
• Colonel Lucius F. Hubbard – August 31, 1862 to September 6, 1865.

Other noted individuals

• Thomas P. Gere, first lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient
• John Ireland Chaplain and Archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota

 

Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 6th Minnesota was mustered into Federal service at Camp Release and Fort Snelling, Minnesota, between September 29 and November 20, 1862.

It was mustered out in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 19, 1865.

Casualties

The 6th Minnesota Infantry suffered 12 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 4 officers and 161 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 177 fatalities.^[1]

Colonels

• Colonel William Crooks – August 23, 1862, to October 28, 1864.
• Colonel John T. Averill – November 22, 1864, to September 30, 1865.

 

Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 7th Minnesota was mustered into Federal service at Camp Release, Fort Snelling, and St. Peter, Minnesota, between August 16 and October 30, 1862.

It was mustered out in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 16, 1865.

 Casualties

The 7th Minnesota Infantry suffered 2 officers and 31 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 138 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 171 fatalities.^[1]

Colonels

• Colonel Stephen Miller – August 24, 1862, to November 6, 1863.
• Colonel William Rainey Marshall – November 6, 1863, to August 16, 1865.

 

Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 8th Minnesota was mustered into Federal service at Fort Snelling and St. Paul, Minnesota between June 2 and September 1, 1862. It first served guarding the frontier in the Dakota War of 1862, and in 1864 was ordered south where they fought in Tennesee, the Carolinas and elsewhere.

It was mustered out on July 11, 1865.

Casualties

The 8th Minnesota Infantry suffered 1 officers and 26 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 56 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 83 fatalities.^[1]

Colonels

• Colonel Minor T. Thomas – August 24, 1862, to July 11, 1865.

 

Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 9th Minnesota was recruited into Federal service at Camp Release, Hutchinson, Glencoe, Fort Ridgely, Fort Snelling and St. Peter, Minnesota, between August 15 and October 31, 1862.

It was mustered out on August 24, 1865.

Casualties

The 9th Minnesota Infantry suffered 6 officers and 41 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 3 officers and 224 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 274 fatalities.^[1]

Colonels

• Colonel Alexander Wilken – August 24, 1862, to July 14, 1864.
• Colonel Josiah F. Marsh – July 27, 1864, to August 19, 1865.

 

Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 10th Minnesota was recruited into Federal service at Garden City, Winnebago Agency, Fort Snelling and St. Paul, Minnesota, between August 12 and November 15, 1862.

The 10th Minnesota Infantry was mustered out on August 18, 1865.

Casualties

The 10th Minnesota Infantry suffered 2 officers and 35 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 4 officers and 111 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 152 fatalities.[1]

Colonels

• Colonel James H. Baker – November 17, 1862 to August 19, 1865.

 

Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The 11th Minnesota Infantry was recruited into Federal service at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, between August and September 1864. Its original term of service was for three-years.

The remaining men were mustered out on June 26, 1865, and discharged at St. Paul, Minnesota, on July 11, 1865. Casualties

The 11th Minnesota Infantry suffered 3 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 1 officer and 21 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 25 fatalities.^[1]

Colonels

• Col. James B. Gilfillian – November 3, 1864 to June 26, 1865.