Chapter 11, from "History of Wabasha County" (MN-1884 book).

Chapter 11
ARMY
Pages 671-691

From the book about Wabasha County, Minnesota
"HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY"
Compiled by Dr. L. H. Bunnell
Published Chicago by H. H. Hill, Publishers, 1884
Republished Currently by Higginson Books

(See also The Great Rebellion ~ The American Civil War.
It is a combination of the following information plus that which Jerry Anderson
has compiled and published on the
Wabasha Co., MN Genweb site.)


FIRST REGIMENT

Wabasha county was well represented in the war of the rebellion, and responded nobly to the call for men. Although so young prior to these stirring events (the grandest in the history of the world), it furnished its full quota of heroes, who fought and bled for their country, returning in honor to their homes, or laid down their lives as martyrs in a glorious cause. It would not have seemed strange if many beheld the approach of that terrible conflict with indifference, and felt a want of patriotic ardor, that characterized older and more favored sections. But if all the facts could be set forth of public and personal sacrifice, of heroic devotion and persistent efforts by the people of this country, it would not only compare favorably with the most loyal communities of the land, but make a valuable contribution to the history of the state; and a careful and just recognition of the claims of each locality reflects great honor upon each neighborhood. In the beginning of the war, when no bounties were offered, and patriotism was the sole incentive to enlistments, many volunteers went from their homes to the villages which received credit for the names enrolled, so that when it was found necessary to order a draft, the claims of such localities were ignored, consequently the draft fell upon some communities already decimated by voluntary contributions. Next to our religion, the claims of country should undoubtedly receive our ardent attention, and it was this interest that caused the American people, irrespective of party or party interests, to respond so promptly, and sacrifice so mush in such a cause. But as citizens of the world, caring nothing for country or locality, or the welfare and prosperity of one state or section more than another, men would cease to be regarded as patriotic; and no matter how philanthropic they might regard themselves, without some special consideration for the country of our birth or adoption, and of its success and happiness, we should scarcely be considered good citizens.

The 1st regt. Minn. Vols. was mustered into service April 29, 1861, and it is a noteworthy fact that it was the first one tendered to President Lincoln upon his calls for troops after the attack upon Fort Sumter, April 19, 1861.

It was ordered to Washington, June 14, and participated in the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. In that memorable battle the regiment lost one hundred and eighty-nine men. The bravery of its officers and men in that engagement filled the whole country with admiration. Charge after charge was made, and still the Minnesota First stood its ground, every man proving himself a hero. The regiment participated also in the skirmish at Edward's Ferry, Maryland, October 22, 1861, guarding six miles of the Potomac in the battle of Yorktown, May 7, 1862; was in two engagements at Fair Oaks, May 31 and June 1; in battles of White Oak Swamp and Nelson's Farm, June 30, 1862; in the battle of Malvern Hill, July 31, 1862. In these last engagements the regiment lost, in killed, wounded and missing, ninety-one men. October 7, 1862, it took part in a heavy reconnaissance to Malvern Hill, also several severe skirmishes. August 30, 1862, it reached Centreville, Virginia, and acted as rear guard of Gen. Pope's retreat from Fairfax Court House to Chain Bridge; had several severe skirmishes; participated in battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862; the first siege of Fredericksburg, December 11, 12, and 13, 1862; the second Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863; also the fearful struggle of Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 1863, and was at Bristow Station, October 14, 1863. There is probably no regiment of the whole war that shows a better record than that of the heroic Minnesota First.

The following is a list of the men from this county enrolled in that regiment:

COMPANY I


Upon the first call of President Lincoln for troops, impromptu meetings were held all over the county, which resulted in the formation of a company for this regiment, known as Co. I, Capt. J. H. Pell, of Elgin. As this regiment passed down the river to its sanguinary struggle, the boat landed at the Wabasha levee for the purpose of giving the enlisted men of the county the privilege of a last look, to many, at home and friends, and a final "good-bye." The ladies of Wabasha, in anticipation of this event, had purchased a beautiful silk flag, assisted by several patriotic ladies of Lake City, which was presented to the company at that time. Capt. Pell received it in behalf of the company with an assurance that its colors should never be surrendered. He kept his word, and after passing through the bloody struggles of Bull Run, Antietam and the Wilderness, all tattered and torn, it was returned to the state and is now treasured with other glorious relics of those times, among the archives of the State Historical Society.

SECOND REGIMENT

The 2d regt. Minn. Vols. was organized in July, 1861. It rendezvoused at Fort Snelling until October, 1861, and was then assigned to the army of the Ohio. It was engaged in many battles, skirmishes and sieges, and was noted for its patriotism and the bravery of its men and officers. It participated in the battle at Mill Spring, January 19, 1862; was at the siege of Corinth, in April, 1862, and then transferred to the army of the Tennessee. Was at Bragg's raid, Perryville, October 8, 1862; participated in the skirmishes of the Tullahoma campaign; was at Chickamauga, September 19-10, 1863; at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863. This regiment was veteranized in January, 1864. Participated in the battles and skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign, namely, Resaca, June 14, 15 and a6, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864; Jonesboro; Sherman's march through Georgia and the Carolinas; was at Bentonville, March 19, 1865, and discharged at Fort Snelling, July 11, 1865. The following is a list of the brave boys who participated in the fortunes of this gallant regiment from Wabashaw county:

THIRD REGIMENT

The 3d Minn. Inf. Was organized in October, 1861; ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, in November, 1861, and to Nashville, Tennessee, in March, 1862. This regiment participated in the engagement at Murfreesboro, in July, 1862; were captured and there paroled; afterward ordered to St. Luis and thence to Minnesota, where they engaged in the Indian expedition of 1862, participating in the Wood Lake battle of September, 1862. Ordered to Little Rock, Arkansas, in November, 1863, and was veteranized in January, 1864. Was engaged in the battle of Fitzhugh's Woods March 30, 1864. Ordered to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in April, 1864, and thence to Duvall's Bluff in October the same year. This regiment was mustered out of service at Duvall's Bluff, September 2, 1865, and discharged at Fort Snelling.

Following is a list of men enlisted and recruited from Wabasha county:

FOURTH REGIMENT

Was organized December 23, 1861, and was ordered to Benton Barracks, Missouri, April 19, 1862; was assigned to the army of the Mississippi May 4, 1862, and participated in the siege of Corinth in April, 1862; was at Iuka on September 19, 1882; at Corinth, September 3 and 4, 1862; and was with Gen. Grant in the siege of Vicksburg, and fought bravely in the assault and capture, July 4, 1863. Participated in the skirmishes and battles of Forty Hills, Raymond, Jackson and Champion Hill; was transferred from the 17th corps to 15tth corps, and was at Mission Ridge November 25, 1863; was veteranized in January, 1864; at Altoona, in July, 1864; participated in Sherman's march through Georgia and the Carolinas; was at Bentonsville, March 20, 1865, and on July 19, 1865, was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky; discharged at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Volunteers for this regiment from Wabasha county were:

FIFTH REGIMENT

Was organized in May, 1862, and was ordered to Pittsburgh Landing May 9, 1862. A detachment of three companies remained in Minnesota to garrison some of the frontier posts, and were engaged with the Indians at Redwood, Minnesota, August 18, 1862. Were at the siege of Fort Ridgely, August 20, 21, and 22, 1862; also at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory, the last of August, 1862. The regiment was assigned to the 16th Army Corps; participated in the battles of Iuka, September 18, 1862; Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862; Jackson, May 14, 1863, and siege of Vicksburg; took part in the assault of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863; was at Mechanicsburg, June 3, 1863; was at Richmond, June 15, 1863; at Fort DeRussey, Louisiana, March 14, 1864; participated in the Red River expedition, March, April and May, 1864; was at Lake Chicot, June 6, 1864; at Tupelo, June, 1864, and was veteranized in July, 1864; was at Abbeyville, August 23, 1864, and marched in September, 1864, from Brownsville, Arkansas, to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and from thence by boat to Jefferson City, thence to Kansas line, and from thence to St. Louis, Missouri. Was ordered to Nashville in November, 1864, and participated in the battles of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864; was at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely in April, 1865, and was mustered out of service at Demopolis, Alabama, September 6, 1965. This regiment, next to the noble First, saw greater service and more hardships, and lost more men, than any of the other Minnesota regiments. The following is a list of the men from Wabasha county:

SIXTH REGIMENT

The 6th regt. Minn. Inf. Was organized in August, 1862, and was ordered immediately upon the Indian expedition on the frontier. A detachment of two hundred men were engaged in the battle of Wood Lake, September 22, 1862.

The regiment garrisoned frontier posts from November, 1862, until May, 1863, when ordered on the Indian expedition and engaged with Indians, July 24, 26 and 28, 1863. Again stationed at frontier forts from September 18, 1863, to June 5, 1864, when it was ordered to Helena, Arkansas. Ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1864, and then to New Orleans in January, 1865. Assigned to the 16th Army Corps, and participated in engagements of Spanich Fort and Fort Blakely in April, 1865. This regiment was discharged at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, August 19, 1865.

The volunteers from this county for this regiment are as follows:

EIGHTH REGIMENT

The 8th regt. Minn. Inf. Was organized August 1, 1862, and was stationed at frontier posts until May, 1864, when is was ordered upon the Indian expedition, and participated in the following skirmishes, battles and marches: At Tah-cha-oku-tu, on July 28, 1864, battle of the Cedars, Overall's Creek; ordered thence to Clifton, Tennessee, and thence to Washington; from Washington to Wilmington, North Carolina, and thence to Newbern; was in the battles of Kingston, March 8, 9 and 10, 1865. This regiment was mustered out at Charlotte, North Carolina, July 11, 1865, and was discharged at Fort Snelling.

Names of enlisted men from Wabasha county in this regiment are as follows:

NINTH REGIMENT

The 9th Minn. Regt. Was organized in August, 1862, and was stationed at frontier posts until September, 1863, when it was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri. From there it was ordered to Jefferson City, Missouri, and thence distributed among several posts in the interior of that state; ordered to St. Louis again in May, 1864, and from there to Memphis, Tennessee. This fine regiment engaged in the Guntown expedition in June, 1864, and was assigned to the 16th Army Corps, same month. Was at Tupelo in July, 1863, at Tallahatchie in Sugust, and in the Oxford expedition the same month. This regiment participated in the celebrated march in pursuit of Price, from Brownsville, Arkansas, to Cape Girardeau, and thence by boat to Jefferson City; from there marched to the Kansas line, and from that again to St. Louis. This regiment participated also in the battles of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15 and 16, 1864, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, in April, 1865, and was discharged at Fort Snelling, August, 1865.

The following is a list of volunteers to this regiment from Wabasha county:

TENTH REGIMENT

Record of 10th regt. Minn. Vols. is as follows: Was organized in August, 1862, and stationed at the frontier posts until June, 1863, when it was ordered upon Indian expedition. Participated in the engagement with the Indians upon the plains, on July 24, 26 and 28, 1863. Was ordered to rendezvous at St. Louis, Missouri, in October, 1863, and went from there to Columbus, Kentucky, in April, 1864; from there to Memphis, Tennessee, in June, 1864; and was assigned to the 16th Army Corps. Participated in the following battles, sieges, skirmishes and marches: in the battle of Tupelo, July 13, 1864; Oxford expedition, August, 1864; and marched in pursuit of Price from Brownsville, Arkansas, to Cape Girardeau; thence they went by boat to Jefferson City; from there to Kansas line and back to St. Louis, Missouri. This regiment participated in the battles of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15 and 16, 1864; was at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely in April, 1865, and was discharged at Fort Snelling, August 19, 1865.

The following is a correct list of names of volunteers from this county in that regiment:

THE 1ST REGIMENT MINNESOTA HEAVY ARTILLERY INFANTRY

Was organized in April, 1865, and was ordered to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it remained until mustered out of service in September, 1865, and was discharged at Fort Snelling.

THE 1ST BATTALION MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY

Was organized in October, 1861, and rendezvoused at For Snelling until ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, in December, 1861. From St. Louis it went to Pittsburgh Landing in February, 1862, and engaged in the following marches, battles, sieges and skirmishes: At Shiloh, April 5 and 6, 1862; siege of Corinth, April, 1862; at Corinth on October 3 and 4, 1862, and marched from Corinth to Oxford, Mississippi, and from Oxford to Memphis, Tennessee; was assigned in November, 1862, to the 17th Army Corps, and veteranized in January, 1864.

This battery was ordered to Cairo, Illinois, and from there to Huntsville, Alabama; from there to Altoona, Georgia, and from there to Ackworth, Georgia. Participated in the battle of Kenesaw Mount; was at Atlanta July 22 and 28; and was in Sherman's campaign through Georgia and the Carolinas.

Discharged at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, June 30, 1865, having been in active service three years and eight months. The following is a list of the volunteers for this battery from Wabasha county:

THE SECOND REGIMENT MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY

Was organized in January, 1864, and ordered upon Indian expedition in May, 1864; participated in the battle with Indians July 28 and August, 1864. This regiment was stationed at frontier posts until mustered out by companies between November, 1865, and June, 1866.

Enlisted men from Wabasha county as follows:

THE FIRST MOUNTED RANGERS MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY

Was organized in March, 1863. This cavalry was stationed among frontier outposts until May, 1863, when it was ordered upon Indian expedition, and participated in the engagement with the Indians on July 24, 26 and 28, 1863, and upon the return of the expedition was again stationed at frontier forst until mustered out. This regiment was mustered out by companies between October 1, 1863, and Decamber 30, 1863.

List of men enrolled from this county as follows:

BRACKET'S BATTALION MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY

Consisted originally of companies 1,2 and 3, and was organized in November, 1861. It was ordered to Benton Barracks, Missouri, in December, 1862. In April, 1862, the name of this regiment was changed to the 5th Iowa Cav.; was veteranized in 1864 and ordered to the department of the Northwest; was mustered out by companies between May and June, 1866. The men who engaged in this battalion from Wabasha county were:

THE INDEPENDENT BATTALION MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS

Was organized July 20, 1863, and stationed at Fort Abercrombie until mustered out of service by companies from April, 1866, to June, 1866. From Wabasha county there were only five enlistments, namely:

THE THIRD BATTALION ARTILLARY

Was organized in 1863 and ordered upon the Indian expedition, and upon the return of this expedition stationed at the frontier forst until mustered out of service February 27, 1866.

Men enlisted from Wabasha were:



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