The story of a regiment; being a narrative of the service of the Second regiment, Minnesota veteran volunteer infantry, in the civil war of 1861-1865

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Introduction

In response to the often repeated request of my comrades, now surviving, of the Second Minnesota Regiment, I recently promised to write a connected narrative of the service of the regiment from 1861 to 1865.

Having been the first man to be mustered into that regiment and the last man to be mustered out of it, and having served continuouslv in it from first to last, and having for more than half the term of service, had the responsibility of its administration, discipline and command, it should not be a difficult task for me to make a continuous record of all important events in its history. As moreover its services were always and everywhere honorable, efficient and satisfactory, it should be, and is, a labor of love to review and record them.

But amid the absorbing and varied cares of a busy life I have found it imjDossible to give to the work the continuous attention that is necessary to perform such work well, and I should not be satisfied with it now, if I could suppose that I should ever have the leisure time in which to improve upon it.

It is intended to be and I believe is, a faithful and truthtul record of facts and events, and as such

2 Introduction.

will be tested without discredit by the official reports and the diaries and letters of the time With less care in this respect, and with more freedom of invention and imagination, a more interesting and readable w^ar story could doubtless have been made of it.

In writing the story of the regiment the frecpient mention of names has been avoided. A great many of the seventeen hundred and eighty men who were members of it have well deserved personal mention for gallant and meritorious conduct, else the regiment as such could not have acquired its conceded high reputation, but it is obviously impossible to mention all, or some without omitting others equally worthy, and my comrades generally will, I trust, be content to claim the history of the regiment, which they helped to make, as their own, and be proud of it as they have a right to be.

A part of the record history of the regiment consists of such correspondence, official reports, orders and recommendations as would encumber the progress of the narrative if placed therein ; these are given in the appendix, usually in full, and from official sources. Some of them are now for the first time in print and all of them will be of interest to members of the regiment.

I had proposed to append also a complete roster giving the official military record of each and all the members of the regiment, but I find upon examination, that the only record thus far compiled is imperfect, erroneous and unsatisfactory. The compilation of a new and complete one from original rolls and records is impracticable within

Introduction. 3

the time at my command, and I am thus compelled to close the book without it.

This is less to be regretted, however, in view of the fact that the State has by law provided for the preparation of an official roster of all the Minnesota soldiers, of which every such soldier now surviving (or his representative if dead) is to receive a copy free of expense.

I am under obligations to comrades D. C. Wilson, Wm. Bircher and M. D. E. Runals for the use of their daily journals (1861 to 1865) which have been valuable references in locating events and dates.

The work, such as it is. Comrades, is now submitted in the hope that it will meet your kind approval and that it may revive, as you read it, your interest and pride in the memory of our regiment and of your service in and with it, as it has indeed revived mine to prepare the record for you.

J. W. BISHOP.

St. Paul, June, 1890.

CONTKNTS.

CHAPTER I. —Getting Into the Service 17

The war opens at Siimpter — The President's call for troops — Gov. Ramsey tenders a regiment — The executive proclamation — The Adjutant General's order — The militia companies — Company "A "holds a meeting — And volunteers — And is formally tendered — And accepted for the 1st regiment — Is afterwards left out as supernumerar3' — And awaits a call for a second regiment — Marching orders received — The company re-enlists for three years — Reports at Fort Snelling — Is mustered into the service — Marches to Fort Ripley — Other companies report and are mustered in — Field and staff officers are appointed — Regiment assembled at Fort Snelling — Preparations for going Soiith — Mrs. and Miss Van Cleve.

CHAPTER II.— Going TO the Wak...: 26

We leave Fort vSnelling— The march through St. Paul — Voj^age down the river — La Crosse — Chicago and the "Wigwam" — Our Pittsburg Reception — Orders changed — A voyage down the Ohio river — Louisville. Kentuck\r — A call on Gen. Sherman — A night ride to Lebanon Junction — Assigned to Gen. Geo. H. Thomas' division — Relieved b\^ 3rd Minnesota regiment-Ordered to Lebanon-Brigaded with other regiments — The mules and the wagoners.

CHAPTER III.— The Mill Springs Campaign 33 Our march out on New Year's day — Leaving

the "pike"— Rain, mud and discomfort— Only the

Index

top rail — Apple jack — Logan's cross roads — Topography — Assembling the troops — Out on picket — The night before the battle — The attack upon the pickets — Long roll in the camps — The battle opens — The 2nd Minnesota goes in — The fighting "through the same fence" — Killing of Bailie Peyton — A bayonet charge — Hon. Charles Scheffer — Death of Gen. Zollicofifer — The enemy routed — Our pursuit — Bivouac on Moulden's Hill — We occupy the enemy's camp next morning — Captured artillery, animals and stores — Battle flag captured by 2nd Minnesota — Killed and wounded.

CHAPTER lY.— Mill Springs to Shiloh 49

Return march to Louisville — Dr. Jackson's farm — A flag presented b_v the loyal ladies of Louisville — Voyage down the Ohio river to Smithfield — And up the Cumberland to Nashville — March from Nashville — Detention at Duck river — Rain, mud and night marching — Arrival at Savannah — By river to Shiloh— The battle field— Burial of the dead— Col. VanCleve promoted — Band mustered out — Halleck's arrival — Seige of Corinth — Evacuation, and pursuit of the enemy — Disappointment and disgust.

CHAPTER v.— Corinth TO Louisville 57

Our march eastward — Camp at Tuscumbia — Fourth of Juh' — Gov. Ramsej-'s visit — The "bugle band" organized— Florence— Sensational proceedings in church — " Kingdom Comin " — The plundering of Athens, Tennessee — The murder of Gen. Robert L. McCook — Company " C " 3rd Minnesota regiment — News of the Indian massacre in Minnesota — Lieut. Col. Wilkin appointed Colonel of 9th Minnesota regiment — March to Nashville — Bragg's army crosses the Cumberland — The race for Louisville — Seventy miles in three days — "Sink holes" and •'dough gods"— The battle of the apples— Cave

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Cit\^ — A hard march via Elizabethtown to the Ohio river at the mouth of Salt river — Steamers to Louisville — Orders relieving Buell issued and suspended.

CHAPTER VI.— The Perryville Campaign 69

Killing of Gen. William Nelson— Reorganization of of the army — Capt. Gilbert and Capt. Ga\' assigned to command over their seniors — We march out to find the enemy — A seventeen mile skirmish — The battle of Perryville — Our brigade ordered in at twilight — A startling experience — Comments on the battle — The pursuit to Crab Crchard — A cocky Inspector General — An arrest ordered and trouble promised — Crab Orchard via Lebanon, Cave Cit\' and Bowling Green to Mitchelville — Repairing the tunnel — Camp at Cunningham's Ford — Capture of new regiment.s — Gallatin, Tennessee — Proclamation of Emancipation — A lard mine — Ordered to rejoin the division.

CHAPTER VII.— Triune and Tullahoma 80

A vain chase after Wheeler's cavalry — Camp at the Battle farm — The Battle family — An inspection of the regiment — Col. George goes to Minnesota — A brilliant fight by our foraging party — Congratulatory orders — Good-b^' to the Battle family — An expedition to Harpeth river — A quick march to Chapel Hill — A fight and capture of prisoners — Encampment at Triune — Building fortifications — Our detail samples Gen. Steed man's whiske\' — We get Enfield rifles — Gen. Schofield succeeds Steedman, and Gen. Brannan succeeds Schofield in the command of the division — Brigade exercises — " Pup tents" issued — A grand review — A night march to F'ranklin — An inhospitable reception — Tullahoma campaign begins — A rainy da}- skirmish — .\n astonished surgeon — Hoover's Gap — Tullahoma captured — Fording Elk river.

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CHAPTER VIII.— The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga 91

Up the Cumberland mountains — An adjourned university — Battle Creek — Picketing the Tennessee river — Building rafts and scow^s — Crossing the river — Nic-a-Jack Cave — Crossing Racoon mountain — Lookout Valley — Lookout Mountain — Lee's Mill — A scrimmage at Pond Springs — The night march before the battle — That breakfast we never ate — The opening of Chicamauga — Our first day's battle — The stampeded brigade — Charge of the 9th Ohio — Desperate fighting of our brigade — Final repulse of the enem3' — Next da3^ in reserve — The skulkers — The wounded general officer — Ordered to the left flank — Fight with Breckenridge's division — Change of front under fire — Dispersion of the enemy — Snodgrass Hill — Gen. Thomas — A memorable afternoon — Our successful defense of the ridge — Withdrawal to Rossville at night — Every man accounted for — Our brigade commander's report — Heav}^ loss of our brigade.

CHAPTER IX.— Chattanooga and Mission Ridge 113

Establishing the parallel camps in line of battle — Scanty supply of food, forage and clothing — Our diversions "such as they were" — Skirmishing for fuel — The big guns on Lookout — Reorganization — Col. George is again compelled to leave us — Topography of Chattanooga — Enemy signalling over our heads — Opening of the "Cracker line" — Preparations for the grand battle — Hooker's battle above the clouds — Sherman's attack on Mission Ridge- Grand and successful assault on Mission Ridge by the Army of the Cumberland — Official report of our regimental commander — Movements of our brigade and of our regiment deployed in the front — Capture of the first line of breastworks — Our brigade commander commends the 2nd Minnesota — Comments on the battle.

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CHAPTER X.— Veteranizing 128

Return to Chattanooga — Burying the Chicamauga dead — Invited to reinlist — Discussion in the camps — Eighty per cent decide favorably, and are re-enlisted as veterans — The non-veterans are detached — The regiment starts for Minnesota — Steamers to Bridgeport— Box cars to Nashville-And thence to Louisville — The freedom of the city claimed and granted for the veterans — Our old muskets turned in — A memorable ride to Chicago — That breakfast at CrawfordsviJle — The sleigh ride from La Crosse to St. Paul — Hospitality of Winona people — Warm reception of the veterans at St. Paul — The veteran furlough — Public reception at Chatlield — Address bj' the regimental commander — Reassembling at Fort Snelling — Our entertainment by the ladies of St. Anthony — Return by stages to La Crosse — Col. George rejoins here and assumes command — By rail to Nashville — March thence to Bridgeport — Rejoin division at Ringgold, Georgia.

CHAPTER XL— The Atlanta Campaign 142

Stripping for work — Reconnoisance — The campaign begins^Tunnel Hill — Snake Creek Gap — Dalton, then Resaca, evacuated — Calhoun — Cassville — The 9th Ohio goes home — The famous "hundred days" — Intrenchinga line under fire — A battery comes into action— Lieut. Jones killed — Gen. Howard's account of it — Kenesaw motmtain — An unrestful camp — A moonlight march— A sad event — Col. George and our non-veterans mustered out — Unsuccessful assault of Davis' division — Kenesaw evacuated — Recruits arrive — Garrison duty at Marietta — Again to the front — More recruits — Back to Marietta — Post and Garrison duty — Again to the front — Battle of Jonesboro — Atlanta evacuated — Force and casualties report — An unpleasant history — Gen. Thomas requests the Governor to fill up the regiment — Lieut. Col. Bishop sent to Minnesota for the

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recruits — And returns — Hood's army in our rear and our pursuit — Silver horns for the band — Return to Atlanta.

CHAPTER XII.— The March to the Sea 156

The burning of Atlanta — Our march out eastward — Unbuilding the railroad — An unfortunate train — A resurrection — Howell Cobb's farm — Milledgeville — A provisional legislature — Repeal of the Ordinance of Secession — The foragers and their methods — No straggling allowed — A Methodist minister among the conscripts — "See that you fall not out b}^ the way" — After the enemy's cavalry — Rice with the bark on — A foraging expedition — Fort McAllister falls — Supplies from the fleet — Savannah evacuated — 40 days' mail — Irish potatoes — Christmas and fresh oysters — Chaplain Gleason — Grand review in Savannah — Our regiment ordered into the cit}^ — In charge of Central railroad grounds and property — Maj. Uline sent to Minnesota for recruits.

CHAPTER XIII.— Savannah to Raleigh 168

The campaign of the Carolinas — We leave Savannah — Sister's Ferry — Cross the river into South Carolina — Devastation of the country — Barnwell Court House — Destroying the railroad — Pontooning the river — The countr3'^ on fire — Burning of Columbia — Sunday work — The Catawba river — A precarious crossing — Hanging Rock battle ground — The Great Pedee river — Cross into North Carolina — A burning stream — Fayetteville — Destruction of the arsenal — Battle of Bentonville — Arrival at Goldsboro — An impromptu review— 60 days' mail at once — A militar^^ execution — An inspection — The band — Maj. Uline returns — Some promotions — News of Lee's surrender — Advance to Raleigh — State Insane Asylum — ^Johnston's surrender^Halleck's discoui"- tesy towards Sherman.

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CHAPTER XIV.— Richmond, Washington and Home. .181 "A comfortable and leisure^ march" — A race of the 14th and 20th corps — We cross into Virginia — Our arrival at Richmond — Forbidden to enter the city — Gen. Halleck proposes to review the 14th corps — Sherman countermands it — And orders our march to Washington — We "route step" through Riv;hmond — The Chicahominy — Pamunkey — Rapi dan and Rappahannock rivers — Bristoe station — Alanassas and Bull Run battle fields — Alexandria — The grand review in Washington — A magnificent military spectacle — Change of encampment — A visit and review^ by Gen. Geo. H. Thomas — Reorganization of our division — Col. Bishop assigned to command the 1st brigade — Voyage down the Ohio river — Encampment at Louisville — 20 days of suspense — Muster for discharge — Farewell orders and addresses by our division and corps commanders — By rail to Chicago and La Crosse — Steamer to Fort Snelling — A parade march at Winona — Grand reception at St. Paul — Encamp at Fort Snelling — Farewell address by the Colonel — Final payment and discharge — Dispersion of the men and "good-by."

CHAPTER XV.— Concluding Remarks 192

In the beginning, the inexperience of officers and men — Organization and duty by companies — The regiment becomes later the unit — Brigading by States — The soldier learns how to take care of himself—The evolution of discipline — To be always "present and ready" — Army transportation — "Pup tents" — Regimental Bands — Our "pioneer corps" — Recruiting the veteran regiments — Comparative inefficiency of new regiments — Average good ph3'sical condition of the old soldier— They have generally been successful in civil life — .\n;l ])artially because of their military experience and training— The Great Beyond.

Appendix

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No. 1. Adjutant (Teneral's order (State of Minnesota)

to captains of militia eompanies. April 17th, 1861.. .203

No. 2. Acceptance (telegram) of Company "A" by

Lieut. Gov. Ignatius Donnelly. April 22nd. 1861. ...203

No. 3. Acceptance (letter) of Company "A" b^' Lieut.

Gov. Ignatius Donnelly. April 22nd. 1861 203

No. 4. Order by John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General, to Company- "A" to turn over the arms and equipments for companies of the 1st regiment. April 26th. 1861 204

No. 5. Tender of "Chatfield Guards" as unconditional volunteers. May 4th, 1861 204

No. 6. Application of "Chatfield Guards" for reissue of arms and equipments. June 7th, 1861 204

No. 7. Orders from Ad,utant General's office to designate the post commander at Fort Snelling. June 26th, 1861 205

No. 8. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas' report transmitting a rebel flag, captured by 2nd Minnesota regiment at Mill Springs. Dated February 3rd. 1862 205

No. 9. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Col. Hi P. Van Cleve, commanding 2nd regiment Minnesota volunteers. Dated January 22nd, 1862 206

Index to Aftendix. 13

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No. 10. Official list of killed and wounded of 2nd Minnesota regiment at battle of Mill Springs. (12 killed and 33 wounded.) 207

No. 11. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Col. Robert L. McCook, commanding 3rd brigade, 1st division. Dated January 27th, 1862 208

No. 12. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Gen. George H. Thomas, commanding 1st division. Dated January 31st, 1862 211

No. 13. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans' order commending the 2nd Minnesota regiment (after inspection b\^ Capt. James Curtis ) as " worthy of imitation " 215

No. 14. Complimentary order by Col. Van Derveer, commanding 3rd brigade, commending the gallant conduct of Sergant L. N. Holmes and fourteen men of Compan3- "H" in repulsing an attack of rebel calvary. Dated F'ebruary, 1863 215

No. 15. Report (referring toNo.l4) of (jen.J. B. Steedman, commanding division. Dated Febru.'iry 15th, 1863 216

No. 16. Report of battle of Chicamauga, by Col. James George, commanding 2nd Minnesota regiment. Dated September 25th, 1863 216

No. 17. Official list of killed, wounded and captured of the 2nd Minnesota regiment at battles of Chicamauga. (Killed 35, wounded 113, captured 14; total loss, 162.) 219

No. 18. Supplementary report of Col. James George, commanding 2nd Minnesota regiment, commending certain officers and men, "for gallant and meritorious conduct." Dated September 3()th, 1863 223

N(j. 19. Report of battles of Chicamauga, by Col. F. Van Derveer, commanding 3rd brigade. Dated September 25th, 1863 225

14 Index to Appendix.

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No. 20. Col. James George recommended for promo tion 232

No. 21. Official list of killed and wounded of the 2nd Minnesota regiment in battles of Mission Ridge. (Killed 5, wounded 34.) 233

No. 22. Supplementary report of battle of Mission Ridge, by Lieut. Col. J. W. Bishop, commanding 2nd Minnesota regiment. Dated December 10th, 1863 235

No. 23. Report of battle of Mission Ridge, by Col. Van Derveer, commanding 3rd brigade 237

No. 24. Regimental promotions recommended by brigade, division, corps and department commanders. Dated July 14, 1864 241

No. 25. Official report of killed and wounded of 2nd Minnesota regiment in Atlanta campaign. (Killed 4, wounded 30.) 242

No. 26. Complimentarj^ letter from Gen. A. Baird, commanding division, to Hon. S. Miller, Governor of Minnesota, commending 2nd Minnesota regiment, and asking for recruits to fill up the regiment. 243

No. 27. Report of force and casualties of 2nd Minnesota regiment in the campaign of the Carolinas. (Wounded 2, captured 5.) Dated March 23rd, 1865.244

No. 28. Gen. Bishop attributes his brevet to Brigadier General to the gallant and soldierly conduct of the 2nd regiment 246

No. 29. The promotion twice recommended and requested by the corps and army commanders 247

No. 30. The 2nd Minnesota regiment reported ready for discharge and requests orders to Fort Snelling, Minnesota 248

No. 31. The Corps Commander's farewell address 249

Index to Appendix. 15

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No. 32. Orders to proceed to Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 250

No. 33. Roster of officers when regiment left Minnesota for the South, October, 1861 251

No. 34. Roster of officers when regiment veteranized, January, 1864 251

No. 35. Roster of officers at final muster out, July, 1865 252

No. 36. Various statistics of the regiment 253

No. 37. Reunion letters, (1887), from Col. H. V. N. Boynton, Col. F. Van Derveer, Gen. A. Baird and Gen. W. S. Rosecrans 254

Error — See page 58. Gov. Ramsey's visit to Tuscumbia was not on, but a few days after the 4th July, 1862.

THE

SECOND REGIMENT

MINNESOTA VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

CIVIL WAR OF i<S6i-i86;,

Chapter I. Getting Into The Service

The surrender iind evacuation of Fort Sumter on the morning of Sunda\% April 14th, 1861, was followed on Monday, the 15th, b}^ the President's proclamation and call for 75,000 men to serve three months.

In orders from the war department, these were apportioned among the several states not then in open rebellion, in ninety-four regiments of 780 men each, the remainder (1,680 men) to be contributed by the District of Columbia.

Hon. Alex. Ramsey, Governor of Minnesota, being then in Washington, immediately tendered the regiment required from this state, and an executive proclamation, signed by Lieut. Governor Ignatius Donnelly, was published in St. Paul, April 16th. It was accompanied by "Special Order No.

l8 The Story of the Second Regiment

1," Adjutant General's office, State of Minnesota, April 16th, 1861, by Wm. H. Acker, Adjutant General. This order called for one regiment of ten companies, each of 76 officers and men, and it provided that "the first ten companies so organized and "reported ready for service at this office bv their "respective captains will be received, provided that "the several militia companies already organized "will be entitled to the preference for the space of "ten days from this date, upon complying with "the foregoing requirements."

The said companies already organized w^ere named, including Company "A" of Chatfield, Fillmore county, of which the writer was captain, and seven others, located at Mankato, New Ulm, St. Anthony, Clear Water, St. Cloud, St. Paul, and Stillwater respectively. [Appendix No. 1.)

There were (in 1861) no railroads in Minnesota and no telegraph lines except the single wire from St. Paul along the river bank to LaCrosse, Wis.

The proclamation and special order, mailed on the 17th were received at Chatfield on the 19th, and published in "The Democrat," on the 20th, with a call for ,a special meeting of the enrolled members of the "Chatfield Guards," (Company A) to be held at the Armor\^ on Monday evening, April 22nd, to consider the call of the Governor for volunteers.

At this meeting, which was fully attended, the call w^as presented, with a brief address b}- the Captain ; and by a unanimous vote, he was authorized to offer the company and "to report it organized, armed and ready for marching orders."

This tender and report were forwarded by special messenger the same night to Winona, 35 miles, and thence by telegraph to the Adjutant General. (No copy of it can now be found.)

On the 24th, a telegram was received from Lieutenant (and acting) Governor Ignatius Donnelly, accepting the company and instructing it to await marching orders. This was the seventh company accepted for the first regiment, two companies from St. Paul, one from St. Anthony and three others preceding it, having received the call two or three days earlier. A letter confirming the telegram was received on the 25th. {Appendix Nos. 2 and 3.)

We were puzzled somewhat by observing that both telegram and letter were dated April 22nd, when our tender of service could not have reached St. Paul until the morning of the 23rd, but satisfied ourselves by presuming that they had actually been written on the 23rd and dated by mistake on the 22nd.

It appeared later that a bogus letter purporting to tender the company, with 63 men, "which number could be increased to the full standtird within thirtj^ days," had been sent on the 19th to the Governor by some person as yet unknown, who had forged the Captain's name thereto, and that the telegram and letter of acceptance by Lieut. Governor Donnelly were in fact in reply to this bogus tender of a partial company, while our genuine tender of a full company was not responded to until the 26th, when the following telegram was sent by Adjutant General Sanborn, who had in the mean time succeeded Acker, who had resigned to recruit a company, of which he was later commissioned captain :

"St. Paul, April 26th, 1861.

Capt. J. W. Bishop, Chatfield :

You will keep your ranks full if possible. Eleven full companies have already tendered their services, and if ten of these rendezvous here with full ranks your company cannot be received into this regiment. Some may not answer the order of rendezvous.

John B. Sanborn,

Adjutant General."

Meantime, the company, full to the maximum and with more than thirty supernumeraries, had been busily preparing for a prompt response to the expected "marching orders."

If surprised by the telegram, we were, if possible, more astonished by the arrival on the 29th of a special messenger from the Adjutant General's office, with an order for our guns and equipments, and the verbal information that the regiment had been made up bj' the acceptance of ten companies, which he explained were more conveniently accessible to the rendezvous at Fort Snelling, than ours. {Appendix No. 4.)

The disappointment and indignation with whi h the order was received did not prevent a piompt compliance with it, and the captain went to St. Paul with his guns and without his company.

The guns were received by the Adjutant General with expressions of appreciation of our promptness in volunteering and regret for our disappointment, but there appeared to be no redress then available, and the captain was obliged to return to his disarmed and disgusted company and dismiss the men

Minnesota Vokunteek Infantry 1861-1865. 21

with the promise that, if the war should last long enough to call for a second regiment, company "A" should not again get left at home.

After authorizing the offer of their services for any regiment thereafter required, the men went to their homes and resumed their ordinary employments. (Appendix Nos, 5 nnd 6. ]

A letter to Hon. H. M. Rice, then in Washington as senator from Minnesota, brought to the writer a kind reply and assurance that he should have the earliest possible notice of any further call for troops ; a promise which was faithfulW fulfilled by a telegram received at Chatfield in time to enable him to reach St. Paul a little before the call for a second regiment was received by the governor.

The company was again tendered and accepted, and the marching orders below quoted were requested and received on the spot.

"General Headquarters, State of Minnesota.

St. Paul, June 14th, 1865.

Special Order No. 5.

Capt. JuDSON W. Bishop, Chatfield, F'illmore county. Minnesota : You will report your company at Fort SncUing without delay, for the purpose of having the same mustered into the service and pay of the United States. \\y order of the Commander in Chief

John B. Sanhokn,

.Adjutant (Tcneral."

Similar orders were requested and obtained by Capt. Bishop for Capt. William Markham, who had a company organized in Olmsted county, which orders were carried bv him to Chatfield and sent by special messenger to Capt. Markham at Rochester, reaching him next day.

The war was fairly on now, and the call was for three years' men instead of three months. It required several days of active work to reassemble and reenlist, under the new conditions, enough of the men to make a full company of eighty-three men, the minimum now required. Yet it seems incredible, as we now look back upon it, that so many could and would divest themselves of all impeding business, social and family obligations and restraints, and commit themselves for three years to the then unknown hardships and perils of a soldier's life in time of active service.

When we remember that our then young State sent into the field during the war more than oneseventh of her entire population by the census of 1860, we appreciate the spirit with which every loyal heart responded to "The Union, it must, and shall be preserved."

The enlistments commenced at Chatfield on the 16th of June, and on the morning of the 22nd the company marched up the winding hillside road to the table land east of, and overlooking the village, and there halted for the final adieus.

None who were present will ever forget that hour and experience, and we need not try to describe them to others.

We arrived at Winona, traveling in wagons, the same evening, and Avent thence by river to Fort Snelling, arriving the next day, June 23rd, and on the 26th were mustered into the service of the United States, by Capt. A. D. Nelson, U. S. A., as

Minnesota You'xtkhr Infantry 1861-1865. 23

Company "A" of the Second Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and the writer was immediately assigned to the command of the Post. {Appendix No.'?.)

Captain Markham's company, which had arrived on the 24th from Rochester, was mustered in later in the same day (26th) as Company "B" of the same regiment.

Meantime other companies were being recruited, and during the next few days were mustered in successively, as follows: Company "C" from Dodge county, "D" from Ramsey, "E" from Nicollet, "F" from Washington, "G" from Ramsey and Brown, " H " from Blue Earth, " I " from Goodhvie, and '' K " recruited at large.

After being partially armed, uniformed and supplied. Company' "A" marched out from Fort Snelling on the 3rd day of July v/ith orders to garrison the post at Fort Ripley, 130 miles distant on the upper Mississippi river. This march was made wholly on foot, in seven da^^s, one wagon being allowed us for baggage and rations. This was our first experience on our soldier legs, and to many of the men it was a pretty tough one, but they all came through it in good condition and spirit. Company "F," Capt. John B. Davis, followed us a few days later to Fort Ripley, and Companies "B" and " C " went to Fort Abercrombie on the upper Red river, and Companies "D" and "E" to Fort Ridgely on the upper Minnesota river ; the other four companies remained at Fort Snelling, with Capt. A. R. Kiefer of Company "G" as the senior officer in command. Thus located, the next few weeks were devoted to drill and instruction of the men.