History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 23

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 547

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After a few days in Washington, the regi- iment was sent to Alexandria, Virginia, where until the 16th of July it remained. On the. morning of that day it began with other troops of Franklin's brigade to movetoward the enemy, and that night encamped in the val- ley of Pohick creek, and the next day marched to Sangster's station on the Orange & Alexandria railroad. The third day Centreville was reached. Before daylight on Sunday, the 21st of July, the soldiers of the First regiment rose for a march to battle. About three o'clock in the morning they left camp, and after passing through the hamlet of Centreville, halted for General Hunter's column to pass. At daylight the regiment again began to move, and after crossing a bridge on the Warren- ton turnpike, turned into the woods, from which at about ten o'clock it emerged into an open coun- try, from which could be seen an artillery engage- ment on the left between the Union troops under Hunter, and the insurgents commanded by Evans.

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An hour after this the regiment reached a branch of Bull Run, and, as the men were thirsty, began to fill their empty canteens. While thus occu- pied, and as the St. Paul company under Captain Wilkins was crossing the creek, an order came for Colonel Gorman to hurry up the regiment.

The men now moved rapidly through the wood- land of a hillside, stepping over some of the dead of Burnside's command, and hearing the cheers of victory caused by the pressing back of the in- surgent troops. At length the regiment, passing Sudley church, reached a clearing in the woods, and halted, while other troops of Franklin's brig- ade passed up the Sudley church road. Next they passed through a narrow strip of woods and occupied the cultivated field from which Evans and Bee of the rebel army had been driven by the troops of Burnside, Sykes and others of Hunter's division.

Crossing the Sudley road, Rickett's battery un- limbered and began to fire at the enemy, whose batteries were between the Robinson and Henry house on the south side of the Warrenton turn- pike, while the First Minnesota passed to the right. After firing about twenty minutes the battery was ordered to go down the Sudley road nearer the enemy, where it was soon disabled. The First Minnesota was soon met by rebel troops advancing under cover of the woods, who supposed the reg- iment was a part of the confederate army.

Javan B. Irvine, then a private citizen at St. Paul, on a visit to the regiment, now a captain in the United States army, wrote to his wife: "We had just formed when we were ordered to kneel and fire upon the rebels who were advancing under the cover of the woods. We fired two volleys through the woods, when we were ordered to rally in the woods in our rear, which all did except the first platoon of our own company, which did not hear the order and stood their ground. The rebels soon came out from their shelter between us and their battery. Colonel Gorman mistook them for friends and told the men to cease firing upon them, although they had three secession flags directly in front of their advancing columns. This threw our men into confusion, some declaring they are friends; others that they are enemies. I called to our boys to give it to them, and fired away myself as rapidly as possible. The rebels themselves mistook us for Georgia troops, and waved their hands at us to cease firing. I had just loaded to give them another charge, when a

lieutenant-colonel of a Mississippi regiment rode out between us, waving his hand for us to stop firing. I rushed up to him and asked If he was a secessionist !' He said 'He was a Mississippian.' I presented my bayonet to his breast and com- manded him to surrender, which he did after some hesitation. I ordered him to dismount, and led him and his horse from the field, in the meantime disarming him of his sword and pistols. I led him off about two miles and placed him in charge of a lieutenant with an escort of cavalry, to be taken to General McDowell. He requested the officer to allow me to accompany him, as he desired my pro- tection. The officer assured him that he would be safe in their hands, and he rode off. I retained his pistol, but sent his sword with him." In an- other letter, dated the 25th of July, Mr. Irvine writes from Washington: "I have just returned from a visit to Lieutenant-Colonel Boone, who is confined in the old Capitol. I found him in a pleasant room on the third story, surrounded by several southern gentlemen, among whom was Senator Breckenridge. He was glad to see me, and appeared quite well after the fatigue of the battle of Sunday. There were with me Chaplain Neill, Captains Wilkin and Colville, and Lieuten- ant Coates, who were introduced."

The mistake of several regiments of the Union troops in supposing that the rebels were friendly regiments led to confusion and disaster, which was followed by panic.

SECOND REGIMENT.

The Second Minnesota Regiment which had been organized in July, 1861, left Fort Snelling on the eleventh of October, and proceeding to Louisville, was incorporated with the Army of the Ohio. Its officers were: Horatio P. Van Cleve, Colonel. Promoted Brigader General March 21, 1862. James George, Lt. Colond. Promoted Colonel; resigned June 29, 1864. Simeon Smith, Major. Appointed Paymaster U. S. A., Septem- ber, 1861. Alexander Wilkin, Major. Colonel 9th Minnesota, August, 1862. Reginald Bingham, Surgeon. Dismissed May 27, 1862. M. C. Toll- man, Ass't Surgeon. Promoted Surgeon. Timothy Cressey, Chaplain. Resigned October, 10, 1863. Daniel D. Heaney, Adjutant. Promoted Captain Company C. William S. Grow, Quarter Master. Resigned, January, 1863.

SHARP SHOOTERS.

A company of Sharp Shooters under Captain F. Peteler, proceeding to Washington, on the 11th,

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of October was assigned as Co., A, 2d Regiment U. S. Sharp Shooters.

THIRD REGIMENT.

On the 16th of November, 1861, the Third Reg- iment left the State and went to Tennessee. Its officers were: Henry C. Lester, Colonel. Dismissed Decmber 1, 1862. Benjamin F. Smith, Lt. Colonel. Resigned May 9, 1862. John A. Hadley, Major. Resigned May 1, 1862. R. C. Olin, Adjutant .- Resigned. C. H, Blakely, Adjutant. Levi Butler. Surgeon .- Resigned September 30, 1863. Francis Millipan, Ass't Surgeon .- Resigned April 8, 1862. Chauncey Hobart, Chaplain. - Resigned June 2, 1863.

ARTILLERY.

In December, the First Battery of Light Artil- lery left the State, and reported for duty at St. Louis, Missouri .

CAVALRY.

During the fall, three companies of cavalry were organized, and proceeded to Benton Barracks, Missouri. Ultimately they were incorporated with the Fifth Iowa Cavalry.

MOVEMENTS OF MINNESOTA TROOPS IN 1862.

On Sunday the 19th of January, 1862, not far from Somerset and about forty miles from Danville, Kentucky, about 7 o'clock in the morning, Col. Van Cleve was ordered to meet the enemy, In ten minutes the Second Minnesota regiment was in line of battle. After supporting a battery for some time it continued the march, and pro- ceeding half a mile found the enemy behind the fences, and a hand to hand fight of thirty minutes ensued, resulting in the flight of the rebels. Gen. Zollicoffer and Lieut. Peyton, of the insurgents were of the killed.

BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING.

On Sunday, the 6th of April occurred the battle of Pittsburg Landing, in Tennessee. Minnesota was there represented by the First Minnesota bat- tery, Captain Emil Munch, which was attached to the division of General Prentiss. Captain Munch was severely wounded. One of the soldiers of his command wrote as follows: "Sunday morning, just after breakfast, an officer rode up to our Cap- tain's tent and told him to prepare for action. * * * * * We wheeled into battery and opened upon them. * * * The first time we wheeled one of our drivers was killed; his name was Colby Stinson. Haywood's horse was shot at almost the same time. The second time we came into bat- tery, the captain was wounded in the leg, and his

horse shot under him. They charged on our guns and on the sixth platoon howitzer, but they got hold of the wrong end of the gun. We then lim- bered up and retreated within the line of battle. While we were retreating they shot one of our horses, when we had to stop and take him out, which let the rebels come up rather close. When within about six rods they fired and wounded Corporal Davis, breaking his leg above the ankle."

As the artillery driver was picked up, after be- ing fatally wounded, at the beginning of the fight he said, 'Don't stop with me. Stand to your guns like men,' and expired.

FIRST REGIMENT AT YORKTOWN SIEGE,

Early in April the First regiment as a part of Sedgwick's division of the Army of the Potomac arrived near Yorktown, Virginia, and was stationed between the Warwick and York rivers, near Wynnes' mill. Dur- ing the night of the 30th of May, there was a con- tinual discharge of cannon by the enemy, but just before daylight the next day, which was Sunday, it ceased and the pickets cautiously approaching discovered that the rebels had abandoned their works. The next day the regiment was encamped on the field where Cornwallis surrendered to Wash- ington.

BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS.

While Gorman's brigade was encamped at Goodly Hole creek, Hanover county, Virginia, an order came about three o'clock of the afternoon of Saturday, the thirty-first day of May to to cross the Chicahominy and engage in the battle which had been going on for a few hours. In a few minutes the First Minnesota was on the march, by a road which had been cut through the swamp, and crossed the Chicahominy by a rude bridge of logs, with both ends com- pletely submerged by the stream swollen by re- cent rains, and rising every hour.

About 5 o'clock in the afternoon the First Min- nesota as the advance of Gorman's brigade reached the scene of action, and soon the whole brigade with Kirby's battery held the enemy in check at that point.

The next day they were in line of battle but not attacked. Upon the field around a country farm house they encamped.

BATTLE OF SAVAGE STATION.

Just before daylight on Sunday, June the 29th, Sedgwick's, to which the First Minnesota belonged, left the position that had been held since the bat-

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OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

tle of Fair Oaks, and had not proceeded more than two miles before they met the enemy in a peach orchard, and after a sharp conflict compelled them to retire. At about 5 c'clock the afternoon of the same day they again met the enemy at Savage Station, and a battle lasted till dark. Bur- gess, the color sergeant who brought off the flag from the Bull Run battle, a man much respected, was killed instantly.

On Monday, between White Oak swamp and Willis' church, the regiment had a skirmish, and Captain Colville was slightly wounded. Tuesday was the 1st of July, and the regiment was drawn up at the dividing line of Henrico and Charles City county, in sight of James river, and although much exposed to the enemy's batteries, was not actually engaged. At midnight the order was given to move, and on the morning of the 2d of July they tramped upon the wheat fields at Har- rison's Landing, and in a violent rain encamped. MOVEMENTS OF OTHER TROOPS.

The Fourth regiment left Fort Snelling for Ben- ton barracks, Missouri, on the 21st of April, 1862, with the following officers:

John B. Sanborn, Colonel-Promoted brigadier general.

Minor T. Thomas, Lt. Colonel-Made colonel of 8th regiment August 24, 1862.

A. Edward Welch, Major-Died at Nashville February 1, 1864.

John M. Thompson, Adjutant-Captain Com- pany E, November 20, 1862.

Thomas B. Hunt, Quartermaster-Made captain and A. Q. M. April 9, 1863.

John H. Murphy, Surgeon-Resigned July 9, 1863.

Elisha W. Cross, Assistant Surgeon-Promoted July 9, 1863.

Asa S. Fiske, Chaplain-Resigned Oct. 8, 1864. FIFTH REGIMENT.

The Second Minnesota Battery, Captain W. A. Hotchkiss, left the same day as the Fourth regi- ment. On the 13th of May the Fifth regiment departed from Fort Snelling with the following officers: Rudolph Borgesrode, colonel, resigned August 31, 1862; Lucius F. Hubbard, lieutenant- colonel, promoted colonel August 31, 1862, elected governor of Minnesota 1881; William B. Gere, major, promoted lieutenant-colonel; Alpheus R. French, adjutant, resigned March 19, 1863; W. B. McGrorty, quartermaster, resigned September 15, 1864; F. B. Etheridge, surgeon, resigned Sep-

tember 3, 1862; V. B. Kennedy, assistant surgeon, promoted surgeon; J. F. Chaffee, chaplain, re- signed June 23, 1862; John Ireland, chaplain, re- signed April, 1863.

Before the close of May the Second, Fourth and Fifth regiments were in conflict with the insur- gents, near Corinth, Mississippi.

BATTLE OF IUKA.

On the 18th of September, Colonel Sanborn, acting as brigade commander in the Third divis- ion of the Army of the Mississippi, moved his troops, including the Fourth Minnesota regiment, to a position on the Tuscumbia road, and formed a line of battle.

BATTLE OF CORINTH.

In a few days the contest began at Iuka, culmi- nated at Corinth, and the Fourth and Fifth regi- ments and First Minnesota battery were engaged.

On the 3d of October, about five o'clock, Colo- nel Sanborn advanced his troops and received a severe fire from the enemy. Captain Mowers beckoned with his sword during the firing, as it he wished to. make an important communication, but before Colonel Sanborn reached his side he fell, having been shot through the head. Before daylight on the 4th of October the Fifth regiment, under command of Colonel L. F. Hubbard, was aroused by the discharge of artillery. Later in the day it became engaged with the enemy, and drove the rebels out of the streets of Corinth. A private writes: "When we charged on the enemy General Rosecrans asked what little regiment that was, and on being told said 'The Fifth Minnesota had saved the town.' Major Coleman, General Stanley's assistant adjutant-general, was with us when he received his bullet-wound, and his last words were, "Tell the general that the Fifth Min- nesota fought nobly. God bless the Fifth.'"

OTHER MOVEMENTS.

A few days after the fight at Corinth the Seo- ond Minnesota battery, Captain Hotchkiss, did good service with Buell's army at Perryville, Ky.

In the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., on the 13th of December, the First Minnesota regiment supported Kirbey's battery as it had done at Fair Oaks.

THIRD REGIMENT HUMILIATED.

On the morning of the 13th of July, near Mur- freesboro, Ky., the Third regiment was in the pres- ence of the enemy. The colonel called a council of officers to decide whether they should fight, and the first vote was in the affirmative, but an-

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THE SIOUX OUTBREAK.

other vote being taken it was decided to surrender. Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Griggs, Captains An- drews and Hoyt voted each time to fight. In September the regiment returned to Minnesota, humiliated by the want of good judgment upon the part of their colonel, and was assigned to duty in the Indian country.

THE SIOUX OUTBREAK.

The year 1862 will always be remembered as the period of the uprising of the Sioux, and the slaughter of the unsuspecting inhabitants of the scattered settlements in the Minnesota valley. Elsewhere in this work will be found a detailed ac- count of the savage cruelties. In this place we only give the narrative of the events as related by Alexander Ramsey, then the governor of Min- nesota.

"My surprise may therefore be judged, when, on August 19th, while busy in my office, Mr. Wm. H. Shelley, one of our citizens who had been at the agency just before the outbreak, came in, dusty and exhausted with a fifteen hours' ride on horse- back, bearing dispatches to me of the most start- ling character from Agent Galbraith, dated Au- gust 18th, stating that the same day the Sioux at the lower agency had risen, murdered the settlers, and were plundering and burning all the build- ings in that vicinity. As I believe no particulars regarding the manner in which the news were first conveyed to me has been published, it might be mentioned here. Mr. Shelley had been at Red- wood agency, and other places in that vicinity, with the concurrence of the agent, recruiting men for a company, which was afterwards mustered into the Tenth regiment under Captain James O'Gor- man, formerly a clerk of Nathan Myrick, Esq., a trader at Redwood, and known as the Renville Rangers. He (Shelley) left Redwood, he states, on Saturday, August 16th, with forty-five men, bound for Fort Snelling. Everything was quiet there then. It may be well to note here that one of the supposed causes of the outbreak was the fact that the Indians had been told that the gov- ernment needed soldiers very badly, that many white men had been killed, and that all those in that locality were to be marched south, leaving the state unprotected. Seeing the men leave on Saturday may have strengthened this belief. Stop- ping at Fort Ridgely that night, the Renville Rangers the next day continued their march, and on Monday afternoon arrived at St. Peter. Gal- braith was with them. Here he was overtaken by

a messenger who had ridden down from Red- wood that day, hearing the news of the terrible occurrences of that morhing. This messenger was Mr. - Dickinson, who formerly kept a hotel at Henderson, but was living on the reservation at that time. He was in great distress about the safety of his family, and returning at once was killed by the Indians.

"When Agent Galbraith received the news, Mr. Shelley states, no one would at first believe it, as such rumors are frequent in the Indian country. Mr. Dickinson assured him of the truth with such earnestness, however, that his account was finally credited and the Renville Rangers were at once armed and sent back to Fort Ridgely, where they did good service in protecting the post.

"Agent Galbraith at once prepared the dispatches to me, giving the terrible news and calling for aid. No one could be found who would volunteer to carry the message, and Mr. Shelley offered to come himself. He had great difficulty in getting a horse; but finally secured one, and started for St. Paul, a distance of about ninety miles, about dark. He had not ridden a horse for some years, and as may be. well supposed by those who have had experience in amateur horseback-riding, suf- fered very much from soreness; but rode all night at as fast a gate as his horse could carry him, spreading the startling news as he went down the Minnesota valley. Reaching St. Paul about 9 A. M., much exhausted he made his way to the capitol, and laid before me his message. The news soon spread through the city and created intense ex- citement.

"At that time, of course, the full extent and threatening nature of the outbreak could not be determined. It seemed serious, it is true, but in view of the riotous conduct of the Indians at Yellow Medicine a few days before, was deemed a repetition of the emeute, which would be simply local in its character, and easily quelled by a small force and good management on the part of the authorities at the agency.

"But these hopes, (that the outbreak was a local one) were soon rudely dispelled by the arrival, an hour or two later, of another courier, George C. Whitcomb, of Forest City, bearing the news of the murders at Acton. Mr. Whitcomb had ridden to Chaska or Carver on Monday, and came down from there on the small steamer Antelope, reaching the city an hour or two after Mr. Shelley.

"It now became evident that the outbreak was

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more general than had at first been credited, and that prompt and vigorous measures would be re- quired for its suppression and the protection of the inhabitants on the frontier. I at once pro- ceeded to Fort Snelling and consulted with the authorities there (who had already received dis- patches from Fort Ridgely) regarding the out- break and the best means to be used to meet the danger.

"A serious difficulty met us at the outstart. The only troops at Fort Snelling were the raw recruits who had been hastily gathered for the five regi- ments. Most of them were without arms or suit- able clothing as yet; some not mustered in or properly officered, and those who had arms had no fixed ammunition of the proper calibre. We were without transportation, quartermaster's or commissary stores, and, in fact, devoid of anything with which to commence a campaign against two or three thousand Indians, well mounted and armed, with an abundance of ammunition and provisions captured at the agency, and flushed with the easy victories they had just won over the unarmed settlers. Finally four companies were fully organized, armed and uniformed, and late at night were got off on two small steamers, the An- ' telope and Pomeroy, for Shakopee, from which point they would proceed overland. It was ar- ranged that others should follow as fast as they could be got ready.

"This expedition was placed under the manage- ment of H. H. Sibley, whose long residence in the country of the Sioux had given him great influ- ence with that people, and it was hoped that the chiefs and older men were still sensible to reason, and that with his diplomatic ability he could bring the powers of these to check the mad and reck- less disposition of the "young men," and that if an opportunity for this failed that his knowledge of Indian war and tactics would enable him to overcome them in battle. And I think the result indicated the wisdom of my choice.

"I at once telegraphed all the facts to President Lincoln, and also telegraphed to Governor Solo- mon, of Wisconsin, for one hundred thousand cart- ridges, of a calibre to fit our rifles, and the requi- sition was kindly honored by that patriotic officer, and the ammunition was on its way next day. The governors of Iowa, Illinois and Michigan were also asked for arms and ammunition.

During the day other messengers arrived from Fort Ridgely, St. Peter and other points on

the upper Minnesota, with intelligence of the most painful character, regarding the extent and ferocity of the massacre. The messages all pleaded earnestly for aid, and intimated that without speedy reinforcements or a supply of arms, Fort Ridgely, New Ulm, St. Peter and other points would undoubtedly fall into the hands of the savages, and thousands of persons be butchered The principal danger seemed to be to the settle- ments in that region, as they were in the vicinity of the main body of Indians congregated to await the payments. Comers arrived from various points every few hours, and I spent the whole night answering their calls as I could.

"Late that night, probably after midnight, Mr. J. Y. Branham, Sr., arrived from Forest City, after a forced ride on horseback of 100 miles, bearing the following message:

* * # * * "FOREST CITY, Aug. 20, 1862, 6 o'clock a. m.

His Excellency, Alexander Ramsey, Governor, eto .- Sir: In advance of the news from the Min- nesota river, the Indians have opened on us in Meeker. It is war! A few propose to make a stand here. Send us, forthwith, some good guns and ammunition to match. Yours truly,

A. O. SMITH.

Seventy-five stands of Springfield rifles and sev- eral thousand rounds of ball cartridges were at once issued to George C. Whitcomb, to be used in arming a company which I directed to be raised and enrolled to use these arms; and Gen. Sibley gave Mr. Whitcomb a captain's commission for the company. Transportation was furnished him, and the rifles were in Forest City by the morning of the 23d, a portion having been issued to a company at Hutchinson on the way up. A com- pany was organized and the arms placed in their hands, and I am glad to say they did good service in defending the towns of Forest City and Hutch- inson on more than one occasion, and many of the Indians are known to have been killed with them. The conduct and bravery of the courageous men who guarded those towns, and resisted the assaults of the red savages, are worthy of being commemo- rated on the pages of our state history."

MOVEMENT OF MINNESOTA REGIMENTS 1863. On the 3d of April, 1868, the Fourth regiment was opposite Grand Gulf, Mississippi, and in s few days they entered Port Gibson, and here Col. Sanborn resumed the command of a brigade. On the 14th of May the regiment was at the battle

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of Raymond, and on the 14th participated in the battle of Jackson. A newspaper correspondent writes: "Captain L. B. Martin, of the Fourth Minnesota, A. A. G. to Colonel Sanborn, seized the flag of the 59th Indiana infantry, rode rapidly be- yond the skirmishers, (Co. H, Fourth Minnesota, Lt. Geo. A. Clark ) and raised it over the dome of the capitol" of Mississippi. On the 16th the regi- ment was in the battle of Champion Hill, and four days later in the siege of Vicksburg.

FIFTH REGIMENT.

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History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 23

Author: Edward D. Neill Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 547

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 547