The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-19

then marched to the Winslow House and par
took of . dinner provided by the ladies' In
the afternoon they re turned to the Fort on the
steamers Northern Belle and Hawkeye State.
MA On the 18th, on dress parade at the Fort,
Capt Lester, accompanied by several gentle
men from Wlnona, on behalf of the ladies' of
that city, presented the regiment with ma.
tional flag inscribed with the name of the reg
iment. The flag was accompanied by letter
from the ladies of Winona, patriotic and en-
couraging. fpl7o aa erm
a'isn Details for Garrison Duty.
On the 25th, it was stated that four compa-
ries were under marching orders Companies
A and E for Fort Ripley, and Companies and
G for Fort Ridgley. On the 18th Companies
B and G, under command of Major Dixie, took
passage on the Frank Steele, to relieve Major
Patterns command of two companies of the I'd
Infantry. On the 29th Company A marched
for Fort Ripley, with wagon transportation suf-
fcient for men and baggage. Company = fol-
lowed few days after, and about the 10th of
June Companies G and D, under command Of
Lieut. Colonel Miller, marched for Fort Aber-
crombie. gun.
AT the Douglas 0bsequies. 'S5
On the 18th of June the regiment furnished
an escort of three companies for the Douglas
funeral ceremonies in st. Paul, the escort be-
ing returned to the Fort by the steamer Hawk
eye State. 80 .s-YHagoe 1gl dI.H .39H,e
- m. The Regiment Separated. s.I
Though the regiment being thus separated
and seemingly destined for inactive and inglo-
rious service at home. the public interest in it
for few days suffered rapid abatement. La
dies had visited the Fort every day, delegations
and committees, with clothing, sanitary stores,
and all manner of choice food. Steamboats,
had been placed at the service Of the regiment
for rides and excursions. The roads leading
to the Fort from each direction were daily
crowded with the carriages of visitors. The
st. Paul papers published columns each
morning of minute descriptions of the life at
the Fort. All this was suddenly stopped, and
for few days the men of the First were
scarcely heard Of The popular enthusiasm in
their behalf seemed to have ''played out"
I Ordered for Active Service.
But the tagging interest of the newpaperss
and citizens in the fortunes of the regiment
was aroused again to its greatest intensity by
the announcement that the regiment had been
ordered to Washington. Gov. Ramsey receiv-
ed the order on the 14th and at once commu-
nicated it to Col. German at the Fort, where
it was received at about 10 o'clock at night. 1t
was said that Colonel German shouted with
joy and was heartily joined by the other Off
GERS at headquarters. As the good news fast
spread to the companies, officers and men
rushed out in their night costume, to cheer
and scream hug each other, laugh and almost
cry-perpetrating all kinds of extravagant
freaks in their great joy. Messengers were
for the return of the attachments at Forts
Ridgeley and Ripley and of Lieut. Col. Miller's
command which was then en- route for Aber-
crOnbie. .s t.... .".
b.. . na Ready.
On the 10th. Col. German made requisition
for transportation, stating that the regiment
would be ready to leave on the morning OF the
22d. @
Off for Harrisburg.
On the morning of the 22d of June, all
the companies except A, which was yet at
Fort Ripley-wers embarked at Fort Smelling,
on the steamers War Eagle and Northern Belle.
At st. Paul the regiment was disembarked and
marched from the upper to the lower landing,
attended by a multitude of citizens. At the
lower landing the good-byes were said, hands
joined while the eyes filled with tears, and
trembling lips uttered the parting blessing. At
the towns along the river, the same scenes of
parting were repeated with the companies re-
cruited there. A part of the regiment going
by Prairie du CHEN and part by La Crosse, all
arrived in Chicago at p. NJ. OF the 23d. Dur
ing the night they started for Harrisburg, ciG
Pittsburg, and reached Harrisburg in thirty-six
hours from Chicago. Newspapers along the
line noted the splendid physique of the men.
At Chicago, crowds of spectators gathered in
the streets through which they marched, and
cheered them all along the march. They were
feasted and feted all along the route by the
railroad companies and the patriotic Union
ladies of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
and Pennsylvania. n..
To Washington.
From Harrisburg the regiment was ordered
to Washington and reached that city on
Wednesday, June 26th, at 101a p. NJ. Even at
that hour they were received with hearty cheers
by large crowd of citizens and soldiers drawn
to meet them by their band of music. The
first night the regiment was CHARTERED part in
the Washington Assembly rooms and part in a
church near by. The following day they en-
camped on Capitol Hill, about half mile back
of the Capitol. Here the regiment was put
through q severe daily routine of drill. Its
camp was visited by thousands, and it received
its full share of compliments from military off,
GERS. from correspondents and from the Wash,
ington city press. July LIST the regiment had
! its first experience of the rain storms Of that
| latitude, and may be said to have been fully
| introduced to the rough side of campaigning.
! 1t was, however, to extend its acquaintance in
that line till Virginia rain storm, wet blankets
add cold ground to sleep on, became to be re-
garded as only necessary annoyances not worth
| grumbling at fr ~
On the " sacred Soil.''
| The morning of the Sd Of July the regiment
broke camp in Washington, and early in the
-
mile back of Alexandria 10 Virginia, on the
sacred soil of the Mother of States, "-en-
tered upon the scenes of heroic enduradce and
brilliant achievements, which have made this
regiment honored in all the land and the pride
| of Minnesota We cannot delay longer for
narrating the experiences that accustomed the
men to their new life-that made veteran SOL
diers of the raw volunteers. We must pass by
the false alarms, wearisome marches, toilsome
routine duties, and even omit the friendly
visits to their camp, the compliments paid
them by distinguished military men, and their
associations with some Of those whose names
are most renowned in the history Of the past
three years. Henceforward we deal only with
| battles, emitting skirmishes and affairs. In
twenty pitched battles the Minnesota First has
had an active part and never once failed to
| plant its battle feg defantly in the face OF the
foe-never once dishonored the name Of Min
nesotian, by falling in their duty to the flag
and the Union. 80 "a .,.lt l-.....,..l
At this time the only change in the regi-
mental roster appeared to be that Rev: Ed
ward d. Neill had been commissioned Chap
lain of the regiment and that Lieut.. HOLSTER
had taken the place in Company = vacated by
| I iout Ni1Rl1o,, xuyhon tho rplriU1nnt mustered