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

ment COl.l German m reply to, Governor
Ramsey's order stated that the order would be
obeyedo so soon as the companies
were fully armed and equipped. !" In notify
ing tho commandants at the posts named, he
also stated that it would probably require two
weeks to arm and equip the companies, before
thev could be cent on to relieve the Second
Infantry. Ameeting of the officers was held
and a series of resolutions, addressed to the
Governor, were adopted. suggesting the ac-
ceptance ofsix companies then organized, land
waiting to be called into SERVICE for the gar
risOn duty in place of their companies, and urg-
ing that the best interests of the regiment re-.
uuired that it should, at least for the time be-
inc, remain under the immediate supervision
of Its commanding officer, land be marched
to the post of duty and danger at the earliest
practical period" 1t was quite manifest that
the glowing anticipations OF brilliant cam
paigns and honorable service, in which our
first volunteers may have INDUCED were chill
ed and dwarfed by this prospect OF assignment
to home service. 1t was their first lesson In
the uncertainty of soldiers life and prospects
of service, which has been So often repeated
that we warrant the veterans have learned to
curb their anticipations and to expect nothing
before orders are received and not then till 1t
is too late for countermandmg. a.5
The First Roster.
After the letters and position in line had
been assigned to Companies, the first Roster
published was as follows:
FIELD AND STAFF. tl,,,.
Colonel-Willis A. German, of St. Panl
Lieut.. Christopher Miller, of st. Cloud.
Maior-Wm. II. Dixie of Faribault.
Adjutant-Wm. B. Leach, of Hastings.
Surgeon Jacob H. Stewart. of St. Paul
Asst. Surgeon-C. w. LeBoutillier, of St..
Anthony. t,''
LINE OFFICERS. ,.- aii d
Co. A-Capt. Alex Wilkin; list Lieut.. Henry
c. Coates I'd Lieut.. Charles Zeirenberg:-
Co. B-Capt. Carlyle A. Bromley; LIST Lieut..
Mark W. Downie; I'd Lieut.. Minor T. Thomas.
Co. Capt. VIM H. Acker; LIST Lieut. w.
B. Farrell; I'd Lieut.. Sam. Racquet.
Co.. D-Capt. H. r. Putnam 1st Lieut.. Geo.
H. Woods; I'd Lieut. Dewitt G. Smith,
Co. E-Capt. George N. Morgan; LIST Lieut..
John B. Gilfllan; I'd Lieut. George Pomeroy:
Co. F-Capt. VIM. Colville; 1st Lieut.. A.
Edwards Welch; I'd Lieut.; Mark A. Hoyt !,
s. Messick; I'd Lient. VIM. S. Smith.
Co. R-Capt. Charles P. Adams; let Lient.
Oren T. HAYES I'd Lieut.. VIM b. Leach.
Co. Capt. John H. Pell; 1st Lieut.. Joseph
Harley; I'd Lieut. Charles B. Halsey. /.
Co. K-Capt. Henry C. Lester; 1st Lieut..
Gustavus Holzborn; I'd Lieut.. Joseph Pertain.
The Three Years Call.
About this time the men and officers of the
regiment, expecting call from the Govern
ment to enter its service for three years, had
many of them concluded to respond to that call
whenever it should be made. As early as the
LIST of May there was a union of opinion in the
regiment in favor of extending the term of
service Upon the 9TH Of May Gov. Ramsey
received dispatch from the Secretary of War
stating that the government preferred to have
the regiment mustered in for three years or
during the war; before being sent forward. On
the 10th Gov. Ramsey ordered Col. German to
muster Unto the service of the United States.
without delay for the term of three years or
during the war, SO many of the officers and
privates as were willing to enlist for that
length of time" The same day Col. German,
in answer to a note of inquiry, was confirmed
by Capt Nelson, United States mastering Off
Ger, in his constituting of the language of the
order, to the effect that the regiment would be
mustered out Of service at the end of three
years or at the termination of the war if that
should happen within the three years. ID
Their RaiiOns st the Fort.
On the 18th of May it was stated in the Pr
oNEER that the amount of food cooked each
day for the regiment, included forty bushels of
potatoes. one hundred and ten pounds of but
ter, one barrel of dried apples, &c. The men
were Just from home, and the contractors,
sparing no exertiOns. as they said, were yet I'M
able. they acknowledged. to suit the palates
of all the men," 1t was, however, OF almost
daily occurrence that committees of ladies
from different towns Of the State, forward
ed to the Fort ample supplies of all manner
of table luXuries or delicacies for one company
or another. A good deal of sympathy was eX-
cited among the ladies of the State for the men
of the regiment, on account OF the coarse and
unwholesome food to which it was. said they
were limited, the dear souls cOald fully appre-
ciate the misery of male-kind whose stOmachs
are offended,-a from all the principal towns
of the State came liberal contributions of fish,
flesh and fowl, of pastry cakes, preserves and
fruit, and accompanied always with hearty ex-
pressions of mingled sympathy and admiration.
At this distance of time, we imagine the regi-
ment was abundantly supplied with good food,
but the men were not then recOnciled to the
want of home neatness and variety in table SER
vice. We presume that ct no time since have
their rations been more liberal in quantity OF
quality, or having SO much Of appetizing varie-
ty. But the "boys" had not commenced SOL
diering then-they were decidedly raw volun'
teers, II would be interesting now to compare
the phase of their first experience thus recalled
with the accomplishing and even cheerful en-
durance of all manner of aspirations at various
times, by these same men, since they became
connected with the Army of the Potomac. o.
Enlisting for Three Years.
On the 18th of May the work of re-enlisting
for three years was commenced at dress pa
rade. In one or two companies nearly all the
men re-enlisted-in others not more than half
These were at once mustered anew into ser
vice for the longer term. The next day two
hundred and four more of the men were mus
tered in for the long term, and officers were
detailed to recruit the ranks to the maximum
for three years service. There were some who
were not prepared to remain that long-they
were discharged as fast as new recruits came
| in to take their places. On the 25th of May il
was announced that the regiment had been re-
cruited to the maximum number with three
years men. aEN 80 e..
80 A Visit to So. Paul.
On the 18th of May Companies A. B, c. {
and E, under command of Col. German, and
accompanied by the field and staff officers O
the regiment visited st. Paul. On this occa
sion we first notice that the regiment was des
ignated by the City papers as the" First Reg
iment of Minnesota" Large crowds wer'
| gathered on the streets to witness their march
At the City Hall they were served by the Ia
dies with q lunch. In the afternoon they re
turned to the Fort ON the steamer Pemblna
The PIONEER said Of the regiment, In its &C
count of the visit: .iH. ~
"By this visit many of our citizens had an Oppor