The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-03-10
Second Minnesota Cavalry.
FORT SMILING, March 4, 1855


To tie Editor of tie Pioneer:
As your columns have always been open for
the communications of soldiers, I avail mysef
of the privilege to give your readers and friends
interested, q few facts of information concern.
ing the Second Minnesota Cavalry. This reei.
ment has been organized little over wear:
and since its organization has been employed
in frontier service The I'd Cavalry is entitled
to its full share of the honor Minnesota is 80
free to bestow on her faithful soldiers. Sepa-
veniences of camp life, with the continuous
monotony of garrison duty, often more irk.
some than campaign service in the field are
sacrifices common to all soldiers The soldier
who is faithful and obedient to orders, patient.
" enduring the privations of his lot with true
soldierly fortitude, is as much entitled to the
sympathy of friends and the generous consider
alton OF an approaching community as though
his service was performed farther south amidst
more powder and smoke. Six companies of
the I'd Cavalry under the command of Colonel
K. n. McLaren (whO Is everywhere the same
model gentleman and soldier) formed part of
the force led by Gen. Sully against the hostile
Sioux the past season. '-' ''
The march made by thatexpedition was prob
ably the longest, not the most toilsome ever
made by an organized military force into the
barbarous wilds of an unexplored country; and
those who endured the hunger and thirst, the
dangers and hardships of that campaign de-
serve long remembrance In Minnesota history.
The honor won for the State and nation on 30
many Southern battle-ields by the heroic sacri.
nee and valor of the other Minnesota regi-
ments is not claimed by the I'd Cavalry only to
the extent in which the veteran regiments are
represented in this. All of the Field and most
o. the Staff and Line officers with many of the
privates are veterans whose term of service
had expired, or whom disabling wounds and
falling health prevented from doing longer SER
vice south. Persons frequently Inquire why
the I'd Cavalry has not been sent South, slight
y insinuating that it might be favoritism Of
the Geaeral commanding the district or reluc-
tance on the part of the Regiment that resulted
in keeping it in idleness here In the State. I
am confident If the decision was submitted to
the Regiment whether to remain on the from.
tier or to 20 down to Dixie the coming season,
a large majority would say 60 South /; and the
only reason why the I'd Cavalry have not gone
South Is the very plain one that Uncle Samuel
show that this Regiment IS doing It's fuii share re
OF the work of running the military machine
~ in this department. The field officers are
employed as follows; Col. r. N. McLaren
President OF the District Court-martial al
Saint Paul; Lieutenant Colonel William
Pfaender commanding at Fort Ridgley
lSt MAJOR II. A. Rice, commanding at Fort
Smelling; I'd Major j. NJ. Thompson, member
Of court martial at st. Panl; Sd Major r. Fl.
Rose, commanding at Fort Wadsworth, Daco-
tab Territory. The staff officers are on duty at
the following posts: LIST Surgeon Daniels, Ad.
jutant Morrison and Chaplain Paine are with
the regimental headquarters at Fort Smelling,
also the reconnaissance staff and band regi-
mental Q. N. Williams, acting post @. M. at
Fort Abercrombie; regimentA Commissary
Whitney Is acting post Commissary at Fort
RidgleY; the ID Assistant Surgeon Is serving
as post surgeon at Fort Wadsworth. The sew
eral companies are serving as follows: CON-
pany A, at Fort Smelling, except detachment
serving on provost duty In LIE Sueur county,
under command of Lieut. Briley companies
B and G at Fort Wadsworth; company D at
Fort Smelling, except detachment at Fort
WadSworth, under command of Lieut. Smith
company z at Sank Center; company r at
Fort Ridgley company g garrisons the stock.
ades north Of Fort Ridgley; company b at
Fort Smelling; company garrisons the stock
AIDES south Of Fort Ridgley; company K at
company N is stationed in the Chippewa coun.
Headquarters at Chengwatonna. Capt. Jones,
Of company A, is on detached duty at st. Paul
serving as member of court martial; Captain
Bingham is on detached service at 81. Paul as
ordnance officer; Iieuts. Andrews and Meyer
are on duty with the convalescent detachment
at Fort Smelling. This description Of the man
ner in which we are employed should be con-
sidered as some evidence at least that the Sec
cond Cavalry is engaged in the stern business
Of war. ........ y. 8. PAlNE,
Chaplain Second Cavalry.