St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-25

What Was Done by the North Star State
to Aid in the Suppression Of the
Rebellion.
The First State to Tender Troops to the
General Government The First '
Volunteer.
Men Who Differed the Various Min
nesota Regiments and Their
War Records.


nesota Regiments and Their
War Records.
BY GEN. r. W. JOHNSON.
Few states, if any. furnished as many
troops for the suppression of the Rebellion,
in proportion to population as did the state
OF Minnesota The thrilling scenes Of that
eventful period in our country's history are
| now 50 far back in the past that our young
| active business men know nothing about
them, except what they derive from history
| OF are told by the old, grizzly participants
in mat terrible and bloody struggle. The
valor of our troops was such, and they re-
Elected so much credit upon our state. that
the names of those who moulded them into
| splendid soldiers and did such gallant SER
vice with them. deserve to be referred to
occasionally. in order that those who enjoy
the blessings of restored Union
may know to whom they are
! indebted for this great privilege.
Minnesota furnished $4,000 men for the
war as follows: Eleven regiments of i'll
| fantry, one regiment of cavalry, one regi-
ment of mounted rangers, one regiment of
heavy artillery, three light batteries and two
independent batteries OF cavalry.
The First Minnesota volunteers was orig
inally organized with Willis A. German as
its colonel. He was promoted and sue
ceeded by N. j. T. Dana. Dana's promo
ton soon followed and Alfred Sulley was
appointed in his stead. Sulley remained
colonel only for short time whe he. too,
was appointed brigadier general. Then
came Col. George N. Morgan, who resigned.
and that gallant old soldier, Col. William
Colvlle. succeeded to the command of the
>,l 10
of the war.
H. p. VanCleve was appointed colonel of
the second regiment. and ON his promotion
was succeeded by James George, who not
veteranizing with the regiment, Judson w.
Bishop was appointed colonel. This was
the only regiment that served near me. and
the only one OF which have any personal
knowledge, and can say of its officers and
men that none Drawer were to be found any
where in the grand
ARMY OF THE UNION.
1t is the sincere prayer Of every right
thinking man in the country that war and
all it's train of dread concomitants may
never again disturb the quietude and pros
perity of this land of ours but should such
be the case may it be my good fortune to
be associated with the brave and noble Min
nesotians, who would, as in the past. be the
first to respond to their country's call.
The Third regiment had four colonies in
the order named: II. c. Lester, G. W.
Griggs, c. c. Andrews and Hans Mattson.
Lester surrendered his regiment at MUIR
freesboro. Notwithstanding the earnest
protest Of Capts. Griggs, Andrews, Hoyt
and possibly few Others For this Lester
| was dismissed and thereafter disappeared
from history" Then Griggs. a brave. gal
1o,,f f,I 4 L.
he remained in service would have worn
one or more stars, but his private business
imperatively demanded his attention and he
reluctantly resigned. He was succeeded by
G. G. Andrews, whose gallantry and SOL
dierly qualities soon won for him briga-
dier's commission. and Hans Mattson, a
good soldier. succeeded him.
Col. John B. Sanborn organized the
Fourth, and he handled it 50 ably that he
was soon called to the exercise of higher
and more responsible duties. He was sue
ceeded by John E. Tourtelotes.
The Fifth regiment was at first COM
manded by Rudolph Borgesrode,
but he soon resigned, and our
present worthy chief executive.
Lucius F. Hubbard. took command and
made most excellent regiment Of it. This
regiment did valiant service in the BATTLES
resulting in the capture of Mobile where
Gen. Hubbard was greatly distinguished as
| brave and able leader.
That thorough soldier and gentleman,
William Crooks. organized the Sixth regi-
ment and was succeeded by John T. Aver
i'll, a worthy successor to worthy man.
Steven Miller was the first colonel of the
Seventh. His successor was William r.
Marshall. whose gallant conduct in the bat
| tie of Nashville brought him and his regi-
| ment prominently to the notice of that
| grand old hero, Gen. George H. Thomas.
| The Eighth regiment was organized and
commanded by Col NJ. L. Thomas The
| Ninth regiment was mustered into the
service with Alex Wilkin as colonel. I
knew him well and
A BRAVE MAN,
better officer, more thorough gentleman.
never drew a sword or commanded regi-
ment of men. He was killed in the battle
of Guntoson, Mississippi. The Sixth was
commanded by James II. Baker, our silver
Tipped Jim Baker, who can fight battle or
make speech equal to any man in the state.
| The Eleventh regiment was organized and
commanded by our able chief justice, James
Gillian. and splendid body of men it was
under the careful training of its COM
mander. r. N. McLaren commanded the
cavalry regiment and handled it skillfully
and well. To look at him to-day one would
hardly suppose that he once belonged to the
rough service of the horse" but he did,
and he knew his duty and performed it
well. He was an earnest. faithful and at
tentive soldier. Samuel McPhial COM
manded the regiment of mounted rangers a
good body of men, which, under McPhail,
did good service. The three light batteries
were commanded by Hotchkiss, Jones and
Pfaender. Hotchkiss had splendid bat
terry which served near me. ''Od Hotch"
was at all times ready to let loose his dogs
of war upon the enemy and
no battle ever occurred near
him that he did not have a hand in it. He
was always to be found with his battery
where the battle ragged most furiously.
Jones and Pfaender were splendid officers
and their batteries. in efficiency and sol
dierly department. were second to none in
the entire army. The two independent
battalions of cavalry were commanded by
| A. B. Bracket and E. A. G.. Hatch. As
Bracket is now terror to all evil doors. so
he was then terror to all rebel organize
tons with which he came in contact. He
was a stranger to fear. active and enterpris-
| ing. No service was too, dangerous, no
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