The National tribune., 1895-12-12


Tenders the sft-r of Minnesota Troops.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Tire Ii
Mimi services wrre offered and accepted
ArrIl Ia 1861. The date of their mu ter
into service for three years April %
l~6l, thus giving them the honor of being
the senior volunteer regiment in the United
STATES service IN he civil war.
Gov. Alex Ramsey was in Washington
when, on Sa urday night, April 13, the news
of the surrender of Fort Sumter was re-
ceived. Early the next morning he went
TO the War Department, finding Secretary
Cameron with his hat on and papers in his
hand. about 10 leave the office. Ramsey
told b m his business was simply, as Gov
ernor OF Minnesota, to tender 1000 men TO
defend the Government.
sit down." said the Secretary, land
write the tender you have made. as j am
now on my way 10 the Presidents Man
sion"
This was quickly done, and thus the
earliest tender of troops came from Mime
sofa. II was accepted, and on the next day
the Presidents cali Tor iroaps was published.
On that day Gov. Ramsey teegraphed
Lieut.. Gov. Ignatius Donnelly. advising
him of the offer and lis acceptance. and re-
guessing an lmmedia cal for volunteers.
Tins became known at St. Paul during
the day, aud at meeting of the Pioneer
Guards OF that city held on that evening at
it's armory the matter was discussed. and
several members signed paper agreeing to
enlist under the call
Josiss r. KIny, afterward Orderlv-Ser-
geant of Co. A, and after repeated promo
tions becoming Captain of Co. G of the LIST
Num-, WAS the first TO sign. and therefore
CLAIMS the honor of being the senior volnn-
teer IN the United States service in the civil
war. Here is the statistical record from
Fex's Regimental Losses:
First MIMI, HarroN's Brigade, Gibbons
Division. second Corps-(1) Col. Willis A.
German, Briuad ei-General; ~ Col. Ma
poeon J. Dana, Major-Generai; 90 Col.
Alfred Sully. Majai-GeDeral; (4) Col. Geo.
n. Morsan; 81 Col. William Coi,ille, jr..
Brevel Brigadiei General; t6) Col. Charles
7. Adams, Brevet BrIgadier General; (7)
Col. Mark w. Downle; 1S7 XII ed, IS per
cent. Total Of killed ana wounded, 5S5;
missing and captured, 136; died in Conied-
crate prisons previously included), 13.
Killed and NOR ally wounded at First Bull
Run, Va. As; Picket Va, Oct. %, 1861, ]
Goose Creek, Va, Oct. %, 1861, / Fair
Oaks, Va, 2; Picket. Va, June, 1862, /
Savage Station, Va, 10; Glendale, Va, /
Flint Hill, Va, Sent. i, 1862, /; Vienna.
Va, Sept. 2, 1862. 4; An'ietam, Md. 20;
Fredericksburg Va, i; Gettysburg, Pa,
rs; Bristoe Station, Va. 2; Petersburg, Va,
assault, 1864 3; Jerusalem Road. Va, 4
Siege Of Petersburg, Va, 5; Deep Bottom,
Va. 8: Ream's Station, Va, 2; Boydton
Road, Va, /.
Present also at York town, West Point,
Peach Orchard, Malvern Hill, Second Fred |
ericksburg, Mine Run, strawberry Pains, |
Ha,cher's Run, Farmville, Appomattox.
Fox also makes this statement: THE |
greatest regmental loss in any battle in pro-
portion to the number engaged, occurred ~ |
the ranks of the LIST MINI. at Gettysburg |
In that battle, on the afternoon Of the second |
day, the Coniederaies had broken through |
Sick iess ranks and were about seiziny an |
important position within the Union lines /
The only body OF troops at hand was the LIST |
NJ mn. Hancock, desiring TO impede the
enemy's advance until relnforcements could |
be brought up ordered ColyIlle to charge |
the advancing Confederate brigade with his |
regiment
Alone and unsupported it attacked them, |
drove them back, captured Their coiors. But |
ii was accomplished al terrible cost Of the |
eight companies engaeed-262 all told-2I5 |
were killed and wounded 1t is the largest |
percentage of loss recorded in the annals of |
modern warfare.
IT was in action again on the following |
day, its casualties al Gettysburg aggregating |
81 killed ard 173 wounded; total. 224 This |
regiment was o.ganized April 90, 1861, aud |
was the first in tie Union army TO be mus
tered IN for three years. 1t fought nj the |
first Bull Run, then in Franklin's Brigade.
Heintzelman'S Division
It's Casualties on that field were AZ killed.
1Oe wounded and 30 missing, the largest loss
sustained 10y any regiment there. 1t was
assigned soon after 10 the First Brigade, Sec
ond Division, Second Corps, in which il re-
NAMED during the seryice."-J. II. SrEGER.
COmpWollers Office ST. Louis, Mo.