The Saint Paul globe., 1896-08-30
4 FRESH FACTS ABOUT THE MEN
WHO RESPONDED TO THE COUN-
TRY'S CALL.
TIE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG
SHOWED THE BRAVERY AND TRUE
BLOOD OF THE NORTH STAR
REGIMENT.
HoxoRED ROLL OF THE DEAD.
Full story of the Organization and
It's PersonneI-Tts Conn
Iaanders.
Copyright 1886, by American Press Associa-
ton. Book RIGHTS reserved.(

Copyright. 1886, by American Press Associa-
ton. Book rights reserved)
mo more gallant deed is recorded in
history" was Gen. Hancock's tribute
to the First Minnesota for its forlorn
charge at Gettysburg July 2, 1868. IN
like many brilliant feat of arms, the
dash of the First Minnesota that day
was attended with the most palpable
evidences Of the struggle gone through.
Somebody got hurt, and the statement
may be verified by reference to the
roll Of honor at the close of this arti-
Gle
The regiment had a history before it
broke all records on the field "of des-
tiny" When the news reached Wash
irgton on Saturday evening, April IS,
1851, that Maj Anderson had agreed to
evacuate Fort Sumter next day, Gov.
Ramsey Of Minnesota, who happened
to be on a visit to the capital, hastened
to the war department and rendered
LOCO men to uphold the flag The offer
vas made known to President Lincoln
and accepted by him before he wrote
the call for 5000 men. Gov Ramsey
at once wired Lieutenant Governor
Donnelly to rally the volunteers. Dur
ing Sunday the 18th, the day of ex-
citement and doubt all over the country,
the armory at St. Paul was thronged
9th patriots, who eventually shoulder
% muslCets in Minnesota's First regi-
ment. Josias r. King, who during the
war rose from the ranks to the cap
taincy of Company G, signed his papers
that night and claims the honor of be-
Ing the senior volunteer in the United
States service in the civil war.
Recruiting went on rapidly all over
the state, and at the close of April ten
companies had reported at Fort Shell
ing for muster in. The companies were
formed in part from pre- existing
militia organizations, as their syno-
nyms indicate, as follows: The Pioneer
guards, Saltwater guards, ST. Paul
volunteers, Lincoln guards, st. An
thony Zouaves, Goodhue volunteers.
teers, Winona volunteers and the Fair
bault volunteers. Writing of the per-
sonnel Of these companies, Capt Will
lam Lochren, historian of the regi-
ment, says: Little personel examina-
ton of the men was necessary, as care
had been taken to enlist none who
had any personel defect. The men
were brawny and stalwart, of all pro-
fessions, trades and callings, having
many In the ranks who sought for no
Office, yet were well fitted by natural
ability, education and training to dis
charge well the duties of any position
civil or military. No uniforms were
provesied, fact which shows that the
militia was not on war footing but
the state furnished each man a blank
ct, pair Of socks and a red flannel
shirt. Those same red shirts played a
notable part at the first battle of Bull
hun, where many terribly bloody noses
were given all because of mistaken
identity The regiment covered itself
with glory that day and plainly
showed that all that was wanting for
q Gettysburg affair was the chance.
The First was on the Henry house
hill at Bull Run, where the desperate
lighting took place, and where, it must
be owned, some ephemeral regulations
vanished. The Minnesotans supported
the batteries Of Ricketts, and Griffin
when they were trying to hold the key
TO the field in the face of Stonewail
jackson, Bee, Barlow and the rest
When the batteries had chance to
sweep the Southerners from the field
with their well planted guns, the artil-
iefy chief told them to hold their fire,
for the supposed enemies were friends
The order was obeyed, and in mo-
ment. almost, the Confelerates at close
range moved down gunners, horses
and officers, ,wrecking the batteries and
Ieally decldlng the issue on that hill.
one OF the charging regiments from
Alabama wore red shirts, and that
doubtless led to some Of the confusion
as to friends and foes. The Minneso-
tans, however, knew that their own
red shirts covered no backs but their
own, and although appealed to by Con-
1ederateS, as well as warned by the
order to Federal gunners, they let
drive at red, gray and butternut alike.
They staid on the hill until the enemy
disappeared, and they themselves were
ordered to retire. When the survivors