The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-16
To thu Editor of The Journal.

I wish thru your paper to call the
attention Of the legislature and the
general public to a matter which seems
to me to be Of great Importance. /
!. We are just about completing, our
beautiful new capitol, and we have
arranged, I understand, with celebrated
artists for appropriate mural decora-
two, or three historical pictures pro-
vided for, but that the treatment of
some of the subjects is allegorical. L
have no doubt the results will be very
satisfactory; but I do not want the
fact to be overlooked that we have
made some history which we cannot
afford to overlook in this connection.
1t seems to me that nothing could be
more appropriate for the walls OF that
famous charge Of the First regiment of
Minnesota volunteers at the battle of
Gettysburg on the second of July, 1868.
A Remarkable Regiment. b.
The Minnesota First was remark
able regiment. While all the regiments
sent from Minnesota were fine and per-
formed great services, L think there
was no regiment that had SO warm a
place in the hearts of the people Of
the state as the Minnesota First.
War, and preparation for war, was
then a new sensation to all of our peo-
ly anything said or thought OF but the
organization OF this regiment. Gov
ernor Ramsey, who happened to be in
Washington at the time Of Lincoln s
first call for 900 troops, rendered a
regiment, and, l think, it was the first,
or very nearly the first, tender made
from state to the general govern
ment.
L am inclined to think that the
feeling OF us all toward our first born
is a little more tender and intense than
for those following. The Minnesota
First was Minnesota s first born in
the war and occupied a place in the
public mind a little different from the
reg ments sent later. = -. -..-
While l would not, for moment,
contrast unfavorably the makeup of
other regiments sent from the state, 1
will say that the First was composed
of most remarkable set of men. Com
ing from different sections of the state,
men; those who had come west at an
early period to fight the battle of life;
men earnest, aggressive and selfdepen-
| dent; men who had cut themselves off
from the greater comforts of the east
to make life struggle in new
country. 49,. 81.
I recall distinctly the formation
and organization of tins regiment and
its departure for the front. shall
never forget that bright April morning
when the Northern Light, the largest
and, finest steamer belonging to. the
Galena Il Dubuque Packet company,
came up from st. Paul to Fort Smell
ing to take en- board this regiment. 1t
was a most impressive scene, for there
had gathered at the. fort the relatives
and friends of the different companies,
parts of the state, to witness their de-
parture. .~s.->:.:. =, 80 ~-.. =.
j.: + can never forget the scene; never
forget the steamer, With flags and
streamers and her decks covered with
these gallant men with glistening arms,
as she sailed away amid cheers and
tears, bearing Minnesota s first contri-
button to the cause Of the union and
human liberty.
The regiment, reaching Washington,
was placed in the defenses around the
city, with the New York Irish regiment
on one side and the Main Second on the
other, at Fort Corcoran, where they re-
manned until about the time Of the first
battle of Bull Run.
In this battle the regiment took a
most conspicuous part. but with the
|
ments. A little later it was engaged
in the disastrous battle Of Balls Bluff
where it met with severe losses. The
Minnesota First was the only regiment
from the state in the Army of the
Potomac, all the other nine regiments
performing service in the west. ~.
~ A Long Battle Record.
From the battle Of Bull Run until
In Il of A IL
was scarcely an engagement or battle
in the east in which this regiment was
not present, conspicuous at all times
for bravery and great fighting quail:
ties. I have been told that there was
no regiment in the Army Of the Poto
mac that was in as many engagements
as the Minnesota First.
But what I especially wish to en-
phasize in this particular connection is
the part by this regiment at the battle
of Gettysburg, when the charge of the
End Of July was made, which. has chal
lenged the attention and admiration OF
the world. = q ..---... ~ t.-..---. F..
The facts, which I now relate, ]
have gathered largely from conyersa
Hefelfnger, Colonel Colville, and one
or two other members Of the regiment
who have been spared to us up to the
present time.
After a hard days march July 1
and we'll into the night, the regiment
reached the battlefield of Gettysburg or
the morning Of July 2, about daylight
After the usual order Of formation III
line, two companies were detailed fol
special service, leaving eight companies
under command of Colonel Colville
which were ordered to report as support
to Battery G., Fourth United States ar
tillery. It was about 10 0 CLOCK in thu
morning when it Joined the battery.
| The battery was in position on the
rear line about one-ha1f mile in tn,
rear Of our infantry, front line, beins
part of the Third Army corps, com
manded by General Sickles. The posi-
ton of the battery was a very import
ant one in case our troops in front shoult
be repulsed and driven back.
} About four or five CLOCK in TIN
} afternoon our entire front line CAV
way, and the victorious sconfederates
part of Longstreet's command, sweep
everything before them and rapidly ap
preached our position, with no othe
troops within supporting distance tina
could be brought up in time to meet th
: approaching lines of the enemy, bein.
one or two brigades, composing from
5000 to 5000 men.
: Heroic Gettysburg Charge.
"Just at this time General Hancocl
rode up. at full speed. Taking in tn
situation at glance, and seeing thu
weak condition Of the line, little con
n fused for the moment, but actin.
| prn,npf1x, no, ooHn1@ RI +Cn1ona1 G01vi1le