Information courtesy of the
Minnesota Civil War Commemoration Task Force
(www.mncivilwar150.com and “Minnesota Civil War 150” on Facebook)
Major Highlights for the Week
Wednesday April 8, 1863
Major General John McClernand’s Federal forces continued operations below Milliken’s Bend around New Carthage on the Mississippi River. In addition to preparing roads and bringing in supplies, skirmishing was frequent, including a brief fight at James’s Plantation.
Skirmishing occurred on the Millwood Road near Winchester, Virginia; and at St. Francis County, Arkansas.
President Abraham Lincoln reviewed portions of Major General Joseph Hooker’s Army of the Potomac at Falmouth, Virginia, across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg.
Thursday April 9, 1863
A day of small operations with skirmishes at Sedalia, Missouri; White River, Arkansas; Franklin and near the Obion River, Tennessee; Berwick Bay, Louisiana; Gloucester Point, Virginia; and Blount’s Mills, North Carolina.
Friday April 10, 1863
President Abraham Lincoln reviewed more troops at Falmouth, Virginia and then left Aquia Creek for Washington in the afternoon.
Confederate Major General Earl Van Dorn’s forces attacked Federals in Franklin, Tennessee, in a sharp engagement, but a counterattack forced the Confederates to withdraw.
Skirmishing occurred on Folly Island, South Carolina.
Saturday April 11, 1863
Scouts and skirmishes filled the day with action at Williamsburg, and on the South Quay Road near the Blackwater River in Virginia; near Pattersonville, Louisiana; La Grange to Saulsbury, Tennessee; Courtney’s Plantation, Mississippi; Webber’s Falls, Indian Territory; and near Squirrel Creek crossing, Colorado Territory.
In Utah Territory, an expedition by Federals against the Indians began from Camp Douglas to the Spanish Fork Canyon.
A half-dozen Federal blockaders managed to force the blockade-runner Stonewall Jackson ashore off Charleston, South Carolina.
Sunday April 12, 1863
President Abraham Lincoln received a letter for Major General Joseph Hooker proposing to outflank Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, opposing Hooker on the Rappahannock River. Hooker would move across the river, turn the Confederate left flank, and use cavalry to sever connections with Richmond.
Monday April 13, 1863
In the Department of the Ohio, Federal Major General Ambrose Burnside ordered the death penalty for anyone guilty of aiding the Confederates and also ordered deportation of Southern sympathizers to Confederate lines.
Tuesday April 14, 1863
Federal troops marched into evacuated Fort Bisland, Louisiana, on Bayou Teche. The Confederates burned two of their own gunboats and the former Federal gunboat, Queen of the West, veteran of so many engagements, was destroyed by Federal naval fire.
In the vicinity of Rappahannock Bridge, and at Kelly’s, Welford’s and Beverly’s fords, Virginia, cavalry of Major General Joseph Hooker’s Army of the Potomac carried out operations.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of April 8-14, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp near Falmouth, Virginia until April 1863.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Chapel Hill, Tennessee until June 4, 1863.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Heiman, Kentucky until June 2, 1863.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On the march to Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Duckport, Louisiana until April 29, 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Camp Pope near Iowa City, Iowa until June 16, 1863.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Mankato and other points in Minnesota until June 1863.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On frontier duty at various points in Minnesota: Anoka, Princeton, Monticello, Kingston, Manannah, Paynesville, Fort Ripley, Sauk Center, Pomme de Terre, Alexandria and Fort Abercrombie until May 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in various frontier Minnesota communities until June 1863.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Regiment on detached service for garrison duty at various outposts in frontier Minnesota until June 1863.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Organized at St. Cloud, St. Peter and Fort Snelling for frontier duty against Indians until June 1863.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On duty at Fort Donelson, Tennessee until June 5, 1863.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On duty at Lake Providence, Louisiana until April 22, 1863.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty at Murfreesboro Tennessee until June 4, 1863.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – In camp at Falmouth, Virginia until April 27, 1863.
