Information courtesy of the
Minnesota Civil War Commemoration Task Force
Major Highlights for the Week
Wednesday July 9, 1862
Confederate cavalry under John Hunt Morgan routed Federals and captured Tompkinsville, Kentucky. Union forces captured Hamilton, North Carolina. A skirmish occurred at Lotspeich Farm near Wadesburg, Missouri.
Sgt. Myron Shepard, 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry recorded the following in his diary entry on this date: “Very hot. Pres. Lincoln, Gens. McClellan, Sumner, Sedgwick & others with their staffs & c. ride along our lines. Present arms & c.”
Thursday July 10, 1862
Federal General John Pope issued controversial orders which ruled that in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout the area of operations of his Army of Virginia, the people would be held responsible for injury to railroads, attacks upon trains or straggling soldiers. In the case of guerrilla damages, citizens would be responsible financially, and if a Federal soldier was fired upon from any house, it should be razed. People detected in acts against the army would be shot without civil process.
Friday July 11, 1862
Major General Henry W. Halleck was named General-in-Chief of all U.S. land forces by President Lincoln. Halleck had been commander in the West during the successful campaigns of Grant, and had been a field commander at the capture of Corinth, Miss. He was considered a top-grade administrator with a sound military mind.
Saturday July 12, 1862
Morgan and his Confederate raiders captured Lebanon, Kentucky. There was no excitement in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as Frankfort, Lexington, and Louisville, Kentucky, over reports that Morgan’s men were coming.
Sunday July 13, 1862
Nathan Bedford Forrest and his Confederates captured Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The 3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry regiment surrendered to Forrest, with the exception of Company C which was on detached duty and not captured. The rest of the regiment was paroled and sent to Benton Barracks, Missouri. Company C joined the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry at Nashville, Tennessee and was with that regiment until the company left for Minnesota on Aug. 28.
Confederate Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s force advanced from Hanover Court House upon Gordonsville, Virginia. Another skirmish was fought near Wolf River, Tennessee. President Lincoln and McClellan continued their correspondence over how many men McClellan had. Lincoln was beginning to have increasing doubts about his evasive commander on the Peninsula.
Monday July 14, 1862
Federal General John Pope moved his newly created Army of Virginia between the Confederates and Washington in order to draw the pressure from McClellan on the Peninsula.
John Hunt Morgan carried his confederate raiding activities to the area of Cynthiana, Kentucky.
Confederate Adjutant General Samuel Cooper put the conscription law into stricter operation. In Washington, President Lincoln signed an act into law that provided for pensions for the next of kin of soldiers killed in action and for those who were disabled because of their service. The U.S. Senate passed a bill granting secession of western Virginia from Virginia.
Tuesday July 15, 1862
The Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Arkansas fought three Union vessels and anchored under the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Federal cavalry defeated Confederates near Fayetteville, Arkansas. Skirmishes occurred at Orange Court House and Middletown, Virginia; Wallace’s Cross Roads, Tennessee; and Apache Pass, New Mexico Territory, where Union troops from California fought the Apache Indians.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of July 9-15, 1862
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp at Malvern Hill, Virginia.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp at Tuscumbia, Alabama.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Captured at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Paroled and sent to Benton Barracks, Missouri.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry –Duty at Camp Clear Creek near Corinth, Mississippi.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Companies B, C and D remained in Minnesota and Dakota Territory on garrison duty while the remaining companies were moved to Rienzi, Mississippi. Companies B and C move to Sioux Agency on the Yellow Medicine River to preserve order during annuity payments to Indians.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On duty at Humboldt, Tenn., scouting and protecting the railroad.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On garrison duty at Corinth, Miss.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On garrison duty at Ripley, Mississippi.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – On duty at Falmouth, Virginia.
