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 July 23, 1862
Union Major General Henry W. Halleck assumed command of the Armies of the United States. Federal cavalry from Fredericksburg carried out a raid on Confederate cavalry and supplies near Carmel Church, Virginia.
Skirmishes occurred at Boles Farm, Missouri; on the Blackwater River near Columbus, Missouri; and White Oak Bayou, Mississippi.
The major portion of Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s force was moving from Tupelo, Mississippi; to Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; then Atlanta, Georgia en route to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 776-mile trip took six different railroads to complete.
Thursday July 24, 1862
Former U.S. President Martin Van Buren died at Lindenwald, New York, at the age of 79.
Skirmishing occurred on the Amite River, Louisiana; Santa Fe and Moore’s Mill near Fulton, Missouri; and White Oak Bayou, Mississippi.
Friday July 25, 1862
Skirmishes occurred at Summerville, western Virginia; Courtland and Trinity, Alabama; and Clinton Ferry, Tennessee.
Saturday July 26, 1862
Fighting this day was near Orange Court House, Virginia; Mill Creek near Pollocksville, North Carolina; Spangler’s Mill near Jonesborough, Alabama; and Tazewell, Tennessee.
Sunday July 27, 1862
Minor fighting continued at Bayou Bernard near Fort Gibson, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma); Madisonville and Covington, Louisiana; Brown’s Spring, Missouri; Flat Top Mountain, western Virginia; and Lower Post Ferry, Tennessee.
Monday July 28, 1862
The governors of Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana wrote to Confederate President Jefferson Davis requesting a commanding general, money, arms, ammunition, for “without them we cannot use our strength, nor fully develop the mighty power of resistance that is in our midst.”
The office of the St. Croix Herald in St. Stephens, New Brunswick, Canada, a pro-Union newspaper, was attacked by a mob and the equipment wrecked.
Fighting occurred at Cross Timbers and Fulton, Missouri; Stevenson, Alabama; Humboldt, Tennessee; and from Culpeper to Raccoon Ford, Virginia.
Tuesday July 29, 1862
The Confederate cruiser Alabama (known in Britain as Enrica) left Liverpool, England, unarmed for a trial run. Federal authorities in Britain tried for weeks to prevent the sailing, but it was in vain.
Federal Major General John Pope left Washington to make his headquarters in the field with the Army of Virginia, while fighting occurred at Arrow Rock, Bloomfield and Saline County, Missouri; Orange Court House, Virginia; From Harrison’s Landing to St. Mary’s Church, Virginia; Russellville, Kentucky; Hatchie Bottom near Denmark, Tennessee; and Federal naval forces attacked Fort McAllister on the Ogeechee River near Savannah, Georgia.
The famous Confederate spy “Belle Boyd” was captured near Warrenton, Virginia by the Federals and sent to Old Capitol Prison in Washington on the charges of being a Confederate mail courier and spy. Due to lack of evidence, she would be released on Aug. 28 and resumed her role as the most famous of Confederate female spies.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of July 23-29, 1862
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp at Malvern Hill, Virginia.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp at Tuscumbia, Alabama until July 26, when the regiment marched to Athens, Alabama.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – At Murfreesboro, Tennessee after receiving their parole.
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 with a reconnaissance to Orange Court House, Virginia, July 24-26.
