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 September 3, 1862
Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia edged towards Leesburg, Virginia and the crossings of the Potomac River. Confederates occupied Bunker Hill, Edwards Ferry and other points in northern Virginia. Operations occurred around Harper’s Ferry, Ravenswood, Weston, Charles Town, Martinsburg and Lovettsville, Virginia.
Federal Major General John Pope conferred with President Lincoln and delivered a scathing report to Major General Henry W. Halleck charging Major General Fitz John Porter with disobeying orders and Major General George B. McClellan with failing to support him.
A skirmish occurred in Dakota Territory at Fort Abercrombie as part of the Sioux Uprising, also known as the U.S.-Dakota War.
Thursday September 4, 1862
A skirmish occurred in the U.S.-Dakota War at Hutchinson, Minnesota.
The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia began its principal crossings of the Potomac by fords in the Leesburg area, an operation which continued for three days. The Confederates were on their way to Maryland. Skirmishing occurred at Point of Rocks, Berlin, Poolesville, Monocacy Aqueduct, Maryland. Major General George B. McClellan was reorganizing the Army of the Potomac amid Cabinet-level discussions in Washington. Federals were evacuating Frederick, Maryland.
Friday September 5, 1862
In response to query from Federal Major General John Pope about his command, Major General Henry W. Halleck, commanding general, replied that the Army of Virginia was being consolidated into the Army of the Potomac under command of Major General George B. McClellan. Pope was notified that he should report for orders. He was assigned to head the Department of the Northwest, which included the area that was embroiled in the U.S.-Dakota War.
Saturday September 6, 1862
Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s men occupied Frederick, Maryland, as the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia established their base of operations north of the Potomac. Federal cavalry kept in contact with the enemy in Maryland.
Federal Major General John Pope was formally assigned to the Department of the Northwest, newly created out of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakota Territory. His main job was to cope with the U.S.-Dakota War. Meanwhile, Fort Abercrombie in the Dakota Territory was assailed by Indians for the second time in the week. Again, they were unsuccessful.
Sunday September 7, 1862
The Federal Army of the Potomac under Major General George B. McClellan moved slowly northward from Washington, protecting the capital and Baltimore, Maryland, not knowing the enemy’s whereabouts or plans. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was concentrating at Frederick, Maryland, while Federal garrisons at Harper’s Ferry and Martinsburg, Virginia were virtually cut off from Washington.
Monday September 8, 1862
Fighting occurred at Poolesville, Maryland and elsewhere on the fringes of the Federal and Confederate armies located in the area. Federal Major General Nathaniel P. Banks assumed command of the defenses of Washington, and the West India Squadron under Commodore Charles Wilkes was formed for protection of commerce.
Tuesday September 9, 1862
At Frederick, Maryland, Confederate General Robert E. Lee issued field orders for future operations. Special Order No. 191 called for Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson to march on Harper’s Ferry while other troops were to be sent to Crampton’s Gap. Much of Major General James Longstreet’s corps was to go to Boonsborough, Maryland, and a rear guard was provided as well. Skirmishes occurred at Monocacy Church and Barnesville, Maryland.
Federal Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman was placed in command of the Defenses of Washington south of the Potomac River.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of September 3-9, 1862
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty near Vienna as part of the Antietam campaign.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Marched to Manchester and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Marched to Fort Ridgely to support Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley’s forces.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – At Jacinto, Mississippi for garrison duty.
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 Tuscumbia, Mississippi. Company D fended off two attacks by Indians at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Ridgely, Minnesota.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Ridgely, Minnesota.
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 duty at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory; along with Glencoe and Hutchinson, Minnesota. Companies B and H participate in the Battle of Hutchinson.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Ridgely, Minnesota.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On duty at New Providence and Clarksville, Tennessee.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On garrison duty at Corinth, Miss.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – March through Alabama en route to Nashville, Tennessee.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – Transferred to the Army of the Potomac as part of the consolidation with the Army of Virginia in the aftermath of Second Bull Run. Participate in the Antietam Campaign.
