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 February 4, 1863
Federal troops drove the Confederates out of Batesville, Arkansas; while a skirmish occurred near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Major General John Sedgwick succeeded Major General William F. Smith as commander of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis wrote a letter to General Robert E. Lee expressing his concern about Federal threats on the South Carolina and Georgia coasts.
Thursday February 5, 1863
Queen Victoria’s address to the British Parliament stated that Britain had abstained from attempting to “induce a cessation of the conflict between the contending parties in the North American States, because it has not yet seemed to Her Majesty that any such overtures could be attended with a probability of success.”
Federal Major General Joseph Hooker abandoned the idea of grand divisions of the Army of the Potomac and gave corps commands to major generals John F. Reynolds, Darius Couch, Daniel Sickles, George G. Meade, John Sedgwick, William F. Smith, Franz Sigel and Henry W. Slocum. Major General George Stoneman was assigned to command the cavalry.
Friday February 6, 1863
Minor fighting occurred at Dranesville, Millwood, and at Wiggenton’s Mill on Aquia Creek in Virginia. The Federal Ninth Army Corps under Major General William F. Smith was transferred from the Army of the Potomac to Newport News, Virginia, to increase the threat to Richmond from the sea.
Secretary of State William H. Seward informed the French government that Napoleon III’s offer of mediation had been refused by the United States government.
Saturday February 7, 1863
Three blockade-runners successfully broke through the Federal cordon and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina. Skirmishing broke out at Olive Branch Church, Virginia; Edenton, North Carolina; and near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman assumed command of the re-created Federal Department of Washington.
Sunday February 8, 1863
The circulation of the Chicago Times was suspended by military order for allegedly disloyal statements, one of numerous such incidents in the North. The order was later rescinded.
Monday February 9, 1863
The Confederate Southwestern Army was extended to embrace the entire Trans-Mississippi Department.
Skirmishes occurred near Somerville, Virginia; and Moscow, Tennessee.
Tuesday February 10, 1863
The Federal gunboat Queen of the West, below Vicksburg, Mississippi, steamed down the Mississippi River to the Red River in response to orders from Admiral David Dixon Porter.
Skirmishing occurred at Old River, Louisiana; Batchelder’s Creek, North Carolina; Sarcoxie Prairie, Missouri; and Chantilly, Virginia.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of February 4-10, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp near Falmouth, Virginia until April 1863.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On the march to Nolensville, Tennessee.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp at Columbus, Kentucky.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Duty at White’s Station and Memphis, Tennessee until February 24, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Companies B and C had rejoined the regiment, which was on duty at Jackson, Tennessee, until mid-March 1863. Company D was the only regiment remaining in Minnesota in detached service and rejoined the regiment in mid-February 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Fort Snelling, Glencoe, Forest City and Kingston until February 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.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On march to Lake Providence, Louisiana for duty.
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.
