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 25, 1863
The U.S. Congress completed passage of the Conscription Act. President Abraham Lincoln signed an act setting up a national banking system and national currency, plus a Currency Bureau of the Treasury was established with the position of Comptroller of the Currency.
The U.S.S. Vanderbilt seized the British merchantman vessel Peterhoff as a blockade-runner. The capture was ordered by Acting Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, who ordered the boarding of a British vessel during the Trent Affair previously. The Peterhoff was bound for Matamoros, Mexico and the British claimed that the United States had no authority to stop trade with Mexico, despite some of the goods finding their way into the Confederacy.
Thursday February 26, 1863
The Cherokee Indian National Council repealed its ordinance of secession, abolished slavery, and vigorously proclaimed its support for the Union.
Near Woodburn, Tennessee, Confederate guerrillas halted, captured, and burned a Federal freight train with merchandise, government stores and 240 mules.
Friday February 27, 1863
Confederate President Jefferson Davis called for a day of fasting and prayer set for March 27. Confederate Major General Sterling Price was ordered to the Trans-Mississippi Department. A skirmish occurred near Bloomington, Tennessee on the Hatchie River.
Saturday February 28, 1863
The Federal monitor U.S.S. Montauk, under the command of J.L. Worden of the U.S.S. Monitor fame, moved up the Ogeechee River south of Savannah, Georgia, aided by other vessels, and destroyed the C.S.S. Nashville near Fort McAllister.
In the Indian Territory, a skirmish occurred near Fort Gibson.
Sunday March 1, 1863
Skirmishing occurred at Bradyville and Woodbury, Tennessee. The U.S. Congress was preparing to end its session. President Abraham Lincoln conferred with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and other officers about military appointments.
Monday March 2, 1863
The U.S. Congress confirmed the appointment of four major generals and nine brigadier generals for the Regular Army, and forty major generals and two hundred brigadier generals of volunteers. Thirty-three U.S. Army officers, found guilty by court-martial of various charges, were dismissed from the service.
Tuesday March 3, 1863
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Federal Draft Act, which was the first effective Federal draft and imposed liability on all male citizens between the ages of 25 and 45 with the exception of the physically or mentally unfit, men with certain types of dependents, those convicted of a felony and various high Federal and state officials. Draft quotas for each district were to be set by the president on the basis of population and the number of men already in the service from each district. It also provided for the hiring of substitutes or for people purchasing their way out for the sum of $300.
Other acts approved by the president included one to prevent and punish frauds on revenue; turning over abandoned and captured cotton, sugar, rice, and tobacco in states in rebellion; a measure making Idaho a territory and one naming Jay Cooke as government agent to direct the campaign to popularize the sale of U.S. bonds.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of February 25 – March 3, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp near Falmouth, Virginia until April 1863.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Nolensville, Tennessee.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp at Columbus, Kentucky until March 14, 1863.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Expedition to Yazoo Pass via Moon Lake, Yazoo Pass, Coldwater and Tallahatchie Rivers until April 8, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – The full regiment was on duty at Germantown, Tennessee.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Fort Snelling, Glencoe, Forest City and Kingston until April 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.
