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 May 27, 1863
FIRST ASSAULT ON PORT HUDSON
In the rolling, ravine-cut, heavy-timbered country near Port Hudson, Louisiana, Major General Nathaniel Bank’s Federal army, which numbered approximately 13,000, made its first assault on the estimated 4,500 Confederates under Major General Franklin Gardner within the beleaguered post. The Federals, including some Negro troops, got close to the Confederate parapets, but the disjoined movements failed along the entire lines. Federal casualties were 293 killed; 1,545 wounded and 157 missing for a loss of 1,995. Confederate killed and wounded together were around 235.
In the Vicksburg, area, Confederates attacked Union gunboats near Greenwood, Mississippi, and skirmished near Lake Providence, Louisiana.
On the Mississippi River itself, Major General William T. Sherman decided to attempt to reduce Fort Hill with the aid of gunboats. The U.S.S. Cincinnati, with added longs and bales of hay for protection, engaged the heavy Confederate batteries. The high position of the Confederates enabled them to shell the gunboat. The U.S.S. Cincinnati sank, her colors still flying from the stump of her mast. She sustained forty casualties.
Thursday May 28, 1863
From Boston, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry left for Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was the second Negro regiment sent for service from the North (the 1st Kansas (Colored) Infantry being the first). There was also a skirmish near Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, and another near Austin, Mississippi.
Friday May 29, 1863
Federal Major General Ambrose Burnside, in command at Cincinnati, Ohio, offered his resignation to President Lincoln as a result of the arrest, conviction and banishment of Congressman Clement L. Vallandigham. Lincoln, however, refused to accept the resignation. Governor Oliver P. Morton of Indiana and others also protested the arrest on the grounds that it increased opposition to the war effort in the states on the Ohio River.
Saturday May 30, 1863
Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was reorganized into three corps under Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell; Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill; and Lieutenant General James Longstreet.
At Newark, New Jersey, a large meeting of Democrats protested the earlier arrest and conviction of Congressman Clement L. Vallandigham.
Sunday May 31, 1863
Confederate President Jefferson Davis discussed army appointments and dispositions of units with General Robert E. Lee. He was less and less hopeful over affairs at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Skirmishing occurred at James Island, South Carolina; Warrenton, Virginia; and West Point on Virginia’s Peninsula near Richmond.
Monday June 1, 1863
Major General Ambrose Burnside, now in command of the Department of the Ohio, issued a general order, suppressing the publication of the Chicago Times newspaper. A group of Chicago’s leading citizens, including Mayor F.C. Sherman, asked President Abraham Lincoln to rescind the order. Lincoln conferred with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton over the matter.
Tuesday June 2, 1863
President Abraham Lincoln, uncertain about Major General Joseph Hooker’s ability to lead the Army of the Potomac¸ conferred with Major General John F. Reynolds about handing command over to Reynolds, who politely declined the offer.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis ordered Congressman Clement L. Vallandigham sent to Wilmington, North Carolina, and put under guard as an “alien enemy.”
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of May 27 - June 2, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Bivouacked near Banks Ford, Virginia until June 1863.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Chapel Hill, Tennessee until June 4, 1863.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Heiman, Kentucky until June 2, 1863.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in the Assault and Siege of Vicksburg until July 4, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in the Siege of Vicksburg until July 4, 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Camp Pope near Iowa City, Iowa until June 16, 1863.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Mankato and other points in Minnesota until June 1863.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Marched to Fort Ridgely for duty until June 5, 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 during siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, until July 4, 1863.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty at Murfreesboro Tennessee until June 4, 1863.
3rd Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery - Organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota from the enlisted men of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiments. On duty at Fort Snelling until June 16, 1863.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – Bivouacked near Falmouth, Virginia until June 1863.
