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 15, 1863
The New York Draft Riots, now in their third day, were becoming less violent.
Skirmishing broke out at Halltown and Shepherdstown, West Virginia, as Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia slowly moved south down the Shenandoah Valley, where it remained for most of the month.
Other fighting broke out at Jackson, Mississippi; along Forked Deer River and at Pulaski, Tennessee.
Thursday July 16, 1863
The U.S.S. Wyoming, a screw sloop under the command of Captain David Stockton McDougal, moved into the Straits of Shimonoseki, Japan, while searching for the Confederate raider C.S.S. Alabama. Due to a recent order of the Japanese to expel all foreigners, Junks and steamers swarmed around McDougal’s vessel. The U.S.S. Wyoming sank two ships and heavily damaged another, and destroyed a few shore batteries. The U.S.S. Wyoming had five dead and six wounded. It was the United States first naval battle with Japan.
Friday July 17, 1863
At Elk Creek near Honey Springs, Indian Territory, Federal Major General James G. Blunt attacked Confederate Brigadier General Douglas H. Cooper’s command. In the largest engagement in Indian Territory, the Confederates were forced to retire because of a lack of ammunition. Included in the combatants were Federal Negro soldiers of the 1st Kansas (Colored) Volunteer Infantry, which opposed the Confederate Indians.
Saturday July 18, 1863
SECOND ASSAULT ON FORT WAGNER, SOUTH CAROLINA
After pounding the Confederate earthworks with mortars, ironclads and thirty-six guns, Brigadier General Truman Seymour’s force of 6,000 Federal soldiers made a frontal assault on Fort Wagner, Charleston, South Carolina. At the head of the assault was the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an all-black regiment led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. The assault was a failure leading to large Federal casualties including 246 dead, 880 wounded and 389 missing for a total of 1,515 - more than 25 percent of the engaged force. Among the dead was Colonel Shaw. Confederate losses were light - 36 killed, 133 wounded and 5 missing for an aggregate total of 174 out of the 1,785 men defending the garrison.
Sunday July 19, 1863
Federal Major General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac completed their crossing of the Potomac River at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and Brunswick, Maryland. Moving rapidly, the Federal army headed south into Virginia and towards the passes in the Blue Ridge Mountains, beyond which lay the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.
In an engagement at Buffington Island, Ohio, on the Ohio River, Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan was foiled by Federal troops, militia and gunboats in another attempt to cross the river to safety in Kentucky. Morgan’s forces suffered about 820 casualties, 700 of which were captured. The Confederate remnant of approximately 300 turned north and headed along the Ohio River towards Pennsylvania.
Monday July 20, 1863
In Virginia, skirmishing flared near Berry’s Ferry and at Ashby’s Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains as Federal Major General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac moved southward in pursuit of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, which was located in the Shenandoah Valley around Bunker Hill, north of Winchester, Virginia.
The bedraggled remainder of Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan’s forces fought skirmishes at Hockingport and Coal Hill, Ohio. Other skirmishes occurred this day at Cabin Creek, Indian Territory, along with Tarborough and Sparta, North Carolina.
Tuesday July 21, 1863
The Confederates named Brigadier General John D. Imboden to command the Valley District, while skirmishing occurred at Street’s Ferry, North Carolina.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of July 15-21, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In pursuit of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to Manassas Gap, Virginia until July 24, 1863.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Winchester, Tennessee until August 16, 1863.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Oak Ridge, Mississippi near Vicksburg until July 24, 1863.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi until September 12, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On guard duty at Black River Bridge, Mississippi until July 22, 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley’s expedition in Dakota Territory until September 12, 1863.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley’s expedition in Dakota Territory until September 12, 1863.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Marched to Fort Ridgely for duty until June 5, 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley’s expedition in Dakota Territory until September 12, 1863.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley’s expedition in Dakota Territory until September 12, 1863.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Participated in Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley’s expedition in Dakota Territory until September 12, 1863.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – Participated in the Occupation of Middle Tennessee until September 6, 1863.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, until April 4, 1864.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – Participated in the Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16, 1863.
3rd Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery - Participated in Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley’s expedition in Dakota Territory until September 12, 1863.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – In pursuit of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to Manassas Gap, Virginia until July 24, 1863.
