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 23, 1863
In Washington, President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and other cabinet officials and military officers discussed relieving Major General William Rosecrans at Chattanooga, Tennessee. They agreed to send the Army of the Potomac’s Eleventh and Twelfth Corps under command of Major General Joseph Hooker.
Skirmishing occurred around Chattanooga at Summertown and Lookout Mountain. In the East Tennessee Campaign, skirmishing flared at the Federal-held Cumberland Gap.
Major General George E. Pickett was assigned to command the Confederate Department of North Carolina.
Thursday September 24, 1863
The great rail transfer of the two Federal corps from the Army of the Potomac got under way with the organization of railroad rolling stock, while skirmishing occurred at Zollicoffer, Tennessee; Bristoe Station, Virginia; and Greenbrier Bridge, West Virginia.
The Confederate government appointed A. Dudley Mann as special assistant to the Holy See in Rome.
Friday September 25, 1863
Military action declined as the Federal government concentrated on the effort to relieve Major General William Rosecrans in Chattanooga, while the Confederate government focused on the best way to exploit the victory at Chickamauga.
Skirmishing occurred at Athens, Calhoun and Charleston, Tennessee as part of the East Tennessee Campaign.
Saturday September 26, 1863
Confederate Major General W.H.C. Whiting was assigned to the separate commands of the District of Cape Fear and the Defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina.
President Abraham Lincoln was distressed that the New York Post revealed the movement of troops west to augment Major General William Rosecrans.
Sunday September 27, 1863
Confederate raiders were active at Moffat’s Station in Franklin County, Arkansas while skirmishing took place at Newtonia, Missouri; Locke’s Mill near Moscow, Tennessee; and near Athens and Philadelphia in East Tennessee.
Monday September 28, 1863
Confederate President Jefferson Davis told General Braxton Bragg of the reported movement of two Federal corps to relieve Major General William Rosecrans.
Federal Major Generals Alexander McDowell McCook and T.L. Crittenden were relieved of their corps commands and ordered to Indianapolis for a court of inquiry into the conduct at the Battle of Chickamauga.
Tuesday September 29, 1863
Military action was limited to an expedition lasting for a month from Pilot Knob to Oregon County, Missouri; and action at Stirling’s Plantation, Louisiana and at Leesburg, Tennessee.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of September 23-29, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Rejoined the Army of the Potomac near Culpeper, Virginia where it remained until October 9, 1863.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty in the Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee until November 23, 1863.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in the capture of Little Rock, Arkansas, where they remained for garrison duty until April 28, 1864.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Helena, Arkansas until October 6, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Bear Creek, Mississippi until October 14, 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry - On garrison duty in Minnesota until June 9, 1864.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry –On garrison duty in Minnesota until October 7, 1863.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Minnesota until May 24,1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On furlough until October 3, 1863.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Minnesota until October 7, 1863.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – On duty at Fort Ripley and Fort Snelling until December 7, 1863.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On duty in McMinnville, Tennessee until September 30, 1863.
Hatch’s Independent Battalion of Cavalry - Organized at Fort Snelling and St. Paul. Companies A, B, C and D mustered in. On duty at Fort Snelling until October 5, 1863.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, until April 4, 1864.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty in the Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee until November 23, 1863.
3rd Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery - Four sections on duty at Pembina, Fort Ripley, Fort Ridgely and Fort Snelling until June 5, 1864.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – On duty in Virginia until October 1863.
