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 October 21, 1863
Federal Major General Ulysses Grant conferred with displaced commander, Major General William Rosecrans, at Stevenson, Alabama, and then headed to Chattanooga, Tennessee. From Bridgeport, Alabama to Chattanooga, Grant faced almost impassable, muddy, washed-out mountain roads and was further handicapped by being on crutches since his fall from a horse in New Orleans.
Thursday October 22, 1863
Federal Major General Ulysses Grant continued to toil over the atrocious roads en route to Chattanooga, where Major General George H. Thomas doggedly resisted the Confederate siege.
Elsewhere, fighting broke out near Volney, Kentucky; New Madrid Bend, Tennessee; Brownsville, Mississippi; Bloomfield, Missouri; and at Annandale, Rappahannock Bridge and Bealeton, Virginia.
Friday October 23, 1863
In a major command change, Confederate President Jefferson Davis relieved General Leonidas Polk from command of a corps in the Army of Tennessee. Polk was assigned to organizational work in Mississippi, replacing Lieutenant General William J. Hardee. Davis issued the order from Meridian, Mississippi while on his Western tour.
Federal Major General Ulysses Grant arrived at Chattanooga just after dark and stopped by the headquarters of Major General George H. Thomas, where he learned the details of the situation that threatened the besieged Army of the Cumberland.
Saturday October 24, 1863
At Chattanooga, Federal Major General Ulysses Grant made a personal inspection and ordered a supply line to be opened at Brown’s Ferry on the Tennessee River, which would enable the bases in Alabama to supply the city more directly than by the long, rugged and difficult mountain trail north of the Tennessee. Farther west, Major General William T. Sherman formally assumed command of the Army of the Tennessee, replacing Grant.
President Abraham Lincoln instructed Major General Henry W. Halleck to prepare the Army of the Potomac to attack Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. In compliance with the order, Army of the Potomac commander Major General George G. Meade agreed to the speedy preparations.
Sunday October 25, 1863
Confederate Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke’s forces attacked Pine Bluff, Arkansas after his demand for its surrender was refused. Eventually Marmaduke withdrew his forces after partial occupation.
Monday October 26, 1863
Federal Major General Ulysses Grant’s operations to reopen the Tennessee River into Chattanooga, Tennessee got under way. Major General Joseph Hooker’s force from Virginia crossed the Tennessee at Bridgeport, Alabama and moved eastward towards Chattanooga.
The guns roared again in Charleston, South Carolina as the second great bombardment opened from land and sea. Guns and mortars fired on into the night.
Tuesday October 27, 1863
The second major bombardment of Fort Sumter kicked into high gear with 625 Federal shells fired.
A pontoon bridge was thrown across the Tennessee River below Chattanooga at Brown’s Ferry, Tennessee, in a daring operation. In addition, Major General Joseph Hooker advanced his troops from the west to the Wauhatchie Valley at the western foot of Lookout Mountain. This opening of the line from Lookout Valley to Bridgeport, Alabama relieved Chattanooga and within a few days, full supplies were getting through. Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s siege was being loosened.
Elsewhere, fighting occurred at Tulip, Arkansas; Bealton and Rappahannock Stations, Virginia; Cherokee County, North Carolina; near Elizabeth, West Virginia; Clinch Mountain, Tennessee; and Little Bear Creek, Alabama.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of October 21-27, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Bristow Station, Virginia until November 7, 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 – Participated in operations against the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in Alabama until November 23, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Canton, Mississippi until November 14, 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry - On garrison duty in Minnesota until June 9, 1864.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry –On duty in St. Louis, Missouri until April 20, 1864.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Minnesota until May 24, 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Moved to Jefferson City, Missouri for duty guarding railroad from Kansas Line to near St. Louis. Stationed at Rolla, Jefferson City, LaMine Bridge, Warrensburg, Independence, Knob Noster, Kansas City, Waynesville and Franklin with headquarters in Jefferson City until April 14, 1864, and at Rolla from April 14 – May 1864.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty and provost duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri until April 21, 1864.
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 along the Tennessee River until November 14, 1863.
Hatch’s Independent Battalion of Cavalry - Organized at Fort Snelling and St. Paul. Companies A, B, C and D marched to Pembina for duty until November 13, 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 at Bristow, Virginia until November 7, 1863.
