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 November 11, 1863
Major General Benjamin F. Butler returned to active Federal command, superseding Major General John G. Foster in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.
Skirmishing flared between the Union and Confederate armies at Suffolk, Virginia; the Fouche-le-Faix Mountains in Arkansas; Greenleaf Prairie in Indian Territory; near Natchez, Mississippi; and at the Carrion Crow and Vermillion bayous of Louisiana.
Thursday November 12, 1863
A new bombardment opened against Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina and would last for four days.
Skirmishing broke out near Cumberland Gap, Tennessee; Corinth, Mississippi; Roseville, Arkansas; Greenleaf Prairie, Indian Territory and at St. Martinsville, Louisiana.
President Abraham Lincoln attended the wedding of Kate Chase and William Sprague in Washington. Chase was the daughter of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase and Sprague was a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.
Friday November 13, 1863
The Federal guns still thundered in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, while Federal cavalry reached Charleston, West Virginia in an expedition from Beverly. Other action occurred at Mount Ida, Arkansas; near Winchester, Virginia; Blythe’s Ferry on the Tennessee River; and at Palmyra, Tennessee. In California, Union troops skirmished with Indians near the Big Bar, on the south fork of the Trinity River.
Saturday November 14, 1863
All was quiet on the major fronts in Virginia and at Chattanooga, Tennessee, but the bombardment continued at Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Cavalry fought at Huff’s Ferry, Tennessee, and at Maryville, Little River and Rockford in East Tennessee.
Small skirmishes broke out on Virginia’s eastern shore and at Tyson’s Crossroads.
In an important Confederate command change, Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest was assigned to Federally controlled West Tennessee. The Confederate government said that force and confiscation should be used if necessary to collect the tax in kind from reluctant farmers in North Carolina.
Sunday November 15, 1863
Four divisions of Major General William T. Sherman’s Federal forces were at Bridgeport on the Tennessee River, while the general went into Chattanooga to confer with Major General Ulysses Grant and look over the ground before moving his troops closer to the city.
After four days, the bombardment on Fort Sumter slowed, with 2,328 rounds fired. Only two men were killed and five wounded.
Federal authorities in West Tennessee and North Mississippi tightened prohibitions against trading with the enemy or war profiteers, and consorting with guerrilla bands. Federal occupation of the area had become a difficult problem with much winking at rules and regulations.
Monday November 16, 1863
Confederates under Lieutenant General James Longstreet moving north from Chattanooga were nearing Knoxville, Tennessee. In an engagement at Campbell’s Station, Longstreet failed to cut off Federal Major General Ambrose Burnside’s retreat line, allowing Burnside to withdraw his forces to Knoxville. The city was now besieged for all practical purposes.
Other fighting occurred at Kingston, Tennessee, while Federal Major General Nathaniel P. Banks command entered Corpus Christi, Texas in an attempt to gain a base on the Texas coast.
At Charleston, South Carolina, 602 artillery rounds were fired.
Federal monitors engaged the batteries on Sullivan’s Island, with the U.S.S. Lehigh aground under fire and badly damaged before getting off.
Tuesday November 17, 1863
The siege of Knoxville, Tennessee was under way and the partial siege of Chattanooga continued, while the bombardment at Charleston Harbor, South Carolina roared on. Near Corpus Christi, Texas, Federals captured a Confederate battery at Aransas Pass.
Skirmishing occurred at Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi; Houston, Missouri, Willow Creek on the Trinity River, California, and Federal cavalry reached New Creek, West Virginia.
In Washington, President Abraham Lincoln composed a portion of the remarks her was preparing to give at the dedication of the new Soldier’s National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in two days time.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of November 11-17, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Advanced to the Rappahannock Line and was on duty at Kelly’s Ford, Virginia until November 26, 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 – En route from Canton, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee for duty.
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 from Huntsville to Bellefonte, Alabama until January 7, 1863.
Hatch’s Independent Battalion of Cavalry - Companies A, B, C and D on duty at Pembina until May 5, 1864.
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 – Advanced to the Rappahannock Line and Kelly’s Ford, before retiring to Brandy Station, Virginia for duty until November 26, 1863.
