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 January 13, 1864
Confederate President Jefferson Davis told General Joseph E. Johnston at Dalton, Georgia that for the army to fall back would be for the army to fall back would be so detrimental, both military and politically that he trusted that Johnston would “not deem it necessary to adopt such a measure.”
President Abraham Lincoln urged Major General Nathaniel Banks at New Orleans to “proceed with all possible despatch” to construct a free state government for Louisiana and urged Major General Quincy A. Gillmore to do the same in Florida.
Thursday January 14, 1864
Fighting occurred at Dandridge and Middleton, Tennessee; Shoal Creek, Alabama and in Bollinger County, Missouri.
Friday January 15, 1864
Southern newspapers tried to build up Confederate spirits and gird the people for the struggle that was sure to come.
President Abraham Lincoln continued to pay more attention to reconstruction activities in individual states.
Fighting was confined to a skirmish near Petersburg, West Virginia.
Saturday January 16, 1864
A fairly severe two-day engagement between cavalry units was fought near Dandridge, Tennessee with considerable casualties. Eventually the Federals withdrew towards Strawberry Plains. Other fighting occurred in White County, Tennessee; Oak Ridge, Mississippi; and near Turkey Creek, Virginia.
Federal Major General Samuel R. Curtis assumed command of the reestablished Department of Kansas.
Sunday January 17, 1864
Skirmishing occurred at Lewisburg, Arkansas and at Ellis’s and Ely’s Fords, Virginia.
A fire killed two officers in their quarters at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois, and destroyed large quantities of quartermaster’s supplies.
Monday January 18, 1864
Substantial opposition to the Confederate conscription law continued to develop in Western North Carolina, and protest meetings were held throughout the winter.
Federals skirmished with Confederate guerrillas at Grand Gulf, Mississippi, while Union pickets drove off Confederates at Flint Hill, Virginia.
Tuesday January 19, 1864
The Arkansas pro-Union Constitutional Convention at Little Rock adopted an anti-slavery measure. The new constitution was ratified by popular vote on March 14.
Skirmishes took place at Branchville, Arkansas, and at Tazewell in east Tennessee.
In Washington, the Lincoln Administration continued to be concerned over the problem of cotton trading with people in the Confederate territory.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of January 13-19, 1864
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – In camp at Stevensburg, Virginia until February 5, 1864.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Ringgold, Georgia until April 29, 1864.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Little Rock, Arkansas until April 28, 1864.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty in Huntsville, Alabama until June 22, 1864.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty in LaGrange, Tennessee to guard Memphis & Charleston Railroad until January 26, 1864.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at various Minnesota outposts for garrison duty until June 9, 1864.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty in St. Louis, Missouri until April 20, 1864.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On frontier duty at various points in Minnesota: Anoka, Princeton, Monticello, Kingston, Manannah, Paynesville, Fort Ripley, Sauk Center, Pomme de Terre, Alexandria and Fort Abercrombie until May 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – 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.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison and provost duty at Benton Barracks, Missouri until April 21, 1864.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Formally mustered out of service on December 7, 1863. Inactive.
2nd Regiment Minnesota Cavalry - On duty at Fort Snelling and at frontier posts throughout Minnesota until May 24, 1864.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – Battalion veteranized and detached from the 5th Iowa Cavalry, left Alabama and headed to Minnesota, where it arrived on February 25 for duty at Fort Snelling.
Hatch’s Independent Battalion of Cavalry - Companies A,B,C and D on frontier duty in 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 at Rossville, Georgia until March 21, 1864.
3rd Independent Battery Minnesota Light Artillery - Various sections of the battery were stationed at Fort Snelling, Fort Ridgely, Fort Ripley and Pembina until June 5, 1864.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – On duty around the Rapidan River, Virginia until May 4, 1864.
