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 20, 1864
Federal naval vessels made a reconnaissance of Forts Morgan and Gaines at the mouth of Mobile Bay in Alabama. For some time, Federal Major General Ulysses Grant and others had urged an attack on Mobile, while the Confederates feared such an effort.
Skirmishing broke out at Tracy City, Tennessee, and Island No. 76 on the Mississippi River.
President Abraham Lincoln suspended five scheduled army executions. The president also told Major General Frederick Steele, commanding in Arkansas, that in view of the proposed anti-slavery state constitution, an election should be ordered at once.
Thursday January 21, 1864
Indicative of the trend in many areas of the occupied Confederacy, pro-Northern citizens of Tennessee met at Nashville and proposed a constitutional convention and the abolition of slavery.
Distillation of whiskey was forbidden in the Federal Department of the Ohio, mainly because of the scarcity of grain.
Friday January 22, 1864
In an important shake-up, Major General William Rosecrans was named commander of the Federal Department of the Missouri, replacing Major General John Schofield, who was replaced because of the political uproar between moderate and radical Union men. He was soon placed in command of the Department of the Ohio.
Isaac Murphy was inaugurated provisional governor of Arkansas in the restored pro-Union government, pending elections in the spring. He had been chosen by the State Convention. President Abraham Lincoln told an Arkansas delegation that he would not appoint a separate military governor but would leave administration to Major General Frederick Steele, now in command of the state, until the new state government could be set up.
Saturday January 23, 1864
President Abraham Lincoln approved a policy where plantation owners would recognize the freedom of their former slaves and hire them by fair contracts in order “to re-commence the cultivation of their plantations.” he urged the military authorities to support such a free-labor system.
The Treasury Department annulled most restrictions upon trade in Kentucky and Missouri.
Sunday January 24, 1864
While the principal fronts remained quiet, small fights and guerrilla depredations continued. Operations took place near Natchez, Mississippi; Confederates captured Union pickets at Love’s Hill near Knoxville, Tennessee; and a skirmish flared at Tazewell, Tennessee.
Monday January 25, 1864
Federal forces evacuated Corinth, Mississippi, in a move to consolidate their occupation points in the West. Skirmishing occurred at La Grange, Tennessee; Mount Pleasant, Mississippi; Bainbridge Ferry and near the Sweet Water, northern Alabama; and on the Little Missouri River at Sulphur Springs, Arkansas.
Fire destroyed Confederate hospital buildings at Camp winder near Richmond, Virginia.
Tuesday January 26, 1864
President Abraham Lincoln officially approved new trade regulations for dealing with former Confederate territory and for so-called “trading with the enemy.” He also ordered the suspension of execution in nine cases.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of January 20-26, 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.
