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 March 2, 1864
The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Ulysses Grant as lieutenant general.
Federal Colonel Ulric Dahlgren led his cavalry into a Confederate ambush at Mantapike Hill between King and Queen Court House and King William’s Court House in Virginia. During the night, Dahlgren fell into the trap and was killed and over a hundred of his cavalrymen were captured.
Having acted as a decoy during Kilpatrick’s raid, Brigadier General George A. Custer returned to Union lines from his own fairly successful raid in the Albemarle area of Virginia.
Thursday March 3, 1864
Skirmishes occurred at Liverpool and Brownsville, Mississippi; Petersburg, West Virginia; at Jackson and near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Federal Treasury was authorized by Congress to issue $200 million in ten-year bonds.
Major General Ulysses Grant was ordered to Washington to receive his commission as lieutenant general.
Friday March 4, 1864
The U.S. Senate confirmed Andrew Johnson as the Federal Military Governor of Tennessee. In New Orleans, the new pro-Union Louisiana government of Governor Michael Hahn took office.
Admiral John A. Dahlgren called on President Abraham Lincoln to learn the fate of his son, Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, whose death near Richmond, Virginia was not yet known in Washington.
Saturday March 5, 1864
The Confederate government ordered every vessel to give one half of its freight capacity to government shipments. This was an effort to cut down on private profit from blockade-running and to aid the government in obtaining badly needed supplies.
Major General John C. Breckinridge assumed command of the Confederate Department of Western Virginia.
Fighting centered at Leet’s Tanyard, Georgia, Panther Springs, Tennessee; and Yazoo City, Mississippi.
A telegraph station and two small Federal steamers were seized in a daring raid by Confederates under Commodore John Taylor Wood at Cherrystone Point, Virginia.
Sunday March 6, 1864
Federal forces, after being attacked the preceding day, pulled out of Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Confederate torpedo boats failed in an attack on the U.S.S. Memphis in North Edisto River, South Carolina.
Confederate raiders attacked Union pickets at Columbus, Kentucky and there was an affair near Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River near New Madrid, Missouri. Skirmishing also occurred at Flint Creek, Arkansas; and Snickersville, Virginia.
Monday March 7, 1864
Fighting was limited to skirmishes at Decatur, Alabama; and Brownsville, Mississippi.
President Abraham Lincoln issued an order designating the starting point of the Union Pacific Railroad at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the state’s western boundary with Nebraska.
Lincoln also wrote to Congressman John A.J. Creswell of Maryland that while he had preferred gradual emancipation for slaves in Maryland, he had no objection to immediate emancipation.
Tuesday March 8, 1864
At the White House, a disheveled Major General Ulysses Grant met President Abraham Lincoln in the East Room amid cheering and handclapping. This was the first time they met. Both men appeared somewhat embarrassed and little was said.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of March 2-8, 1864
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Snelling prior to mustering out of Federal service.
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 – Marched to Canton and then to Vicksburg, Mississippi as part of the Red River Campaign.
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 – On duty at Fort Snelling until May 1, 1864.
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.
