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 23, 1864
Federal columns moved south from Little Rock, Arkansas to join Major General Nathaniel Banks’s expedition up the Red River. If successful, the two-pronged advance would go far towards breaking up the Confederacy west of the Mississippi River. They engaged in a skirmish on the Benton road towards Camden, Arkansas.
Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant returned to Washington after his conferences with Major General William T. Sherman and other generals in the Western Theatre, to prepare for a general advance of all Union armies.
In the Army of the Potomac, Major General Gouverneur K. Warren assumed command of the Fifth corps from Major General George Sykes.
In Washington, a number of “radical” Congressmen pushed for the removal of Major General George G. Meade as commander of the Army of the Potomac.
Thursday March 24, 1864
Skirmishing took place at Goodrich’s Landing, Louisiana; Oil Trough Bottom, Arkansas, and Union City, Tennessee.
President Abraham Lincoln and Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant conferred at the White House during the evening hours.
Friday March 25, 1864
Federal outposts at Paducah, Kentucky were driven in sharply as Confederate cavalry attacked the important Ohio River city. Although they occupied part of Paducah, two attacks were repulsed at Fort Anderson. Unable to destroy or capture the Federal garrison, the Confederates withdrew in the morning.
Other fighting occurred at Rockport, Dover, White River and in Van Buren County, Arkansas; and McClellansville, South Carolina.
Federal Brigadier General David Gregg superseded Major General Alfred Pleasonton as command of the cavalry in Virginia, while Pleasonton was dispatched to Missouri on a temporary basis.
Saturday March 26, 1864
Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant was back in Virginia and established his permanent headquarters with the Army of the Potomac at Culpeper Court House.
Major General James B. McPherson assumed command of the Army of the Tennessee under departmental commander Major General William T. Sherman.
Skirmishes occurred near Black Jack Church, North Carolina; Quitman, Long View and Mount Elba, Arkansas.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis argued with the governors of North and South Carolina over enforcement of policies of the Confederate States of America regarding trade along with troop procurement and allocation.
President Abraham Lincoln explained that amnesty did not apply to prisoners of war, but only to those free and at large who voluntarily came forward and took an oath of allegiance.
Sunday March 27, 1864
Skirmishing occurred at Livingston, Mississippi; Louisville, Tennessee; Columbus, Kentucky and at Deepwater Township, Missouri.
Monday March 28, 1864
About a hundred Copperheads (anti-war Democrats) vented long-pent-up feelings by attacking Federal soldiers on furlough in Charleston, Illinois. By the time the fighting ended by troop reinforcements, five men were killed and more than twenty wounded. It was one of the more severe anti-war outbreaks in the north.
Skirmishing occurred on the Eel River, California; New Hope, Kentucky; Obey’s River, Tennessee; Bloomery Gap, West Virginia; along with Danville and Mount Elba, Arkansas.
Tuesday March 29, 1864
Scenes of battle this day were at Caperton’s Ferry, Alabama; Monett’s Ferry and Cloutierville, Louisiana on the Red River; Bolivar, Tennessee; Roseville, Long View and Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Union scouts moved from Lookout Valley to Deer Head Cove, Georgia; and from Bellefonte to Burrowsville, Arkansas.
While criticisms of Federal Major General George G. Meade’s handling of the Gettysburg campaign had been appearing in the press, possibly written by other officers in the battle, President Abraham Lincoln dissuaded him from formally requesting a court of inquiry.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of March 23-29, 1864
Active units:
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Snelling prior to mustering out of Federal service on April 29, 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 Nathaniel Bank’s 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.
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 April 11, 1864 when the veteranized battery was on furlough.
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.
Inactive units:
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Formally mustered out of service on December 7, 1863. Inactive.
