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 30, 1864
Fighting occurred at Greenton, Missouri; along with Mount Elba and Big Creek, Arkansas. The Federals also captured a Confederate outpost at Cherry Grove, Virginia.
Thursday March 31, 1864
Skirmishing at Natchitoches, Louisiana was the highlight of the day in Major General Nathaniel Banks’s Red River Campaign. Other action occurred at Arkadelphia, Arkansas; Palatka, Florida; the forks of the Beaver River in eastern Kentucky; and at Spring Island, South Carolina.
Friday April 1, 1864
Skirmishing broke out at Plymouth, North Carolina; and at Arkadelphia and Fitzhugh’s Woods near Augusta, Arkansas.
The U.S. transport vessel Maple Leaf sank after hitting a torpedo or mine in the St. John’s River in Florida.
Saturday April 2, 1864
Though there was no major fighting between the Union and Confederate forces at this time, the number of small skirmishes increased. Limited engagements now broke out at Cleveland, Tennessee; Grossetete Bayou and Crump’s Hill, Louisiana; Okolona, Antoine and Wolf Creek, Arkansas; Cedar Creek and Cow Ford Creek near Pensacola, Florida. The Confederates destroyed the lighthouse at Cape Lookout Light, North Carolina.
Sunday April 3, 1864
Skirmishing on the Red River occurred at Grand Ecore, Louisiana, while more skirmishing occurred elsewhere at Cypress Swamp, Tennessee; Ducktown Road, Georgia; Clinton, Mississippi; Clarksville, Arkansas; Elkin’s Ferry on the Little Missouri River, in Missouri; and at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory.
Monday April 4, 1864
Major General Philip Sheridan succeeded Brigadier General David McM. Gregg as commander of the Army of the Potomac’s cavalry. Gregg was filling in for Major General Alfred Pleasonton, who was temporarily dispatched to Missouri.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a joint resolution saying that the nation would not permit the establishment of a monarchy in Mexico. This was intended to thwart the plans of France’s Napoleon III, who considered placing Maximilian of Hapsburg on the throne in Mexico.
Several changes in Federal corps commanders helped set the stage for renewed operations now that the winter was ending.
Skirmishing occurred at Charlestown and Roseville, Arkansas; and at Campti, Louisiana on the Red River.
The New York Sanitary Commission Fair opened today. Eventually, it would raise $1.2 million to be used for the needs of the soldiers.
Tuesday April 5, 1864
The low levels of the Red River were hampering Federal Major General Nathaniel Banks’s expedition. Confederate forces, refusing to be engaged in quantity, fell away before the Federal troops arrived. However, Banks’s main force fought a small skirmish at Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Elsewhere, skirmishing occurred at Marks’s Mills and Whiteley’s Mills, Arkansas; Quicksand Creek, Kentucky; Blount’s Creek, North Carolina; and in the swamps of the Little River near New Madrid, Missouri.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of March 30 - April 5, 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 and fought in the battles of Grand Ecore and Campi.
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 – Veterans were on furlough. Non-veteran members of the battery were en route from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Cairo, Illinois, where they were rejoined by furloughed members on April 17, 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.
