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 April 27, 1864
Confederate President Jefferson Davis sent Jacob Thompson and C.C. Clay Jr., to Canada as special commissioners to see if Canada would assist in brokering a peace between the Confederate States of America and the United States government.
The Maryland Constitutional Convention met at Annapolis for their first session. The Convention would last until September 6th.
Skirmishing occurred at Decatur, Alabama; Taylor’s Ridge near Ringgold, Georgia; Troublesome Creek, Kentucky; Masonborough Inlet, North Carolina and Dayton, Missouri.
Thursday April 28, 1864
Fighting occurred at Princeton, Arkansas; Johnson County, Missouri; and at the Big Bend of the Eel River, California. A minor bombardment began at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, in which the Federal launched 510 rounds against the fort over the next week.
Friday April 29, 1864
More skirmishing broke out on numerous fronts including Grand Ecore, Louisiana; Sni Hills, Missouri and in Berry County, Tennessee.
The U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution that raised all duties 50 percent for sixty days. The provision was later extended until July 1st.
Saturday April 30, 1864
Joe Davis, the five-year-old son of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, fell off the high veranda of the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia, killing him.
Three blockade-runners escaped from Galveston, Texas, under the cover of night and rain.
Fighting occurred at Whitmore’s Mill and Jenkin’s Ferry, Arkansas; and at Decatur, Alabama as the month closed out.
Sunday May 1, 1864
Confederates captured the U.S. transport Emma at David’s Ferry while skirmishing broke out at Clinton, Ashton and Berwick, all in Louisiana.
In Arkansas, skirmishes occurred at Pine Bluff and Lee’s Creek.
At Stone Church, Georgia, near Chattanooga, a skirmish occurred ahead of the increase in scouting, culminating in Federal Major General William T. Sherman’s move against Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston.
Brigadier General John P. Hatch assumed command of the Federal Department of the South, relieving Major General Quincy A. Gillmore.
Monday May 2, 1864
Skirmishing continued along the Red River as Confederates harassed Federals at Wells’s Plantation, Wilson’s Landing and Bayou Pierre, Louisiana.
Other skirmishes occurred at Kneeland’s Prairie, California; Bolivar, Tennessee; Bee Creek, Missouri; and at Tunnel Hill and Ringgold Gap, Georgia, the outposts of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston and Federal Major General William T. Sherman.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis delivered an address before the first session of the Second Confederate Congress where he admitted that he saw no hope for foreign recognition, while remaining optimistic about military matters.
Tuesday May 3, 1864
Federal Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant dispatched orders through Major General George G. Meade that the Army of the Potomac was to move across the Rapidan River in Virginia the next morning, march around the right flank of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and head towards Richmond once again.
The Federal column of Major General Frederick Steele arrived back in Little Rock, Arkansas concluding the Camden Expedition.
Along Chickamauga Creek, Catoosa Springs and at Red Clay, the Georgia Campaign became more lively as the skirmishing increased.
The Federal Cabinet and President Abraham Lincoln discussed the alleged atrocities committed by Confederates earlier in the month at Fort Pillow, Tennessee.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of April 27 - May 3, 1864
Active units:
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Mustered out of Federal service on April 29, 1864.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On the march in the Ringgold Gap and Tunnel Hill area of Georgia as part of the Atlanta Campaign.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Pine Bluff, Arkansas until October 10, 1864.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty in Huntsville, Alabama until June 22, 1864.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Alexandria, Louisiana until May 13, 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 Paducah, Kentucky until June 19, 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 24, 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 May 15, 1864.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Companies E and D were on duty at Island No. 10 until June 15, 1864. The remaining companies were on duty around Columbus, Kentucky until June 19, 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 – Left Fort Snelling May 2 and was on duty at Sioux City, Iowa until June 4, 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 – Moved to Rome, Georgia via Clifton, Tenn.; untsvilleHuntsville and Decatur, Ala.; and Big Shanty, Ga. arriving on June 9, 1864 to join the Atlanta Campaign.
2nd Independent Battery Minnesota Light Artillery – Veterans were on furlough through June 5, 1864. Non-veterans attached to Battery I, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they escorted cattle and horses to the army in the field until July 14, 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.
Inactive units:
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Formally mustered out of service on December 7, 1863. Inactive.
