Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 13: Military History, 1912

Chapter 13: Military History

Fillmore County at the Outbreak of the Civil War - Raising of the First Company - Other Companies Sent From This County - Roll of Honor - Names of Fillmore County Veterans - Spanish-American War.

When President Abraham Lincoln issued his first call for 75,000 men to maintain the Union, April 16, 1861, Fillmore county was but eight years old as an organized county, and as present constituted had been in existenee but six years. It was but thinly populated, having but 13,542 inhabitants, pioneers of a new state that had been admitted to the Union but three years. It was a cruel time to take ihe men from the field, store, shop and home. They had little on which to depend save the labor of their hands, and their families needed them. But an attack had been made on Fort Sumter, the flag of the Union had been fired upon, and the hearts of these hardy, patriotic men and women were fired.

At this time Alexander Ramsey, governor of Minnesota, chanced to be in Washington, and immediately sought Seeretary Cameron, and in writing tendered 1,000 soldiers from Minnesota in defense of the government, which offer was presented to the President and by him accepted. The governor telegraphed these facts to the adjutant general of the state, with orders to make a call for troups. The call, however, did not reach Fillmore county in time for any of her sons to be enlisted in the original muster of the First Regiment.

Several more regiments were tendered for the First Regiment than could be accepted, and those in excess of the number required were advanced to maintain their organization in expectation that a second regiment might be called for. The second call was received by the governor of Minnesota, June 14, 1861, and immediately announced to the people of the state. Enlistment for the Second Regiment at once started. The first company to reach ¥t. Snelling was Company A from Chatfield, commanded by Capt. J. W. Bishop. The captain, Judson W. Bishop, was afterward promoted to major with special mention. Charles Haven, the first lieutenant, died at Nashville, March 4, 1862. Charles H. Barnes, the second lieutenant, became captain. Levi Ober and Edward

Dr. Wenry Jones

Company C of the Third Regiment was mustered in October 11, 1861; Company B of the Fifth Regiment was mustered in March 2, 1862; Company K of the Sixth Regiment was mustered in August, 1862; Company E of the Seventh was mustered in August 15, 1862; Company D of the Eighth was mustered in November 17, 1862; Company A of the Second Cavalry was mustered in during the late months of 1863.

These were the principal Fillmore county companies, although duriug the entire war there were many enlistments from this county in other companies.

Company C of the Third Regiment was officered as follows: Captains, John R. Bennett, William H. Mills, Edward Hillman, David Misner, James M. Moran; first lieutenants, Lewis Hardy, William F. Grummons, Andrew J. Borland; second lieutenants, John V. Reaves, Nathaniel C. Parker. David Misner was promoted to major of the First Regiment, Minnesota Heavy Artillery.

Company B of the Fifth Regiment was officered as follows: Captains, William B. Gere, John 8. Marsh, Norman Culver, James G. McGrew; first lieutenants, Thomas P. Gere, John F. Bishop. William B. Gere was promoted to major.

Company K of the Sixth Regiment was officered as follows: Captains, William H. Woodward, W. W. Braden; first lieutenant, lenry S. Bassett; second lieutenant, Charles L. Gale.

Company FE of the Seventh was officered as follows: Captains, Josiah F. Marsh, Thomas G. Hall, Maxon L. Potter; first lientenants, Alexander Wight, Hardy Lewis, Aaron H. H. Dayton. Josiah ®. Marsh became lieutenant colonel of the Ninth Minnesota Infantry.

Company D of the Eighth was officered as follows: Captains, Samuel Mclarty; first Heutenant, Dennis Jacobs; second lientenant, Thomas Flarris.

Company A of the Sceond Cavalry was officered as follows: Captains, John R. Jones, Albert R. Field; first heutenant, William L. Briley; second lieutenant, William T. Stevens. John R. Jones was promoted to major.

In the above list of officers, in case of promotions, the highest office attained in the company is given, although most of the officers mentioned passed through various lower grades before attaining the positions given above.

When, in 1862, the local recruiting had become dull, at a time when other localities had begun to pay bounties, the county commissioners, on August 15, passed a resolution to pay a bounty to every person who would enlist in the Union army. And to show

**Resolved, That we will pay a bounty of $50 to all married men or men having families, and $25 to unmarried men who have or may hereafter enlist as volunteers in the United States service under the two calls of the President for 600,000 men; said volunteers being residents of the county; said bounty being payable in loan certificates, to be redeemed by issuing bonds of the county, payable in ten years, with interest at 10 per eent annually, as soon as the legislature shall authorize the issuing of said bonds; and that the auditor be and is hereby authorized to issne said eertifieates in accordance with the above, and that said certificate be signed by the auditor and chairman of this board; provided, that the whole quoia of men apportioned to this county under the said calls be raised by volunteers; provided, further, that said eertifieates shall be sold for vash at their par value. Resolved, That J. W. Crees and W. T. Wilkins be and they are hereby authorized to sell said certificates, and J. B. Fraser is authorized to receive the money and pay the saiue to volunteers, when they shall be entitled to the same.'' These resolutions were signed by the board as follows: J. W. Crees, G. A. Ifayes, B. F. Holman, Lewis Peterson. B. F. Holman, chairman; Niles Carpenter, county auditor.

January 9, 1863, the resolutions were modified so as to pay each volunteer in county orders, bearing interest at 6 per cent per annuin from the date of issue until redeemed, which was fixed at one-third in two years, one-third in three years and the last third in four years. A provision to meet these obligations was made in the form of a special tax to be levied on the property of the county for three suceessive years. The chairman and auditor were made the committee on bounty claims, and were to be the disbursing agents for the money so appropriated. This, like the other, was made contingent upon the action of the legislature legalizing such a tax. A resolution was also adopted to request the honorable legislature of the state to pass an enabling act. The legislature being in session at the time, the auditor was enjoined to attend to having a certified copy of the resolution sent to St. Paul without unnecessary delay.

Each township, as their quota was ahead or behind the inexorable demands of the remorseless draft, would take measures to procure enlistments, which, with the 4300 commutation, was the only means of averting the drawing.

The complete record of these regiments has many times been published and is beyond the seope of this history. It is snificient to say that whether in the barracks or in the field, in camp or

Roll Of Honor

In this connection has been compiled from the adjutant-general's report, the names of the soldiers who enlisted from Fillmore county. If any are omitted, it is not intentional. for great care has been exercised in collecting this matter, and none have greater veneration for the brave soldier than the compilers of this volume. As the only possible way to aseertain enlistment of each soldier, is to depend upon the official reports, as published under authority of the state, any mistakes in spelling names or the omission of them entirely, should be charged to such official reports. Fillmore county was represented m the Union army as follows:

Second Infantry

This regiment was organized in July, 1861, and originally commanded by Horatio Van Cleve. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., in October, 1861, and assigned to the Army of the Ohio. It was engaged in the following marches, battles, skirmishes and sieves, viz.: Mull Spring, January 19, 1862; siege of Corinth, in April, 1862, then transferred to the Army of the Tennessee; Bragg's Raid, Perryville, October 8, 1862; skirmishes of the Tullahoma campaign, Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1868; Mission Ridge, November 28, 1863. Veteranized in January, 1864, and participated in the battles and skirmishes of the Atlanta eampaign, viz.: Resaca, June 14, 15 and 16, 1864; Kennesaw Mountam, June 27, 1864; Jonesboro; Sherman's Mareh through Georgia and the Carolinas, and Bentonville, March 19, 1865. The men were mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and discharged at Fort Snelling, Minn., July 11, 1865. This regiment covered itself with laurels at the battle of Mission Ridge, where they were badly eut up in a charge they made on the enemy's works. Few Minnesota regiments, if any, performed more long and laborious marches than the 'Bloody Seeond.''

Third Infantry

This regiment was organized in October, 1861, and originally commanded by Col. Henry C. Lester, of Winona. Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., in March, 1862. Captured and paroled at Murtreesboro in July, 1862. Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., thence to Minnesota. Engaged in the Indian expedition in 1862. Participated in the battle of Wood Lake in September, 1862. Ordered to Little Roek, Ark., m Novemher, 1863. Veteranized in January, 1864. Engaged in battle of Fitszhugh's Woods, March 30, 1864. Ordered to Pine Blut, Ark., in April, 1864;

Fourth Regiment Infantry

This regiment was originally commanded by Col. J. B. Sanborn, of St. Paul, organized December 23, 1861; ordered to Benton Barracks, Mo., April 19, 1862; assigned to army of the Mississippi, May 4, 1862; participated in the following marches, battles, sieges and skirmishes: Siege of Corinth, April, 1862; Iuka, September 19, 1862; Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862; siege of Vicksburg, Forty Hills, Raymond, Jackson, Champion fills, assault on Viekshurg, capture of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. Transferred from Seventeenth to Fifteenth corps; Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863; veteranized, January, 1864; Altoona, October, 1864; Sherman's march through Georgia and the Carolinas; Bentonviile, Mareh 20, 1865, and Raleigh, April 14, 1863; mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 19, 1865; discharged at Fort Snelling, Minn.

Fifth Infantry

This regiment was organized in May, 1862, and originally commauded by Col. Rudolph Borgesrode, of Shakopee. Ordered to Pittsburg Landing, May %, 1862, leaving a detachment of three companies in Minnesota, garrisoning frontier posts. Participated in the following marches, haitles, sieges and skirmishes: Siege of Corinth, April and May, 1862. The detachment in Minnesota engaged with the Indians at Redwood, Minn., August 18, 1862, and siege of Fort Ridgely, Auvust 20, 21 and 22, 1862; Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory, in August, 1862. The regiment was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps and engaged in the battle of Iuka, September 18, 1862, and at Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862; Jackson, May 14, 1863; and the siege of Vieksburg; assault of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863; Mechanicsburg, June 3, 1863; Riehmond, June 15, 1863; Fort De Rusrey, Louisiana, March 14, 1864; Red River expedition in Mareh, April and May, 1864; Lake Chieot, June 6, 1864, and Tupelo in June, 1864. Veteranized in July, i864; Abbeyville, August 23, 1864; marehed in September, 1864, from Brownsville, Ark., to Cape Girardeau, Mo., thence by boat to Jefferson City; thence to Kansas state line; thence to St. Louis, Mo.; ordered to Nashville, November, 1864; hatile of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864; Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely in April, 1865; mustered out at Demopolis, Ala., September 6, 1865, and discharged at Fort Snelling, Minn. ft will be seen by the above record tlis regiment was in active service, yet comparatively very few were killed in battle.

Sixth Infantry

The Sixth Infantry was organized in August, 1862, and ordered on the expedition against the Indians. Detachment of 200 engaged in battle at Birch Cooley, September 2, 1862. The regiment participated in the hattle at Wood Lake, September 22, 1862, and garrisoned frontier posts from November, 1862, until May, 1863, when ordered upon Indian expedition; engaged with the Indians, July 24, 26 and 28, 1863. Stationed at {frontier posts from September 18, 1863, to June 5, 1864, when ordered to Helena, Ark. Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., November, 1864; to New Orleans, January, 1865. Assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps. Participated in engagements of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, April, 1865. Discharged at Fort Snelling, August 19, 1865.

Seventh Infantry

The Seventh Infantry was organized in August, 1862, and ordered on expedition against the Indians. Engaged in battle of Wood Lake, September 22, 1862. Stationed at frontier posts until May, 1863, when again ordered on an Indian expedition. Engaged with Indians July 24, 26 aud 28, 1863. Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., October 7, 1863, thence to Paducah, Ky., April, 1864, thence to Memphis, Tenn., and assigned to Sixteenth Army Corps, June, 1864. Participated in the following marches, battles, sieges and skirmishes: Tupelo, July, 1864; Tallahatchie, August 7 and 8, 1864. Marched in pursuit of Priee from Brownsville, Ark., to Cape Girardeau, thenee by boat to Jefferson City, thence to Kansas line, thence to St. Lonis, Mo. Battles of Nashville, Tenn., December 15 and 16, 1864; Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, April, 1865. Discharged at Fort Snelling, August 16, 1865.

Eighth Infantry

The Kighth infantry was organized August 1, 1862. Stationed at frontier posts until May, 1864, when ordered upon Indian expedition. Engaged in the following battles, sieges, skirmishes and marehes: Tat-cha-o-ku-ta, July 28, 1864; Battle of the Cedars and Overall's Creek. Ordered to Clifton, Tenn., thenee to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Washington, thenee to Wilmington, thenee to Newburn, N. C. Battles of Kingston, March 8, 9 and 10, 1865. Mustered out at Charlotte, N. C., July 11, 1865. Discharged at Fort Snelling.

Ninth Infantry

This regiment was organized in August, 1862, and stationed at frontier posts until September, 1868, when ordered to St. Louis, Mo., and from there to Jefferson City, Mo., and distributed among several posts in the interior of the state. In May, 1864, ordered to St. Louis and from there to Memphis, Tenn. Engaged in the following battles, marches, sieges and skirmishes: Guntown Expedition, Augnst, 1864; Tallahatchie, August, 1864; marched in pursuit of Price from Brownsville, Ark.,'to Cape Girardeau, thence by boat to Jefferson City; thence to Kansas line, thence to St. Lonis. Fought with heroism in the battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864; also at Spanish Fort and Fert Blakely in April, 1865. Discharged at Fort Snelling, Minn., August 24, 1865.

Tenth Infantry

The regiment was organized in August, 1862, and originally commanded by Col. James H. Baker, of Mankato. It was stationed at frontier posts until June, 1863, when it was ordered upon the Indian expedition. Engaged with the Indians July 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31, 1868. Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., in October, 1863; thence to Columbus, Ky., in April, 1864; thence to Memphis, Tenn., in June, 1864, and assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps. Participated in the following marches, battles, sieges and skirmishes: Battle of Tupelo, July 13, 1864; Oxford expedition, August, 1864; march in pursuit of Price from Brownsville, Ark.. to Cape Girardean; thence by boat to Jefferson City; thence to Kansas line; thence to St. Louis, Mo.; battles of Nashville, Tenn., December 15 and 16, 1864; Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, April, 1865. The regiment was discharged at Fort Snellig, Angust 19, 1865.

Eleventh Infantry

This regiment was organized in August, 1864. Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., engaged in guarding railroad between Nashville and Louisville until mustered ont, June 26, 1865.

First Heavy Artillery First Regiment Mounted Rangers

Organized in Mareh, 1868, and originally commanded by Col. Samuel MePhail, of Caledonia, Houston county. Stationed among frontier posts until May, 1863, when they were ordered upon the Indian expedition. Engaged with the Indians, July 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31, 1868. Stationed at frontier posts upon the return of the expedition until mystered out. Mustered out by companies, between October 1, 1863, and Deeember 30, 1863.

Second Cavalry

This regiment was organized in January, 1864, and ordered on an Indian expedition in the month of May. Several engagements with the Indians in July and August of that year. Stationed at frontier posts until mustered out by companies between November, 1865, and June, 1856.

The Independent Cavalry was organized July 20, 1868. Ordered to Pembina, October, 1863. Ordered to Fort <Abererombie, May, 1864. Stationed at above fort until mustered out in April and June, 1866.

Company A - Private, Isaac C. Wait. Company B - Privates, Garrett Duryea, Thaddeus A. Wilkins. Company C - Private, George W. Plummer. Company D - Private, Wesley Baldwin.

Other Regiments Protection Of Southern Frontier

Following is the roster of Capt. C. L. Post's company of Fillmore County Volunteer Mounted Infantry, organized September 1, 1862, and served until Oetober 6, 1862. This company was in Col. Charles EK. Flandrau's expedition for the defense of the southern frontier.

Following is the roster of Company A, Fillmore County Volunteer Militia, commanded by Capt. N. P. Colburn, organized September 1, 1862, and served until October 4, 1862. This company served with Col. Charles E. Flandrau in his expedition for the defense of the southern frontier.

Spanish-American War

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war Fillmore county had one military company, known as Company F, Second Infantry, Minnesota National Guards. It was located at Spring Valley, but also had members from other towns in the county. Vhe company, commanded by Capt. Roy Viall, was called into the service of the United States by the president, at Spring Valley, April 29, 1898, to serve for a period of two years unless sooner discharged. The company on that same day traveled to St. Paul and went into camp. At that time the commissioned officers were: Captain, Roy Viall; first lieutenant, Frauk Rensberger; second lientenant, F. H. Viall. First sergeant was O. C. MeCary. Captain Viall served until mustered out. Lieutenant Rensberger resigned, and his place was taken by Louis Miller. Lientenant Miller died and William Denny, of St. James, was assigned to Company F, as first lieutenant, October 6, 1898. Lieut. F. H. Viall resigned July 11, 1898, and his place was taken, July 20, 1898, by Burdett C. Thayer, who had been mustered in as battalion sergeant major.

The Second Infantry, which inelnded Company F, was enrolled on April 29, 1898, as the Twelfth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and mustered into the service of the United States, at Camp Ramsey, St. Paul, May 6 and 7, 1898. The regiment left Camp Ramsey, May 15, 1898, for Camp Thomas, Georgia, arriving May 19, 1895, and was assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps. The regiment left Camp Thomas, Georgia, August 23, 1898, and reached Camp Hamilton, Ky., Angust 24, 1898. Under orders to return home the regiment left Camp Hamilton, Ky., September 15, 1898, arriving at New Ulm, Minn., Sept. 17, 1898, where it entered camp the following day. Pursuant to General Orders, No. 130, A. G. O., 1898, and General Orders, No. 17, Regimental Headquarters, the regiment was furloughed for thirty days from September 21, 1898, and was musiered out of the service, November 5, 1898.

Resigned. Frank J. Rensherger (first lieutenant), resignation to date from July 15, 1908. Frank II. Viall (second lieutenant). resignation to date from July 11, 1908.

Transferred. George F. Cady, sergeant, protnoted to sergeant major. Leo. C. Bloomer, private, transferred to Twelfth Minnesota Band. Harry W. Johnson, private, transferred to hospital corps. Hmery C. McCumber, private, transferred +9 hospital corps. Howard N. Stillman, private, transferred to hospital corps.

Died. Louis Mueller, first lieutenant, died at New Ulm, Minn., September 1, 1898, typhoid fever. Fred E. MeDermott, private, died at St. Paul, September 13, 1898, typhoid fever.