3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union army
during the American Civil War
. It fought in several campaigns in the Western Theater
.
, between October 2 and November 14, 1861, and was sent to Kentucky
on November 14, 1861. It remained on garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee
until most of the men were captured by Nathan Bedford Forrest
at Murfreesboro, Tennessee
, on July 13, 1862. They were subsequently paroled and sent to Benton Barracks at St. Louis, Missouri
, to await parole. Their commanding officer, Colonel Lester, and the other officers who voted for surrender were held accountable for the debacle at Murfreesboro and were dismissed from the service in December 1862. Further description of the surrender at Murfreesboro can be found in the papers of William D. Hale, a member of the 3rd Minnesota.
The regiment was formally exchanged on August 27, 1862, and moved home to Minnesota, where it participated in the suppression of the Dakota War of 1862
. In September 1862, it participated in Col.
Henry Hastings Sibley
's campaign against the Sioux, culminating in the defeat of the Indians at the Battle of Wood Lake
on September 23. At the end of the brief campaign, the regiment returned to Fort Snelling to reorganize.
The 3rd Minnesota returned to garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee in January 1863 and remained there until joining in the Siege of Vicksburg until the surrender of the defenders on July 4, 1863. The regiment then participated in the campaign to capture Little Rock, Arkansas
, from August 13 to September 10, 1863, and remained in garrison there after the fall of the city until April 28, 1864.
Enough of the soldiers of the regiment reenlisted in January 1864 to Veteranize it. Part of the 3rd Minnesota participated in an expedition up the White River to Augusta, Arkansas
from March 30 to April 3, 1864, culminating in the Battle of Fitzhugh's Woods on April 1, 1864. The regiment remained in various garrisons to the end of the war.
The 3rd Minnesota Infantry was discharged from service at Fort Snelling on September 16, 1865.
The 3rd Minnesota Infantry suffered 17 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 4 officers and 275 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 296 fatalities.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It fought in several campaigns in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
.
Service
The 3rd Minnesota was mustered in by companies at Fort Snelling, MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, between October 2 and November 14, 1861, and was sent to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
on November 14, 1861. It remained on garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
until most of the men were captured by Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
at Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
, on July 13, 1862. They were subsequently paroled and sent to Benton Barracks at St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, to await parole. Their commanding officer, Colonel Lester, and the other officers who voted for surrender were held accountable for the debacle at Murfreesboro and were dismissed from the service in December 1862. Further description of the surrender at Murfreesboro can be found in the papers of William D. Hale, a member of the 3rd Minnesota.
The regiment was formally exchanged on August 27, 1862, and moved home to Minnesota, where it participated in the suppression of the Dakota War of 1862
Dakota War of 1862
The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of the eastern Sioux. It began on August 17, 1862, along the Minnesota River in southwest Minnesota...
. In September 1862, it participated in Col.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Henry Hastings Sibley
Henry Hastings Sibley
Henry Hastings Sibley was the first Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota.-Early life and education:...
's campaign against the Sioux, culminating in the defeat of the Indians at the Battle of Wood Lake
Battle of Wood Lake
The Battle of Wood Lake was a battle in the Dakota War of 1862 in September. By that time in the Dakota War of 1862, the Sioux offensive had slowed considerably, and the Minnesota forces were beginning to implement a plan formulated by Governor Alexander Ramsey...
on September 23. At the end of the brief campaign, the regiment returned to Fort Snelling to reorganize.
The 3rd Minnesota returned to garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee in January 1863 and remained there until joining in the Siege of Vicksburg until the surrender of the defenders on July 4, 1863. The regiment then participated in the campaign to capture Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, from August 13 to September 10, 1863, and remained in garrison there after the fall of the city until April 28, 1864.
Enough of the soldiers of the regiment reenlisted in January 1864 to Veteranize it. Part of the 3rd Minnesota participated in an expedition up the White River to Augusta, Arkansas
Augusta, Arkansas
Augusta is a city in Woodruff County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,693 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Woodruff County.-Geography:Augusta is located at ....
from March 30 to April 3, 1864, culminating in the Battle of Fitzhugh's Woods on April 1, 1864. The regiment remained in various garrisons to the end of the war.
The 3rd Minnesota Infantry was discharged from service at Fort Snelling on September 16, 1865.
Casualties
Colonels
- Colonel Henry C. Lester - November 15, 1861 to December 1, 1862.
- Colonel Chauncey W. Griggs - December 1, 1862 to July 15, 1863.
- Colonel Christopher C. Andrews - July 15, 1863 to June 13, 1864.
- Colonel Hans Mattson - June 13, 1864 to September 2, 1865.