Shakopee, MN "Just three years into statehood, Minnesota in 1861 was anxious to prove itself.
"Volunteers, the first of an estimated 24,000 state soldiers who would fight in the Civil War, rushed to sign up to preserve the Union by putting down secessionist Southern states.
"They fought their first battle three months after the war began. Dozens more followed, often accompanied by heavy casualties. Late one afternoon at Gettysburg, four of every five soldiers of the First Minnesota Volunteers were killed or wounded in a heroic charge that bought crucial time for the Union army to prevail in battle and, ultimately, to win the war."
Art above from Gettysburg Daily:Major General Winfield Scott Hancock on horseback in the center of the painting, directs Colonel William Colvill of the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment to charge down the west slope of Cemetery Ridge towards Confederates approaching a weak point in the Union line. This image, titled “Minnesota Forward” by artist Dale Gallon is courtesy of Ms. Anne Gallon and Mr. Dale Gallon of Gallon Historical Art Inc., 9 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325.
Stone Sentinels; 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment "The 1st Minnesota performed one of the most critical actions of the battle during Longstreet's Assault of July 2nd. Sickles' Corps was falling back in disarray and Longstreet's men were advancing to penetrate the center of the Union line, which had been dangerously thinned to prop up other sectors. General Hancock rode up to the 1st Minnesota, the only organized Union troops at hand, pointed at the advancing Confederates, and ordered them to "Take those colors!" Their sacrificial charge against overwhelming odds halted the Confederate advance and bought time for the Union line to reform, forcing Lee into one last desperate gamble with Pickett's Charge the next day. The survivors of the 1st Minnesota played a role in repulsing that charge as well."
This map shows the location of the videos for Union Counterattacks series. Videos #1-#13 were shown in
our previous posts. Video #11 was taken at the monument to the 150th New York Infantry Regiment.
Video #12 was taken at the monument to the 1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. Video #13 was taken
at the Trostle Farm. Videos #s 14-16 were taken near the monument to the 1st Minnesota Regiment on
Cemetery Ridge.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing by the July 2, 1863 monument to the
1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment on Cemetery Ridge. He provides some background on the regiment.
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