First Regiment Minnesota Volunteers

First Regiment Minnesota Volunteers served from April 29 1861 to May 4 1864 in the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps and fought at Bull Run, Balls Bluff, Berryville, Yorktown, West Point, Hanover Court House, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, Malvern Hill, 2nd Malvern Hill, Vienna, South Mountain, Antietam, Charlestown, Ashby's Gap, Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, Haymarket, Gettysburg, Auburn, Bristow Station, Mine Run, and numerous skirmishes. On the afternoon of July 2 1863, after Sickles' Third Corps had advanced from this line to the Emmitsburg Road, eight companies of the regiment, numbering 262 men, were sent here to support a battery. When Sickles' men were driven back in confused retreat and two Confederate brigades in pursuit were crossing the swale, Gen. Hancock personally ordered the eight companies to charge the rapidly advancing enemy in order to gain time to bring up reserves and save this position. Col. Wm. Colvill instantly repeated the order, and the charge was made down the slope at full speed through the concentrated fire of the two brigades. The regiment broke the enemy's front line with the bayonet as it was crossing the small brook in the low ground, and the remnant of the eight companies, nearly surrounded, held the entire opposing force at bay for a considerable time until it retired on the approach of the reserve. The charge accomplished its object, saved this position, and probably the battlefield. The eight companies lost 215 killed and wounded, more than 83 percent; 47 men were still in line and no man was missing. Among the severely wounded were Col. Wm. Colvill, Lt. Col. Chas P. Adams, and Maj. Mark W. Downie; among the killed were Capt. Joseph Periam, Capt. Louis Muller, and Lt. Waldo Farrar. The next day the regiment helped repel Pickett's Charge and lost 17 more men killed and wounded.

Pennsylvania · United States