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Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment

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A United States battle flag carried by the Fifth Minnesota

Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment National Battle Flag.

The Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment's Civil War service included participation in thirteen campaigns, five sieges and thirty-four battles, including duty on Minnesota's frontier during the US–Dakota War of 1862. They were the last of the state's regiments to form in response to President Lincoln's first call for troops.

Mustering into service at Fort Snelling in spring 1862, seven of the ten companies departed for the South in May. They were assigned to General John Pope's Army of the Mississippi in front of the town of Corinth. Just four days after arriving, the men of the Fifth received their baptism of fire at the Battle of Farmington. The men behaved well in the battle, which was a Union victory and resulted in the eventual capture of Corinth. The Confederates were forced to abandon western Tennessee and northern Alabama and Mississippi.

In the months following the battle, the Fifth spent much of the summer guarding railroads in Mississippi and Alabama. The hard marching and excessive southern heat took its toll on the officers and men and many of them fell ill. It was around this time that the Fifth's colonel, Rudolph von Borgersrode, resigned. Lieutenant-Colonel Lucius F. Hubbard, a future governor of Minnesota, was promoted to command of the regiment.

Meanwhile, Companies B, C, and D had been kept in Minnesota and sent to various posts nearby. Company B was stationed at Fort Ridgley. On August 18 a forty-six-man detachment under Captain John S. Marsh departed the fort for the Lower Sioux Agency in response to the conflict there. They were ambushed at Redwood Ferry on the Minnesota River. This was the first encounter between the Dakota and US troops since the US Dakota War began. Captain Marsh drowned in the confusion of the retreat, and his detachment suffered twenty-three killed and five wounded. Those remaining made it back to Fort Ridgley and were soon joined by fifty men from Company C. This combined force, along with fifty Renville Rangers and a few cannon, defeated the Dakota attacks against the fort on August 20 and 22. On September 3 and 6, Company D successfully defended Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory, from additional Dakota assaults.

Back in Mississippi, the rest of the Fifth fought in the Union victories of Iuka on September 19 and Corinth on October 3-4. At Corinth, a gap opened in the federal lines. The Confederates began pouring through the gap and captured some cannon. The Fifth Minnesota rushed in and attacked these troops in the flank, closing the gap and recapturing the cannon. The Minnesotans were instrumental in turning the tide of battle.

In December 1862, Companies B and C rejoined the regiment, followed by Company D in February 1863. On May 14, 1863, during the Vicksburg Campaign, the Fifth fought the Battle of Jackson, a relatively easy Union victory. On May 22, however, the tables turned as the federal troops were soundly defeated in their attack on the Confederate works at Vicksburg. Due to the nature of the ground, the brigade to which the Fifth belonged charged by the flank rather than in line of battle. This put the Fifth in the rear of the attacking column, sparing the regiment the high casualties of the leading units.

The Fifth Minnesota was present when Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, 1863. The following February many men of the Fifth re-enlisted, earning the title of "Veteran Volunteers." For the next three months the Fifth took part in the failed Red River Campaign in Louisiana. By this time, Colonel Hubbard had been promoted to brigade command.

On December 15–16, 1864 the regiment fought in the Battle of Nashville. On the second day of the battle the men advanced across an open field towards the Confederate forces. They suffered a withering fire, and 106 men were killed or wounded. The battle, however, was a resounding Union success. During the battle, the Fifth's Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere captured the flag of the Fourth Mississippi Regiment.

In early 1865 the Fifth participated in the campaign against Mobile, Alabama. They were mustered out of service at Demopolis on September 6 and then returned to Minnesota, arriving back at Fort Snelling on September 22.

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Board of Commissioners. Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1861–1865. 2 vols. St. Paul: Pioneer Press Company, 1891.
http://archive.org/details/minnesotacivil01minnrich

"The City: The Fifth Regiment—Its Reception at St. Paul." St. Paul Press, September 23, 1865.
https://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83025286/1865-09-23/ed-1/seq-4

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines: The Dyer Publishing Company, 1908.
http://archive.org/details/08697590.3359.emory.edu

Faust, Patricia L., ed. Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War. New York: Harper Perennial, 1991.

Hubbard, Gen. L.F. Minnesota in the Battles of Nashville, December 15th and 16th, 1864: An Address Delivered Before the Minnesota Commandery of the Loyal Legion. St. Paul: n.p., 1905.

United States War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 70 vols. in 128 parts. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1880–1901. Reprint: Harrisburg: National Historical Society, 1971. (Series 1, vol. 45, part 1.)
http://archive.org/details/warrebellionaco17offigoog

Related Images

A United States battle flag carried by the Fifth Minnesota
A United States battle flag carried by the Fifth Minnesota
Photograph of Colonel Lucius Hubbard
Photograph of Colonel Lucius Hubbard
Photograph of Thomas Parke Gere
Photograph of Thomas Parke Gere
Photograph of Elias W. Mortimer
Photograph of Elias W. Mortimer
White ribbon with a list of the locations and dates of major battles of the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
White ribbon with a list of the locations and dates of major battles of the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
Photograph of members of the Fifth Minnesota in 1896
Photograph of members of the Fifth Minnesota in 1896
Photograph of stone monument at Vicksburg National Military Park honoring the Fifth Minnesota
Photograph of stone monument at Vicksburg National Military Park honoring the Fifth Minnesota
Blue silk battle flag with the state seal of Minnesota painted on the center
Blue silk battle flag with the state seal of Minnesota painted on the center

Turning Point

The Fifth Minnesota sustains heavy casualties in the Battle of Nashville on December 15–16, 1864, but the regiment's successful attack contributes to the decisive Union victory.

Chronology

March–April 1862

The regiment is organized at Fort Snelling.

May 26–30, 1862

The Fifth participates in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi.

May 28, 1862

Just four days after reaching the front, the Fifth participates in the Battle of Farmington, Mississippi. This important battle leads to the capture of Corinth.

August 18, 1862

A detachment of Company B fights the Battle of Redwood Ferry and retreats to Fort Ridgley.

August 20–22, 1862

Companies B and C defend Fort Ridgley.

September 3–6, 1862

Company D defends Fort Abercrombie.

September 19, 1862

The Fifth fights in the battle of Iuka, Mississippi

October 3-4, 1862

The Fifth Minnesota is instrumental in the Union victory at the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi.

Nov–December 1862

The Fifth participates in Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign.

May 14, 1863

The Fifth fights in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, a Union victory.

May 18–July 4, 1863

The Fifth participates in the Siege of Vicksburg.

February 12, 1864

Many members of the regiment reenlist for three years, earning the title of "Veteran Volunteers."

March 10–May 22, 1864

The Fifth takes part in the ill-fated Red River Campaign.

December 15–16, 1864

The Fifth, along with three other Minnesota regiments, fights in the climactic Battle of Nashville.

March 7–April 12, 1865

The regiment participates in General E.R.S. Canby's campaign against Mobile, Alabama.

September 6, 1865

The Fifth Minnesota is mustered out of service in Demopolis, Alabama. It returns to Minnesota on September 22.