HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 6th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry was organized at Camp Release and Fort Snelling, Minnesota on September 29 to November 20, 1862. It mustered out on August 19, 1865 at St. Paul, Minnesota.
The 6th suffered 12 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 4 officers and 161 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 177 fatalities.
OFFICERS:
Colonel William Crooks – August 23, 1862, to October 28, 1864.
Colonel John T. Averill – November 22, 1864, to September 30, 1865.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Campaign against the Sioux Indians in Minnesota August 20 to November 14, 1862. Sibley's march to relief of Fort Ridgly August 24-28. Engagement at Birch Coolie September 1, 2 and 3 (Co. "A"). Engagement at Wood Lake September 23. At Camp Release September 26. Regiment mustered in at Camp Release. Companies "A," "B," "F" and "G" October 1; Company "C" October 13; Company "D" September 29; Company "E" October 5; Company "I" October 4; Company "K" October 10, and Company "H" at Fort Snelling November 20, 1862. Garrison duty at Fort Snelling, Companies "A," "B," "G," "H" and "K"; at Glencoe, Companies "C," "F" and "I"; at Forest City, Company "D"; at Kingston, Company "E," until February, 1863. Companies "A," "G" and "K" at Glencoe; Company "B" at Forest City; Companies "C," "D," "F" and "I" at Fort Snelling; Company "E" at Clearwater, and Company "H" at Kingston, until April, 1863. At Camp Pope until June, 1863. Sibley's Expedition against hostile Indians in Dakota June 16 to September 12, 1863. Action at Big Hills, Dakota Territory, July 24. Dead Buffalo Lake July 26. Stony Lake July 28. Missouri River July 29-30. On frontier duty in Minnesota until June, 1864. Company "A" at Fort Ridgly September, 1863, to June, 1864. Company "B" at Fort Snelling September, 1863; Swan Lake and Fort Ridgly to January, 1864, and at Fort Snelling until June, 1864. Company "C" at Fairmont September, 1863, to June, 1864. Company "D" at Kingston September, 1863; at Fort Snelling to November, 1863. Escort trains to agencies on the Missouri River November 6 to December 29, 1863; at Kingston until June, 1864. Company "E" at Lake Hanska September to November, 1863; escort trains to agencies on the Missouri River November 6-December 29; at Fort Ridg- [This way in original] Organized at Anoka, Forest City, Stillwater, Lake ly until June, 1864. Company "F" at Fort Ridgly September, 1863; at Lake Hanska until June, 1864. Company "G" at Wautowan River September, 1863, to January, 1864; at Madelia until June, 1864. Company "H" at Buffalo Creek September-October, 1863; at Fort Ridgly to November, 1863; escort supply trains to agencies on the Missouri River November 6-December 29, 1863; at Fort Ridgly until June, 1864. Company "I" at Forest City September, 1863, to June, 1864. Company "K" at Fort Snelling September, 1863, to June, 1864. Regiment concentrated at Fort Snelling June 9, 1864. Moved to Helena, Ark., June 14-23, and duty there until November 4. Attached to District of Eastern Arkansas, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, June to November, 1864. District of St. Louis, Mo., Dept. of Missouri, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps (New), Military District of West Mississippi, to August, 1865.
SERVICE:
Expedition from Helena, Ark., to Buck Island July 13-16, 1864 (Cos. "E" and "F"). Moved to St. Louis, Mo., November 4-11, and Provost duty there until January 29, 1865. Moved to New Orleans January 29-February 7, and duty there until March 5. Moved to Dauphin Island, le Bay, Ala., March 5-8. Campaign against le, Ala.. and its Defenses March 8-April 12. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of le April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25. Duty there until July. Moved to St. Paul, Minn., and mustered out August 19, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contains the names of 1737 men.
Company A - Ramsey County and Dakota County
Company B - Hennepin County
Company C - Rice County, Hennepin County and other assorted counties
Company D - Hennepin County
Company E - Prussia, Germany and Switzerland
Company F - Goodhue County
Company G - Ramsey County and Carver County
Company H - Olmsted County
Company I - Washington County, Blue Earth County, Nicollet County and other assorted counties
Company K - Houston County and Fillmore County
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources 1998. E491D992. A concise summary of each regiment's service.
Fridley, Russell, editor. Charles E. Flandrau and the Defense of New Ulm. New Ulm, MN: Brown County Historical Society, 1962. 62 p. F6l4N4F7.
Jennison, Samuel P. "The Illusions of a Soldier." In Glimpses of the Nation's Struggle (MOLLUS, MN, Vol. 1). St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Book & Stationary Co, 1887. pp. 369-80 (7 photocopied pages). E464M5.1991v26.
Jorgenson, Wayne. Minnesota in the Civil War: A Photographic Legacy. Military Images
(May/Jun 2008): p. 29. Per.
Minnesota. Board of Commissioners on Publication of History of Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars. Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars. Vol. 1. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources 1998. Unit history and roster.
Wakefield, Larry. "Volunteer's Tour of Duty." [Henry McConnell] Military History (Apr l989): pp. 42-49 (8 photocopied pages). Per.
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HISTORICAL NOTES: