Battle of Bull Run

The 1st Minnesota was in the heaviest fighting of the battle around Henry House Hill and was one of the last Union regiments to leave the field. it lost 49 men killed, 107 wounded and 34 missing.

Battle of Antietam

The 1st Minnesota fought in Sedgwick’s attack into the West Woods, losing 1 officer and 15 enlisted men killed, 3 officers and 79 enlisted men wounded, and 24 enlisted men missing out of 435 men on the field.

From the brigade’s marker on the Antietam battlefield:

Gorman’s Brigade led the advance of Sedgwick’s Division in its assault upon the Confederate left. It passed through the East Woods, crossed the Cornfield and the open ground to the south, entered the West Woods and had reached this point, when its advance was checked by Jackson’s Command and the Artillery of Stuart’s Division posted on the high ground to the northwest. After a severe contest in which its ammunition was nearly exhausted, its left flank was turned by McLaws’ and Walker’s Divisions and the Brigade was forced to retire northward to the fields beyond D.R. Miller’s barn. The 34th New York was detached and occupied the woods immediately west of the Dunkard Church. This tablet marks the left center of the Brigade in its advance.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Battle of Maryes Heights (Second Fredericksburg)

Salem Heights

Haymarket

Colonel Colville’s horse was killed by Stuart’s Horse Artillery in a skirmsh

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment entered the field 420 strong, of whom 32 men (Company L) were serving as skirmishers and 56 men (Company C) were detached to the division during the famous charge. Fifty men were killed, 173 wounded and 1 missing.

Colonel William Colville led the men into action and was wounded during the charge on July 2nd. Captain Nathan Messick took over command only to be killed the next day during the repulse of Pickett’s Charge. He was followed in command by Captain Wilson B. Farrell, also killed at this time, and finally by Captain Henry C. Coates.

From the main monument at Gettysburg:

On the afternoon of July 2, 1863 Sickles Third Corps having advanced from this line to the Emmitsburg road eight companies of the First Minnesota regiment numbering 262 men were sent to this place to support a battery. Upon Sickles’ repulse as his men were passing here in confused retreat two Confederate brigades in pursuit were crossing the swale.To gain time to bring up the reserves and save this position General Hancock in person ordered the eight companies to charge the rapidly advancing enemy. The order was instantly repeated by Col. Wm. Colville and the charge instantly made down the slope at full speed through the concentrate fire of the two brigades breaking with the bayonet the enemy’s front line as it was crossing the small brook in the low ground. There the remnant of the eight companies nearly surrounded by the enemy held its entire force at bay for a considerable timeand till it retired on the approach of the reserve the charge successfully accomplished its object. It saved the position and probably the battlefield. The loss of the eight companies in the charge was 215 killed and wounded, more than 85 percent. 47 men were still in line and no missing. In self-sacrificing desperate valor this charge has no parallel in any war. The next day the regiment participated in repelling Pickett’s charge losing 17 more men killed and wounded.

From the smaller monument:

On July 3d, 1863 the survivors of this regiment aided here in repelling Picketts Charge and ran hence to the aid of Webb’s Brigade taking a conspicuous part in the counter-charge which successfully ended the conflict. Losing then17 additional killed and wounded and capturing a Confederate flag. There Captains Nathan S. Messick and Wilson B. Farrel successively commanding the regiment were killed. Total killed and wounded in the battle 232 out of 330 engaged.

Corporal Henry D. O’Brien of Company E was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 3rd when, “taking up the colors where they had fallen, he rushed ahead of his regiment, close to the muzzles of the enemy’s guns, and engaged in the desperate struggle in which the enemy was defeated, and though severely wounded, he held the colors until wounded a second time.”

Private Marshall Sherman of Company C was awarded the Medal for capturing the flag of the 28th Virginia Infantry on July 3rd.

Bristoe Station

The 1st Minnesota mustered less than 100 men, serving as skirmishers in front of the railroad embankment that sheltered the main Union battle line. The regiment lost about 20 men casualties.

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army