Antietam

Battle of Fredericksburg

Battle of Maryes Heights (Second Fredericksburg)

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.

Battle of the Wilderness

Spotsylvania Court House

Cold Harbor