4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 4th Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. It served in several important campaigns in the Western Theater
.
, between October 4 and December 23, 1861, and moved to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri
on April 23, 1862.
The 4th Minnesota participated in Maj. Gen.
Henry Wager Halleck
's advance on and Siege of Corinth
, Mississippi
, from May 18 to May 30, 1862. The regiment participated in Ulysses S. Grant
's Central Mississippi Campaign from November 1862 to January 1863. Participation in Grant's Vicksburg Campaign
followed, with the 4th Minnesota fighting in the Battle of Port Gibson
on May 1, 1863, the Battle of Raymond
on May 12, the Battle of Jackson on May 14, the Battle of Champion's Hill May 16, the Battle of Big Black River on May 17 and the Siege of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 4, 1863. The regiment performed garrison duty at Vicksburg followed the surrender, remaining at that location until September 12, 1863.
The regiment participated in the Third Battle of Chattanooga from November 23–27 1863, then was on garrison duty at Bridgeport
and Huntsville
in Alabama
, until June 1864, having Veteranized during the spring of 1864. It participated in Sherman's March to the Sea
from November 15 to December 10, 1864, finishing the war during the Carolinas Campaign
from January to April 1865 and then participated in the Grand Review of the Armies
on May 24, 1865.
The 4th Minnesota Infantry was mustered out on July 19, 1865, and was discharged from service at St. Paul
, Minnesota
, on August 7, 1865.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It served in several important campaigns in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
.
Service
The 4th Minnesota was mustered into Federal service by companies at Fort Snelling, MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, between October 4 and December 23, 1861, and moved to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
on April 23, 1862.
The 4th Minnesota participated in Maj. Gen.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Henry Wager Halleck
Henry Wager Halleck
Henry Wager Halleck was a United States Army officer, scholar, and lawyer. A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory, "Old Brains." He was an important participant in the admission of California as a state and became a successful lawyer and land developer...
's advance on and Siege of Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, from May 18 to May 30, 1862. The regiment participated in Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
's Central Mississippi Campaign from November 1862 to January 1863. Participation in Grant's Vicksburg Campaign
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
followed, with the 4th Minnesota fighting in the Battle of Port Gibson
Battle of Port Gibson
The Battle of Port Gibson was fought near Port Gibson, Mississippi, on May 1, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
on May 1, 1863, the Battle of Raymond
Battle of Raymond
The Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, near Raymond, Mississippi, during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The bitter fight pitted elements of Union Army Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee against Confederate forces of Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton's...
on May 12, the Battle of Jackson on May 14, the Battle of Champion's Hill May 16, the Battle of Big Black River on May 17 and the Siege of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 4, 1863. The regiment performed garrison duty at Vicksburg followed the surrender, remaining at that location until September 12, 1863.
The regiment participated in the Third Battle of Chattanooga from November 23–27 1863, then was on garrison duty at Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Alabama
Bridgeport is a small city in Jackson County, Alabama, United States. At the time of 2000 census the population was 2,728. Bridgeport is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area.-History:...
and Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, until June 1864, having Veteranized during the spring of 1864. It participated in Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
from November 15 to December 10, 1864, finishing the war during the Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
from January to April 1865 and then participated in the Grand Review of the Armies
Grand Review of the Armies
The Grand Review of the Armies was a military procession and celebration in Washington, D.C., on May 23 and May 24, 1865, following the close of the American Civil War...
on May 24, 1865.
The 4th Minnesota Infantry was mustered out on July 19, 1865, and was discharged from service at St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, on August 7, 1865.
Casualties
The 4th Minnesota Infantry suffered 3 officers and 58 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 3 officers and 175 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 239 fatalities.http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unmninf1.htmColonels
- Colonel John B. SanbornJohn B. SanbornJohn Benjamin Sanborn was a lawyer, politician, and soldier from the state of New Hampshire who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
- January 1, 1862 to August 4, 1863 - Colonel John Eaton Tourtellotte - October 5, 1864 to June 21, 1865