1/
#OTD in 1863, the First Minnesota Volunteers made a desperate suicide charge to hold the Union line at Cemetery Ridge.
“My God, are these all the men we have?”
Sacrifice: Remembering the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg
thedailygopher.com/2017/7/2/15909…
#OTD in 1863, the First Minnesota Volunteers made a desperate suicide charge to hold the Union line at Cemetery Ridge.
“My God, are these all the men we have?”
Sacrifice: Remembering the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg
thedailygopher.com/2017/7/2/15909…
2/
"If the Confederate forces gained the top of Cemetery Ridge, they would turn the Union flank & drive the Union Army all the way back to Washington.
The war might be over then."
[Longer read, but worth your time.]
The First Minnesota at Gettysburg
laurabillingscoleman.com/project/the-fi…
"If the Confederate forces gained the top of Cemetery Ridge, they would turn the Union flank & drive the Union Army all the way back to Washington.
The war might be over then."
[Longer read, but worth your time.]
The First Minnesota at Gettysburg
laurabillingscoleman.com/project/the-fi…
3/
"One hundred and fifty years later, those 300 seconds they then won for the United States have proven timeless. Because it worked. They threw a wrench into the rebel attack, stalling it..."
The Battle Of Gettysburg Day 2: The Charge To Win 300 Seconds
esquire.com/news-politics/…
"One hundred and fifty years later, those 300 seconds they then won for the United States have proven timeless. Because it worked. They threw a wrench into the rebel attack, stalling it..."
The Battle Of Gettysburg Day 2: The Charge To Win 300 Seconds
esquire.com/news-politics/…
4/
The next day, the regiment found themselves at one of the few places where the Union lines were breached during Pickett's Charge.
Henry O'Brien was awarded the Medal of Honor after he picked up the First Minnesota's fallen battle flag and charged the approaching rebels.
The next day, the regiment found themselves at one of the few places where the Union lines were breached during Pickett's Charge.
Henry O'Brien was awarded the Medal of Honor after he picked up the First Minnesota's fallen battle flag and charged the approaching rebels.
5/
The rest of the men followed, including Private Marshall Sherman. He proceeded to capture the battle flag of the 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment, for which he was also awarded the Medal of Honor.
Minnesota still has that confederate flag, and will not return it.
The rest of the men followed, including Private Marshall Sherman. He proceeded to capture the battle flag of the 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment, for which he was also awarded the Medal of Honor.
Minnesota still has that confederate flag, and will not return it.
6/
Col. William Colvill, who led the charge on Day 2, was severely wounded by two rebel bullets. He was not discovered to be alive until several hours later, when a soldier stumbled upon him and summoned for help.
Colonel Colvill of the First Minnesota
forgottenminnesota.com/forgotten-minn…
Col. William Colvill, who led the charge on Day 2, was severely wounded by two rebel bullets. He was not discovered to be alive until several hours later, when a soldier stumbled upon him and summoned for help.
Colonel Colvill of the First Minnesota
forgottenminnesota.com/forgotten-minn…
7/
Colvill survived and would go on to be elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, and then became Minnesota's Attorney General.
A bronze statue of him stands in the rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol.
Colvill survived and would go on to be elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, and then became Minnesota's Attorney General.
A bronze statue of him stands in the rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol.
8/
An urn dedicated to the First Minnesota that was placed in the National Cemetery in 1867 was the first regimental memorial placed at Gettysburg.
A large monument was built in 1893 by the state of MN on Cemetery Ridge, near the spot where the regiment made their charge.
An urn dedicated to the First Minnesota that was placed in the National Cemetery in 1867 was the first regimental memorial placed at Gettysburg.
A large monument was built in 1893 by the state of MN on Cemetery Ridge, near the spot where the regiment made their charge.
9/
Colvill died in 1905. In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the memorial at his grave.
"In all the history of warfare this charge has few, if any, equals & no superiors."
Address Dedicating a Memorial to Col. William Colvill, Cannon Falls, MN
presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/addr…
Colvill died in 1905. In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the memorial at his grave.
"In all the history of warfare this charge has few, if any, equals & no superiors."
Address Dedicating a Memorial to Col. William Colvill, Cannon Falls, MN
presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/addr…
10/
"In case I’m burying the lead, Minnesota saved the Union from the traitorous Confederates on July 2, 1863. That’s not just an opinion."
Remember the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment, and what it did at Gettysburg
minnpost.com/community-voic…
"In case I’m burying the lead, Minnesota saved the Union from the traitorous Confederates on July 2, 1863. That’s not just an opinion."
Remember the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment, and what it did at Gettysburg
minnpost.com/community-voic…
11/
“So far as human judgment can determine, Colonel Colvill and those 8 companies of the First Minnesota are entitled to rank as the saviors of their country.” - President Calvin Coolidge
Minnesota Civil War memorial in Gettysburg Cemetery stands apart
startribune.com/minnesota-civi…
“So far as human judgment can determine, Colonel Colvill and those 8 companies of the First Minnesota are entitled to rank as the saviors of their country.” - President Calvin Coolidge
Minnesota Civil War memorial in Gettysburg Cemetery stands apart
startribune.com/minnesota-civi…
12/
“No soldiers on any field, in this or any other country, ever displayed grander heroism,” General Winfield Hancock wrote.
No grander heroism: The story of the 1st Minnesota, and Winona's Company K at Gettysburg
winonadailynews.com/news/local/no-…
“No soldiers on any field, in this or any other country, ever displayed grander heroism,” General Winfield Hancock wrote.
No grander heroism: The story of the 1st Minnesota, and Winona's Company K at Gettysburg
winonadailynews.com/news/local/no-…
13/
"In one of the most valiant charges in American military history, the First Minnesota stopped the Alabamians and prevented what could have been a catastrophe."
Battle of Gettysburg: Day Two - A Time For Heroes
thisiswhywestand.net/single-post/co…
"In one of the most valiant charges in American military history, the First Minnesota stopped the Alabamians and prevented what could have been a catastrophe."
Battle of Gettysburg: Day Two - A Time For Heroes
thisiswhywestand.net/single-post/co…
14/
"These dead shall not have died in vain."
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment
gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monument…
"These dead shall not have died in vain."
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment
gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monument…
15/
"Virginia has asked for return of the flag for more than 100 years — and each time Minnesota has refused to return the hard-won symbol of victory."
Minnesota has a Confederate symbol — and it is going to keep it
twincities.com/2017/08/20/min…
"Virginia has asked for return of the flag for more than 100 years — and each time Minnesota has refused to return the hard-won symbol of victory."
Minnesota has a Confederate symbol — and it is going to keep it
twincities.com/2017/08/20/min…
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