Ordinary Heroes: The Second Minnesota Battery of Light Artillery

ORDINARY W?

\m,?#k X?,.

THE

SECOND

MINNESOTA BATTERY DF

LICHT

ARTILLERY Vickie

Wendel

SECOND

MINNESOTA'S

BATTERY

of Light

never made

Artillery

nor were

"big" history. Its men made no wild they among the first to reach the crest

charges, to hold back a of a ridge. They were never in a position a tide of Confederates Union toward shattered sweeping line. The Second Battery simply did what thousands of other military units did in the Civil War: its duty. The Second Battery was made up of ordinary men who were proud of their unit. They served together in

over disease, homesickness, and triumphed and After doing their part to see the Union pre served, the men went home to live as ordinary citizens,

battle

Confederates.

just like thousands made headlines. Itwas terested

of others who

had served but never

not planned that way. The first man to be in in raising a company of artillery from Minnesota to have a desire

He was

looking to raise the state's^rsi battery of artillery, but fate had more a ordinary plans for him. William Augustus Hotchkiss, Mexican War veteran farming near Monticello inWright seemed

County when

for headlines.

the Civil War

began,

later wrote: iiii.uin-i.urnuwrnwimmmmmmmmmHmmm PWWPWgpwwwywBui

In the summer of 1861, soon after President Lincoln

William A. Hotchkiss,

volunteers to put down the rebellion, Iwent to St. Paul and, through Gov. Ramsey, telegraphed to the Secy ofWar a tender of a Bty of Light artillery

called for 300,000

from Minnesota. I commenced

and

Itwas promptly accepted by telegraph recruiting,

mustering

in as a private

with my first detachment. After enlisting 47 men enti tling me to a first lieutenants commission I allowed my self to be overreached and cheated ofthat battery.1

as a

service

and

major

easy. Woodbury

worked

ing the men he had recruited, was mustered on November 21,1861, under the command

River, drawing County as well

Munch.

Hotchkiss

left few details about his disappoint a bitter pill many years after the war.2 still ment, was not to be left behind, however, Pvt. Hotchkiss and he set about raising a second battery. Two men soon but itwas

proved invaluable to him. Richard L. Dawley ofWinona, a 35-year-old veteran of the Mexican War, was working in a mill when

he decided

to leave his wife

and children

to go to the aid of his nation. He returned toWinona several times to recruit where people knew him. His Facing

to edit

the

newspaper

and well known in ence, but he was educated, wealthy, the new community of Anoka. The Woodbury family had invested heavily in waterpower, flour and saw mills, and and business

into service

on

reputation as a veteran may have helped, as at least 57 men from Winona a County enlisted. Albert Woodbury, no in dealer real had estate, 26-year-old military experi

acquaintances,

of Emil

went

Fillmore County Republican

an officer and expected to be commissioned as soon as he had recruited enough men. given command But the First Minnesota includ Battery of Light Artillery,

Hotchkiss

who ended his war

land in Anoka

and St. Francis.

among friends, Recruiting associates proved relatively both sides of the Mississippi

in nearby Hennepin from communities as throughout Anoka, Sherburne, and Isanti counties. Some 74 men from these counties joined the battery.3

Vickie torical

Wendel, Society,

She portrays

at the Anoka manager County His as a family enjoys Civil War reenacting hobby. a laundress with the Second Minnesota Battery program

of Light Artillery Reenactors and has recentlyfound

the his

tory of a woman

in 1862.

who

really

did wash

the mens

socks

Page: Pvt. John T. Smith, age 17,who enlisted in 1864 and was mustered out with 1865, photographed by Joel E. Whitney; detail of veterans badge.

the battery inAugust

Winter 2004-05

141

r:?2.t.*

*? Hotchkiss

later wrote,

recruiting as well, and, as he as the 2 Bty in getting recognized and was commissioned Captain Jan'y

continued "succeeded

by the Secy ofWar

14,1862." By February, a notice in the St. Paul Pioneer and Democrat stated that the "Second Battery of Light was and Artillery,, "Fully Organized" and listed Woodbury In April the newspaper reported Dawley as lieutenants. 125 enlistees and noted the battery was "full to the maxi called field artillery, such a unit ideally six guns of the same caliber. The men were train "opposed to ing daily at Fort Snelling, and Hotchkiss, more without burning any powder affecting something," Sometimes

mum."

mustered

was

to get to the scene of the action."4

"very anxious

that put them just outside

of 259 miles

Kentucky.6 on Their baptism of fire came at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8,1862. The battery was then attached to the Army

of the Ohio,

serving

Corps, First Divi the command of Col.

in the Third under

sion, Thirty-First Brigade P. Carlin. The brigade had arrived near Perryville William on the previous afternoon and was posted on either side of the road some three-to-four miles from town. Orders to move

came early the next morning. equipped with four howitzers

The Second Min

and two napoleons, as separate sections, with pairs of fight guns being sent to different parts of the field. Two guns were detailed to sup under command of Capt. Hotchkiss nesota,

would

the battle

corps. Pvt. James Hunter port Alexander M. McCook's the action: "Howitzers Nos. 1 and 2 of our bat described

THEIR BAPTISM OF FIRE CAME AT PERRYVILLE, ON OCTOBER

on another march of Louisville,

to the left of the line, about half a mile imme and became distant, to support General McCook, diately engaged." These two pieces fired at Confederates taking cover in an old barn. They continued firing until tery were

KENTUCKY, 8V 1862.

ordered

to the left and rear of the original position, where they were instructed to wait until the enemy was close

ordered

THE

SECOND

into service on March

tered men

BATTERY

boarded

Murphie

riverboats

wrote

was officiallymus

21,1862.

A month

later, the

south. Pvt. George their trip: "We had as as could be expected with some

and started

his father about

pleasant a passage down 800 passengers. At all the towns on the river the people flocked to the banks as we passed, or stopped for a few minutes

while

Yankee

Doodle,

or struck up Hail Columbia, and cheer after cheer greeted us on

our band

landing and leaving." The battery landed at St. Louis on April 25 and moved into camp at Benton Barracks. they would remain until fully outfitted and as signed to their division.5 Hotchkiss was indeed anxious to get to the war. Of

There

ficial

"Through the energetic efforts of the Captain Hotchkiss, battery was supplied with horses, and other necessary guns [cannon] by May equipments 1st." "Every available hour" was put to training until the reports noted,

battery received orders to move on May 21. Leaving St. Louis by riverboat, the Second Minnesota Battery disem barked at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, where the battle of Shiloh had been fought some six weeks earlier. After in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, the participating move to with the of the Cumber continued Army battery 248 miles to Nashville, land and marched arriving Sep tember 142

8. They had only a short rest before Minnesota

History

setting

out

Ringgold

Battery Artillery

on drill, canister

showing and

the guns'5-man

cast-iron

grapeshot.

teams.

/lilil? ,?;.-

w l*Xi

'.'"^SSt?

55^^:P

'?0^

i*&*=?5

Alh

Murfreesboro,

Tennessee, December 1862, from Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War

enough to use "grape and canister." As the battle grew in intensity and the outnumbered Union forces began to be driven back, the Second's guns were ordered to a for position across a lane, where they fired continuously more than two hours with canister. There they held until ordered around

to retreat under heavy fire as the flanks them.7 was

in

a Union

victory. The Second a to Battery pulled its guns off the field position of safety, but five men were seriously wounded, including Hunter. was on In the confusion, he left the field, where he re Perryville

considered

caved

the next day when Confederate soldiers took him to a house filled with 17 other Union wounded

mained

until

and left him. Two days later, they were still unattended. who had Only seven men were alive when Lt. Woodbury, returned to look for Hunter, found the house. Hunter although he was caused by these wounds. survived,

later discharged

for disability

GOOD

THE ARMY

OP THE

made

good his escape from Kentucky.8 and December November provided the battery with more marching. 26, the soldiers were at By December Knob Gap, Tennessee, where they ran into a "consider able force of rebels" and "heavy skirmishing commenced." The Confederates

fielded

"infantry and cavalry ported that his battery The Confederates

eight pieces of artillery and re support," but Capt. Hotchkiss "with good effect." leaving one piece and of Carlin's brigade, of which the

participated retreated hastily,

in possession Second Battery was still a part.9 That was only a prelude to the fighting the battery would see on the bank of Stones River near Murfrees five horses

The firing began on the afternoon of boro, Tennessee. as two met. 30 armies December the Col. Carlin's report at the outset: described the actions of the Minnesotans

CAPT. HOTCHKISS REPORTED THAT HIS BATTERY PARTICIPATED "WITH

caster, Kentucky. On October 22, they were near Leba non and then moved toward Nashville. They marched movements in October 265 miles 1862, their reflecting those of Confederates under Gen. Braxton Bragg as he

EFFECT."

OHIO,

including the

to stand Second Minnesota Battery, was not destined still after Perryville. Two days later, the men were at Lan

The Second Minnesota with

canister

age_The another was

"opened on the enemy case, inflicting serious dam

Battery

and spherical in our front were batteries

soon silenced,

but

then opened on my right flank, distant about five hundred yards, which completely enfiladed my lines and considerably but us; this, too, was driven out injured of sight by Captain Hotchkiss, after a vigorous and well "10 directed fire The battle continued

at Murfreesboro

throughout

(also called Stones River) there was a day of

the day. Then

Winter 2004-05

143

?^

?S*02p~~

rest before

fighting resumed. Pvt. Frank Lewis ensued for the Second Minnesota:

what

well

"Our battery got cornered up in that fight. The Confed erates

got

us and we

around

had

to retreat.

Hopkins

was hit in the neck with a piece of shell and he died from that. John O'Brien and John Flynn were killed in action.

John

noneer

on my

was

O'Brien gun.

Flynn

my was

mate.

He

a teamster

on

bunk

was

a can

another

section of my battery. A shell exploded and he was killed off his

A later conversation

described

horse."

for the Minnesotans.

their captors did not go as served Cpl. Christian Denlinger

with

as their spokesman when a Confederate quartermaster to "talk over the situation." While the topic of the wanted is unknown, Flint knew the results. The conversation left angry and, from what the men could quartermaster and look observe of the Confederates talking, gesturing, ing at them, the captives knew the topic had shifted to "putting an end to our earthly existence then and there." Things settled down, and the captain who had rescued the Union men to "bemore warned Averiirs possessions in talking over the situation." to Tullahoma, The prisoners were then transferred to enlist in the Con and given an opportunity Tennessee, federate service. None of them took the offer. The next careful hereafter

Five men were wounded,

two killed,

and two listed as

after the battle. Another man died missing immediately In of wounds. later years, at least six men claimed a dis at caused by the heavy cannonading ability for deafness Stones the Battle of River.11

A LATER CONVERSATION WITH THEIR CAPTORS DID NOT GO AS WELL FOR THE MINNESOTANS. stayed on the Murfreesboro to camp battlefield until January 6 and then moved some 8 miles south of town. The army shifted position The Second

Battery

transfer was

to Libby prison in Richmond, where they few about the until Flint had words good stayed paroled. and said month he spent in the hands of the Confederacy obliged to them if they will take some one inmy place next time."14 Only two of the six captives returned to the battery after their stay in Confederate prisons. All six were sent

he would

"bemuch

for prisoner exchange, and two were left in "used there. Two more were, in Flint's words, hospitals were Averill Flint and and for discharged disability. up" the Second Minnesota Battery and eventually rejoined to Annapolis

served until

the end of the war.15

in the next weeks

and sent out scouting expeditions, but in the first two the battery marched fewer than 70 miles months of 1863.12 was far from bor time spent near Murfreesboro or men went out Six safe, however. ing scouting for "the as 16-year-old Pvt. Francis Flint solid soup detachment," The

described

it.While

at a house,

Confederate

soldiers.

of "a number

of chickens

He

Flint

continued

the party was captured by said that first he was relieved

and a quantity of dried fruit." about the "fine black horse" the

grumbling also took from him. The horse was usually if he and Flint wondered by Sgt. Goyne Hamilton, ever be forgiven for losing that animal.13

Confederates ridden would

The prisoners were taken to Columbia, South Caro to a lina and confined. Pvt. Fordice Averill complained had captain that a diary and photograph no one taken from him?items that would do else

Confederate been

any good. The captain ordered a sergeant to see that the items were returned to the prisoner, and the order was made 144

Libby Prison, Richmond,

good. Minnesota

History

about 1864

?1

:^X^ TAKING

in the Tullahoma campaign through

PART

in the early summer of 1863, the Second Min nesota found, as Capt. Hotchkiss reported, "The enemy resisted the advance stubbornly every day, and progress

Tennessee

was

slow. The Battery was

frequently

under fire." But the

Union

army steadily advanced, forcing the Confederates to retreat some 85 miles into northern Georgia.16 did The routine of fighting and marching ^mammaim^

not change as the battery moved beyond and approached

Chattanooga

the banks

illl^H of

'7^3^|

a stream called Chickamauga. The fighting

]H^l

cost the battery the only officer it lost during the war. Shortly after noon on the Second Minnesota 19,1863, September there would

was with

the troops

forming

a defensive

^^^| j^l j^K

line

1^1

at the right of the battlefield. Before firing a shot,

it received

nearby

dense woods

to move

orders would

because

'?^l J^H

allow Confeder-

ates to approachwithout being seen. The battery reestablished itself farther to the ^^^H right on the "firsteligible ground that could be found" under

"brisk fire from

Hotchkiss

skirmishers,"

The Confederates

ll^^^l H^l

the enemy's ~~~"*~'"

I^^H

reported.17

three attempts to turn the but fire from the Second Minne made

flank of the division, sota and other batteries three hours

H^^l

halted

the outnumbered

their efforts. For nearly Union division held back

came to pull back slowly and in good order, but something went wrong. A section of an Indiana battery, which had been on the Minnesotans' its attackers.

Orders

and stampeded with their left, "became panic-stricken and gun limbers through the Second Minnesota the safety of its guns, very nearly Battery, endangering caissons

credited causing the loss of the left section." Hotchkiss one of his lieutenants, Henry Harder, for his "courage and coolness" in saving the section. acting as chief of artillery for the division, to move the Second Minne Lt. Woodbury sota to the right of the new line and to continue to engage the enemy. As soon as the new position was reached, Hotchkiss,

then ordered

Hotchkiss ball

wrote,

into Lieutenant

sent a musket "A rebel sharpshooter left arm, just above the Woodbury's the bone. From this wound he died in

elbow, and broke a private hospital in Chattanooga, Oct. 29,1863. Thus terminated the life of an accomplished young officer, and the men of the bat much beloved by his commander tery."18 Fixing shattered bones was beyond most surgeons of 1864, as were sterilization

the ability of procedures.

Lt. Albert Woodbury ofAnoka, who died from wounds received at Chickamauga; Second Minnesota monument on that battlefield, erected

by and

The most bury's was

the State patriotic

common

ofMinnesota

"in commemoration

services

citizen

of her

treatment

soldiers,"

for a wound

amputation. Woodbury infection, which killed many men today would be nonfatal wounds.

probably suffering

of the gallant about

1890.

such asWood died from from what

serv On the second day of the fight, the Minnesotans, were C. Union Gen. ordered under Jefferson Davis, ing to occupy a position as a reserve along the road to Chat tanooga. Hotchkiss reported that they "did not fire over half a dozen shots during the day." Pvt. Frank Lewis saw the situation in very plain terms: "There were too many there and on Sunday our battery was stationed out of the way and we did not take part in the fight."19

batteries

Winter 2004-05

145

^z^r^t

^t^V

Young Francis Flint wrote little to his neighbor and "I sup Jennie Russell about Chickamauga: sweetheart

and the Confederates stuck in Chattanooga, ground. Flint's letter continued:

pose you have heard all about the battle so Iwont say much about it except that we was in it and came out

But we

one private D.[died], pretty well. Lieut. Woodberry wounded and one horse killed." Flint was more con

With

here.

have

The

been

Rebs

in considerable

have

got

on

guns

we

since

danger

several

held

the high

came

the mountains

that they like to bother us with. They have thrown shells all around and into the Battery, but all the damage done yet is the smashing of one wheel and one tent_The

the battery now found itself in. the rest of the Army of the Cumberland, they were

cerned with

^^^

^^

the situation

are

Rebs

only

about

two miles

from

us. We

can

see

their

tents and camp fires but their batteries that they shell us with

*L~?

we

can't

The Army while waiting

r

later Flint continued his just at the present." Two months not "We have fared very well since the army grousing: has been so largely reinforced. There is but one R.R. for

*f?;/

.t~?,u?;..

?s?., A^>

hard times

endured

"like ing with "some pretty girl" but admitting he would the supper that she'd get me when we got home from better. You see we are short of rations down here meeting

,-

s

/?}.

of the Cumberland

in Chattanooga. The Confederates shelled the camps and restricted supply lines, causing shortages. Flint wrote home, wishing he could go to Sunday meet

~

?

see."20

us and it is not able to furnish us with ing of clothing. Until yesterday, that had no sleaves to it.When

? S'

t? si** /

_y

edibles, say noth I had but one shirt and

s sr /

s*

-7

to wash

it, I

for it to dry before I had one to put on." He that one section of the battery had gone out toward Knoxville and had a "hard time of it [as] some of them had to wait

A/A, /?s^r

:^/-//^

Iwanted

wrote

were

.y

barefooted."21

one of the men sent to Knoxville, did not bare feet but explained why only one section to send more "Our horses were not in condition

Pvt. Lewis, mention went:

S

?JA

'

-f

than two guns on that relief trip." Men were not the only ones facing shortages to in Chattanooga. Flint admitted corn or to the from horses boil for food.22 stealing parch

Irt-r/t

Despite

Flint was happy. He wrote:

his complaining,

We have not had rations enough but most of us have to get what

managed we .

./<,

,, --,** r .s

/fi'*

J?'~'~

'?y'<

<' ?s? ;:-?

A./

-?,.

* "

"/?<..

X...

J

are what

see our can't

early

letter from

Francis

sentfrom Fort Snelling

146

Minnesota

History

Flint

to his

"Dear Jennie,"

before going South

call

you might

to eat. Take

wanted a fat,

rugged

and

us all

in all

saucy

set,

but we are gay and happy still. Most of us are going to enlist in the Veterans Corps, get a furlough, go home to sweethearts

enlist

in it until

... we

and have

then

off

served

to the war two

years

again.

We

which

aint sick of the war yet, with all its hardships. Our Country needs our help and she shall

will be soon_We An

we

have

it."23

Relief

for the Union

form of armies Gen. William

forces

came

in Chattanooga

in the

S. Grant and serving under Gen. Ulysses was T. Sherman. A "cracker line" opened

to bring in supplies; men Army of the Cumberland

and arms followed.

Life in the

slowly began to improve. One Lyman Ayer, was soon able to tell

Minnesota

lieutenant,

his parents: with gravel

"Our present camp is on a ridge so covered that the harder it rains the cleaner and nicer is and the men

the camp dry." He continued,

are enabled

"The men

have...

to keep their feet built themselves

log 'shanties' with fire places."24 the week of November, the stage was set for third By to out the Union break of Chattanooga. The Army of the was to take the center position of the line Cumberland very comfortable

army to the north and Grant's to the in the coming assault on Missionary Ridge. The was Second Battery with the division sent to guard a

with

Sherman's

south

pontoon

on North

Creek, prevent Chickamauga civilians?from ing anyone?even leaving or entering the the battle of Missionary city. While Ridge raged on the main stage, the Second Minnesota Battery fought with bridge

"Cracker line": the steamer Chattanooga

unloading

pickets who were trying to protect at Cowan's Station on the Nashville-Chattanooga re about six miles from the city. As Hotchkiss

Confederate supplies Railroad

mounted

ported, "The Second Minnesota from the work and dismounted

Battery drove the rebels a gun belonging to a rebel battery; meanwhile the division charged upon the station and captured itwithout loss."25

Missionary Ridge was a Union victory. The army had broken out of Chattanooga and would soon set its sights on the Confederate stronghold of Atlanta. The next three months kept the Second Battery out side of Chattanooga and near their "comfortable" camps, though sections were involved in the actions just across the Georgia line at Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost on to serve continuing February 24 and 25,1864. Hotchkiss, as chief of artillery for Davis's Division, wrote, "AtTun Battery boys had a duel with a well served rebel battery, and drove itfrom the field. The next the enemy was driven through Buzzard Roost, morning where the Second Battery elicited praise for its effective nel Hill

the Second

work." The Confederate

at Kelleys Landing, November

army fell back.

1863

*wm

'\M9*g?*

S^PPTVPtiW'f

*''*

0 -/***.

'

nw

?*~^

^2^^tr^^/

*&*

>^6r

4*/&J$Z'

BATTLES

PAPERWORK

WITH

to slightly more army compared died from battle wounds.27

Union

The 46 men who went

took over the

years or who chose not to reenlist were sent on detached duty to the Second Illinois Battery, along with the Second Minnesota's guns and horses. Forty-six of the Minnesota boys went home on furlough.26 Those 39 men left behind saw some hard fighting the campaign for Atlanta. Pvt. William Shaw testified

in

they were needed at the guns. Ole Oleson, called Ole #1 to distinguish in the bat him from the other Ole Oleson tery, and Peter Streicher were both killed in early August. Horatio Joy, Henry Simonds, and Jesse Smith claimed a disability for hearing loss resulting from the heavy fight

Ingebreth Johnson immigrated to the United States from Norway in 1853 and two years later brought his bride and his parents to Minnesota's Fillmore County. Johnson

was

serving

in the

one

of the

battery

early

as

recruits,

a wagon

mas

ter. Choosing not to reenlist in 1864, he was detached to the Second Illinois Artil lery and fought in the battles for Atlanta. After his discharge inMarch 1865, John son heard about opportunities farther

148

Minnesota

History

the

under

THE

married.28 Sisler?got The reasons for reenlisting

or not are unknown

for

of the men, but Lt. Lyman Ayer, who did not re-up, wrote to his wife: "Iwould have been glad to have reen listed had you and father not seemed so opposed to it. I most

Iwould

be good for three years more."29 In contrast, Lt. Richard Dawley, one of the original organizers of the battery, expressed no regrets about his think

same week

decision.

The

resigned

his commission:

that Ayer wrote home, Dawley "IHave the Honor to tender

as 1st Lieut in the 2nd Battery Minn vols, my Resignation on account of my inability to Cooperate with the Comdg officer of said Battery."30

to the action, recording in his diary that the horses had not been unharnessed for more than 40 hours because

OF

to Minnesota

home

who

first reported to Fort Snel of Capt. Hotchkiss a 30-day furlough, they scattered, most ling. Granted returning to family and friends. At least one man?John

1864. Many eligible to battery inMarch and thus be granted a furlough reenlist?"veteranize"? inMinnesota. The 39 men who had not yet served two

MEN

than 110,000

command

of the men were

SOME

&

y^s^^s^/^^

Appitz died in a field hospital of disease. lives in the claimed more than 224,000

ing. Pvt. Adolph Indeed, disease

33 MEN THOSE LEFT BEHIND SAW SOME HARD FIGHTING IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR ATLANTA.

?*y

stsr*

of the battery who Dawley was not the only member a As Charles with Capt. Hotchkiss. had disagreement "A large number of the Earl, a second lieutenant, wrote: men

in this battery wish

teers?provided?a

SECOND

as veteran

to re-enlist

reorganization

volun

can be had by which

MINNESOTA

west

inMinnesota. He took a homestead inYellow Medicine County in 1866 and farmed there for the rest of his life.1

still standing inKansas City, is known as "The Castle" for all of its ornate ar chitecture. Tiffany was almost 72 years old when his last child was born; he died

Flavel B. Tiffany was barely 18 years old when he joined the battery in the fall of 1864. He served until the end of the war, then returned home to attend the University of Minnesota. He went on to study medicine at the University of Michigan and settle inMissouri, where

when

he wrote

ment

several

well-respected

medi

cal books. Tiffany's detailed accounts of growing up near Rice Lake, Min nesota, were published in the Kansas City World in 1898. He founded one of Kansas City's pioneer medical schools, University Medical College. His home,

she

was

nine

months

old.2

Albert Gowdy did not fare as well as Tiffany. A druggist and merchant inSt. Cloud when he enlisted inAugust 1862, he was detailed to act as the battery's hospital steward, although this assign was

noted

as

"extra

duty."

Gowdy

reenlisted and served until the battery was mustered out inAugust 1865. What happened after the war is unknown, but he died in 1889 from "chronic alcohol ism."3 His grave in Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis,

is unmarked.

the man

of their choice shall be Captain." He continued, "Lieut. R. L. Dawley?Comdg.?is the choice of the Co. an a truer man never for Captain. He is old soldier?and wore

a uniform.

The Co. will

will not if Capt. Hotchkiss

reenlist

under him, but to do with or has anything

in the battery." But Hotchkiss retained so Earl also submitted his resignation, to cooperate

ability

with

harmoniously

and

command,

citing "my in the commanding

officer."31

The

enlisted men,

Flint mentioned

him

too, had conflicts with Hotchkiss. in several letters and once called

old brute for a Capt. that ever was." Another time, the soldier wrote about Hotchkiss being see one "I didnt when he left."32 any gone: crying him

"the meanest

This animosity may have had some real foundation. a court-martial On December had been con 2,1862, vened to try the captain under the charge of "returning returns." The proceedings listed a series the number of men for whom provisions

false provision of times when were

drawn

exceeded

the number

present in the bat to his of "appropriating

was also accused tery. Hotchkiss own use the provisions belonging to the Enlisted Men of his Battery." In all, 15 charges were listed. Although the not guilty on all counts, it certainly indicated dissatisfaction and suspicion. Fur it have tainted his thermore, may reputation.33

court-martial

found Hotchkiss

Frank Louis Larson, a Swedish immi grant livingwith his father near Red Wing, decided to Americanize and enlisted as Frank Lewis. Some 50 years after the war, he was interviewed to verify his mili tary service for the pension department. Lewis's deposition, 17 typed pages long, is filled with detail about the battery and its activities.

His memory

was

excellent.

Nearly every detail in his account that can

be

corroborated

is accurate.4

at

tion,

least

three

Lt. Richard

of brothers-in

pairs

in the battery; another two pairs became brothers-in-law during the war; and several men married sisters law served

of battery

comrades

after

the war.

One

confirmed set of cousins enlisted in the Second Minnesota but never served to gether: William Staples joined in 1862 and was discharged eight months later for disability. Jacob Staples, his first cousin, enlisted in 1864 and served eleven

months.5

At least six pairs of brothers and one threesome served together in the Sec ond Minnesota Battery. The Torgerson

Battery

Knud, and boys, for example?Kittel, Tolleff?had emigrated to Minnesota from Norway with their family and enlisted within one day of each other. Inaddi

m?cher, who was "driving the stage coach mails between La Crescent and Rushford" when he decided to enlist. He was alone. His mother was dead; his

The youngest member of the Second was

14-year-old

Elias

Fenster

L. Dawley,

father,

studio

portrait,

brother,

and

about

1862

were

brother-in-law

al

ready serving in the army. Elias managed to convince the recruiting officers that he was 18?he claimed he had always been big for his age?and was accepted in 1864. After the war, he returned to Minnesota,

married,

and

raised

a fam

he and his son attended the ceremony marking the seventy-fifth anni versary of the Battle of Gettysburg. When Fenstermacher died in 1948, the last vet eran of the Second Battery was gone.6 ily. In1938

Francis Flint was only 16 when his parents signed a note permitting him to enlist. Frank, as he signed his letters, wrote often to a neighbor girl, Jennie Russell. Her uncle, George Russell, also served in the battery and took care of

Winter 2004-05

149

?^^

y*0

&-/*4s\sr^&?

"WE HAVE PICKED A LOT OF THIEVES SOME

here now," he wrote

in August 1864. "We are scouting more or and less every day nights. We have picked like up a lot of thieves and some bush-whackers-I this scouting first rate." By October, when 56 new recruits

UP AND

most

BUSH-WHACKERS....

I LIKE THIS

from Fort Snelling joined and the men serving with the Illinois returned, the battery was at some 160 sol diers, its greatest strength. As Pvt. Lewis later remarked,

SCOUTING

FIRST

%4s~*c?* ^.r^^?^y

^/^-

-^?*7^

Second

RATE."

at muster

"I guess

out we had more men

than at enlist

ment

WHATEVER

THE

CONFLICT

itmust

kiss and his men,

50 of them

when

nearly the men returned to escort

have been reenlisted.

in the first place."35 the new recruits did not participate in any major battles, they did see scouting action and guard duty. They also were on hand for one of the less official incidents. Flint told the story:

between Hotch

While

by 1864 their furlough, orders inNashville

resolved After

south and received

a herd of cattle destined

for the army beyond told the story: "We did draw

Francis Flint Chattanooga. muskets and started with them and carried

Our boys had a great spree the other night and all got

them about

into

and the boys made such a fuss about it that back to Nashville and they gave us

four miles

so we got a ride after all. and Cavalry equipment eleven days coming and guarded 400 head of beef cattle:'34

horses

completed,

the men went

"We are having

Pvt. Flint:

pretty

into their

down

raised ten children together. Flint grew up in the army and shared his lessons of lifewith Jennie through his letters. Per haps the most telling one, dated Novem ber 18, 1864, gave a perspective on war that only a participant could have:

for the most Ifsome

[women of them

of the people

(that are grumbling caused see

contented,

150

by the War)

every

day,

and children], are

of the North at the hard times could

see

what we

I think they would

and thank God

Minnesota

innocent.

History

be

that the War

was

It's of no use,

it as

up

as quick

as

one

northern

states

never

may

of that

3. Albert

real

know

the

cords;

Gowdy

1892,

Register

tion,

the

Jan. 10, 5.

little word War.7

1. Carl and Amy Narvestad,

(Granite

Compiled

obituary,

Granite

Service Falls

Kansas

History

of Jackson

excerpts

in Flavel

Kansas

City Public

that's

came

Sargt,

in,

June 20,

City Journal, County,

B. Tiffany

files,

Library; Kansas

1899.

Jan. 5,

Missouri, vertical

fast

Gowdy,

Compiled

death

certificate,

of Deaths,

file,

drawn

VA Records;

Records;

Brainerd

papers,

to U.S.

Minnesota

Ser

Pension Adjutant fam

histories,

and other

Fenstermacher, Pillager

Journal

Society, MHS.

Herald,

sources,

Files,

June 24,

Morrison

Little Falls;

Jennie,"

Compiled

Jan. 30,

Press,

7. Flint Family Historical

deposi

NARA.

files.

6. Elias vice

pension

and county

obituaries,

Hen

from Compiled

Department,

ily histories,

June 29,

VA Records,

Records;

Re

Service

Minneapolis,

(Larson),

1917,

no

in most

asleep

Information

to "My Dear

City Star,

some long steps

and depositions

County

NARA;

a sumersault

turned

vice Records

in author's

Ingebreth

Records,

Tribune,

2. Obituary,

1909.

733-34;

1972),

of

1872

Falls: Yellow Medicine

Society,

10,

A History

Minnesota,

County,

Johnson,

1918;

es

my

and

eight,

the

nepin County. 4. Frank Lewis

your

Ihope

invaded.

and

General's

Historical

As

and

in bed

can't

you are

of War when

is being

Yellow Medicine

past

them.

I saw him

tent. Was

Notes

Sept.

or half

taps,

to arrest

guards

my

it is. You can only

invading army or when

full meaning

after

backwards through the tent and made

country

1972 Ido pity them

an

but made

Iwas sitting against the side of the tent and I knew what

ize the horrors with

four

toward

is not there. describe

them

against orders you know and the Officer of the Day sent

lively times

Flint when he was sick. All the bold talk in his letters of offering a Southern girl a kiss ifshe would fix his pants for him did little to daunt Flint's Minnesota sweet heart; the two married after the war and

tent

the Sutlers

old camp near Chattanooga. They were not, however, with the of artillery. Duty now re-equipped implements included scouting missions and guard details. That was fine with

with

of them felt funny, all they had was beer. We were all in

We was

cattle duties

Iwas

house.

cape. Now don't think that Iwas tipsy, for I remembered of the boys were drunk but most my promise_None

we were marched

Their

the guard

Nov. 18,

Ser 1938;

1948. County

Francis 1864,

Flint Flint

all

/*S

jT

.*/

^r

s

f /

time. The next day all the rest were on extra duty.We have some fun once in awhile but this time some of them didn't like the way their ran turned out Flint

concluded

his letter with

never been under

the assurance

if going backwards

be?especially save him.36

that he had

arrest and he did not mean

ever to

a tent would

through

as the such as these were frequent occurrences in camp tried to find ways to make the days pass just a little faster. After all, they were ordinary men placed in times by the circumstances of war. extraordinary Antics

men

AND WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER the men went

home.

Second Battery, and would need

in his farewell Hotchkiss, reminded the men of what

address

to the

they had done

to do:

"Soldiers! You are about to return

to the peaceful pursuit as citizens inwhich capacity I believe you will prove to be as true men as you have been soldiers. In the future, remember what you did...

perpetuating

an individual

record unsurpassed by the heroes of any age, and that, what you have done in arms for the defense of law and order and good government is hereafter to be done by the example and through the ballot-box_Cherish of each other with a true soldier's

memory

love. Embrace the memory companions sacred

who

have

of those of our

fallen...

in your

most

affections."37

The men

of the Second Minnesota

Bat

out of tery of Light Artillery were mustered service on August 16,1865. They collected the pay due them and went home with ser to be proud of but not to boast over. They did their duty well?as did some 24,000 men across Minnesota?fighting to bring the nation through the painful,

vice records

bloody struggles of the Civil War.38 None of the men of the Second Battery went on to great fame or tremendous wealth; they on unnoticed, just as most people do today. They were the everyday citizens who worked hard to build the future. Q

went

Letter from Pvt Francis Flint to his Minnesota sweetheart, sentfrom in June 1862 Mississippi Winter 2004-05

151

Notes 1.William

to U.S.

Pension

12,1893, pension Records of the Veterans

appli Admin

A. Hotchkiss Feb.

Department, cation files,

miles

of marching. Other the battery Muster Rolls ports, do not concur with

istration, Record Group (RG) 15,National Archives

and Records

other

Administration hereinafter

D.C.,

(NARA), Washington, cited as VA Records.

Francis

2. Henry

S. Hurter, "Narrative of the of Light Artillery," inMinne Battery in the Civil and Indian Wars, comp.

First sota

of Commissioners

Board Press

Co., 1891), 3. Minnesota

(St. Paul: United

1866), Anoka

792-99; (town),

Anoka

father,

Dwight,

would

islature in 1863; Dwight Woodbury obitu

Ross

M.

"Men

Kimmel,

Feb.

L. Faust,

12,

and Mate

ed., Historical

Times

Il

lustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War and Row, (New York: Harper St. Paul Pioneer and Democrat,

1986), Feb.

45; 28,

1862, Apr. 12,1862. 5. "Narrative of the Second

Battery

Light Artillery," inMinnesota

in the Civil

and

Indian

1:654; Winona

Wars,

16. "Narrative

of

Jennie,"

Oct.

Flint 11,1863, 21. Francis

Jennie,"

Oct.

1862, Adjutant Aug. Hotchkiss," Apr. General's Civil War Returns and Office, Minnesota State Archives, Related Records, as "Return."

6. "Narrative

11,1864

5,1864], 23. Francis

Flint

papers. to "Dear

Ordnance

Battery," Second

Reports,

Minnesota Battery of Light Artillery, RG 156, "Narrative of the Sec below, Ord 1:654, 658-59; Quarterly James Hunter, Certificate of Reports; and

Battery,"

nance

to

ond Minnesota Battery of Light Artillery, RG 94, NARA. H.

Shaw,

Battery of Light Artillery, RG 94, NARA;

in

days

D.C.: GPO, (Washington, 1, vol. 20, pt. 1, p. 279-80. in the casu included Hopkins even

at Murfreesboro

alties been

mortally before.

wounded Frank

Lewis

he had though at Knob Gap a few (Larson), pension VA Records; "Re

Jan. 10,1917, The turn," Nov., Dec. 1862, MHS. ants were: Edward Pratt, pension

deposition,

#267362;

Johnson, Tennes

#962328;

Jesse

Hanson,

#662351;

DaCapo 28.

152

Minnesota

History

1861-1865

to "Dear

Jennie,"

Sept.

No. 36, by Wm. A. Second Minnesota Book, RG 94, NARA. "Narrative of the Second Battery,"

The photograph on p. 142 isNational Archives photo lll-B-363 (Brady Collec tion); p. 145 (Woodbury) is courtesy the

courtesy

Ken

Center; p. 149 is

and Harriet

Ahlstrom

and

Mary F?gate; p. 152 (and earlier details) is in a private collection. All other images and objects are inMHS collections, in cluding the ammunition, photographed by Peter Latner/MHS and thejacket, by Eric Mortenson/MHS.

Gazette,

Oct.

7,1903.

29. Lyman

to "Dear Laura,"

Ayer

1864, Ayer papers. 30. Richard Dawley,

certificate

RG 94, NARA.

5,1864, 31. Charles

Compiled N.

Earl

Apr.

5,

letter, resignation Service Records, to "Friend

Benson," NARA. Earl's

Jan.

Order Book, 23,1864, a state represen was Jared Benson, in 1864 was tative from Anoka who speaker

friend

of the House; 67

Battery,"

1:665; Sisler obituary, Redwood Falls

Apr.

Smith, and

(NewYork:

Press, 1971), 711. "Narrative of the Second

six claim

St. Cyre, pension Henry application VA Records. #355859-all 12. "Return," Jan., Feb. 1863, shows

Flint papers. Orders

E. B. Long, The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac,

#919301; Edward Vaughn, #88045; Chris topher

Flint

Flint

Battery," to "Darling Jennie," Lewis papers; deposi

Flint

Nelson certificate Joy, pension and Henry Jesse Smith, #271575, #267362, VA Records; A. Simonds, #337928?all

1862, MHS. Nov., Dec. 1862, MHS. P. Carlin," of Col. William Oct.

War of theRebellion: A Compilation of Offi 1887), series 11. Lewis

June

Com and Adolph Streicher, Appitz, Service Records, Second Minnesota

piled Horatio

cial Records

Jennie,"

1864, typewritten copy,MHS; Ole Oleson, Peter

Records.

9. "Return," 10. "Report

to "Dear

20, 94,

10,

diary, May

Disability for Discharge, Feb. 15,1863, VA 8. "Return,"

RG

Anoka County History

Dec.

Jennie,"

and two paragraphs below, 1:664-65. of the Second Battery," 26. Lewis deposition; Order Book, Sec

27. William

7. Here

to

Flint

[appended

25. Here

NARA. ond

Flint

Jan.

1:655; Frederick A. Dyer, A Compendium of theWar of theRebellion (DesMoines: Dyer Publishing, 1908), 11,1295.

"Narrative

of the Second

Quarterly

Battery, 38.

Flint papers. 21,1863, 24. Lyman Ayer to "Dear Father and Dec. 19,1863, Mother," Lyman Warren Ayer Papers, MHS.

Minnesota Historical Society (MHS), here

1:654;

Dec.

Flint

verdict, Records,

37- Special Order

A. Hotch

19. "Report of Capt. William kiss," 504; Lewis deposition. 20. Francis Flint to "Dear

2,1864, Hotchkiss,

1:663.

Dec.

24,1864, 36. Francis

764-65.

Jennie,"

Francis

1:665;

Battery,"

papers. Francis

Service

of court-

report

Flint papers. 21,1864, 35. "Narrative of the Second

Aug. tion.

papers. Flint to "Dear

Apr.

1971), 10. Society, to "Dearest Jennie," Flint papers. 12,1865,

Hotchkiss, and proceedings

34. Francis

Service,

S. Flint

of the Second

Flint

1863, Compiled NARA.

Jennie"

Francis

29,1862, 33. William

martial

1:661; Faust, Encyclopedia of the Civil War,

"Dear

Daily

Wm.

cited

July

25, Na

Aug.

Historical

32. Francis

each

below,

to "Dearest

Flint 11, Dec. 21,1863, 22. Lewis deposition;

Apr. 24,1862; George Murphie Republican, to "Dear Father," May 7,1862, pen Murphie sion file, VA Records; "Return of Captain

inafter

Minnesota

for this

toW.

Flint

Re

and below, 17. Here "Report of Capt. A. Hotchkiss," William inWar of the Rebel lion, series 1, vol. 30, pt. 1, p. 503-04. 18. "Narrative of the Second Battery,"

rial,"America s Civil War 3(July 2001): 12; Patricia

two paragraphs A. Spaulding,

and

14. Francis

States, Census, I860, p. 3. Albert's County, serve in the state leg

Mar. 20,1884. Union, ary, Anoka 4. Hotchkiss to Pension Dept,

Flint

Mar. 18,1863, [Russell], and Family Papers, MHS. 15. Flint to Spaulding.

Annual General, Pioneer Printing,

Adjutant

1866

as few as 40 miles

show

and Chattanooga 1890, Chickamauga Park tional Military Park, National GA. Chickamauga,

Pioneer

(St. Paul: 650.

1:640,

Report,

1893;

but

period. 13. Here

Elected State Officials, 1849-1971 (St. Paul:

as

such

sources,

and Morning this or with

nesota

W.

Congressmen,

F. Toensing, Legislators,

comp., Min and Other

Veterans badge (1.5 by 2.75 inches), worn

at postwar

reunions.

The

star

is

a symbol of the Twentieth Army Corps, served in which the Second Minnesota in the

latter

part

war. of the

'