RG94 Spotlight: The 5th Minnesota Infantry

RG94 Spotlight: A Brief History of the 5th Minnesota Infantry

The Research Arsenal is proud to be digitizing and adding historical records of Civil War regiments held at the National Archives to our online database so that researchers and historians can access material that previously required a trip to Washington D.C. The 5th Minnesota Infantry is one of the many regiments that has been added to our database.

The 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in spring 1862 in response to President Lincoln’s call for more troops during the American Civil War. It was the last of Minnesota’s early volunteer regiments to be assembled, and its men served with distinction in both frontier conflicts and major campaigns of the Western Theater.

Early Service and the Dakota Conflict

While seven of the regiment’s companies were sent south in May 1862 to join the Union war effort, three companies remained in Minnesota during the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862. These detachments saw action on the frontier — including the ambush at Redwood Ferry, the defense of Fort Ridgely, and the protection of Fort Abercrombie — engaging Dakota forces during the outbreak of hostilities.

Joining the Western Campaigns

Once reunited in Mississippi by early 1863, the 5th Minnesota became part of the Army of the Mississippi (later the Army of the Tennessee). Their first significant combat was at the Battle of Farmington shortly after arriving at Corinth, Mississippi, followed by involvement in the Siege of Corinth and other actions like the Battle of Iuka. At Corinth, they played a key role in closing a breach in Union lines and recapturing artillery.

The regiment participated in General Ulysses S. Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, fighting at Jackson and contributing to operations that culminated in the surrender of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, a major strategic victory for the Union. Soon after, the men who re-enlisted earned the designation “Veteran Volunteers,” reflecting their experience and commitment.

1864–1865: Continued Fighting

In March through May of 1864 the regiment took part in the Red River Campaign in Louisiana — an ultimately unsuccessful Union effort — before rejoining Union forces in the pursuit of Confederate General John Bell Hood through Tennessee.

From August 29 – December 2, 1864, the 5th Minnesota marched hundreds of miles pursuing Confederate General Sterling Price’s army through Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and the Indian Territory. Conditions during the expedition were severe for the Union army, as Col. Hubbard described in the regiment’s narrative:

“This was, all things considered, the hardest campaign it [the regiment] made during the war. The route lay through almost impenetrable cypress swamps and over unused mountain roads, washed by continuous rains down to their rocky beds. Severe storms prevailed much of the time, and the men often lay down at night, drenched, sore, weary and hungry, feeling that they would never be able to rise to their feet again. It was developed after the command had been out several days that its supply train was loaded with moldy and decayed hard bread, refuse stores issued by the commissary at Little Rock. In consequence of this the army was early put upon half-rations, then one-third, and much of that unfit to eat. The men became nearly starved, and driven to that extreme that they sought for nourishment in the bark of sassafras boughs and beech leaves, which the forest trees afforded. The country was largely uninhabited, and hence afforded nothing upon which an army could subsist.”

At the Battle of Nashville in December 1864, the 5th Minnesota helped break Confederate lines, though they suffered significant casualties. “On the second day of the battle the men advanced across an open field towards the Confederate forces. They suffered a withering fire, and 106 men were killed or wounded. The battle, however, was a resounding Union success. During the battle, the Fifth’s Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere captured the flag of the Fourth Mississippi Regiment.”

In early 1865, the regiment was involved in the campaign against Mobile, Alabama, helping secure positions around the city. With the war winding down, the 5th Minnesota was mustered out of service on September 6, 1865, at Demopolis, Alabama, and returned to Minnesota later that month.

Legacy

Over nearly four years of service, the 5th Minnesota fought in numerous battles and campaigns, from frontier duty in Minnesota to some of the most consequential operations in the Western Theater. Their service exemplified the significant contributions of Midwestern volunteer regiments in achieving Union victory.

Sources and Further Research

The Research Arsenal is proud to hold digital scans of the 5th Minnesota’s regimental records on its database. These consist of over 1,300 pages of material from the National Archives Records Group 94 files. These include Regimental Descriptive books, Order books, Morning Reports, and more. Visit the Research Arsenal, click on “Search NARA Records” then select “RG94” and “5th Minnesota Infantry” from the drop-down menus.

• Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment — MNopedia (Minnesota Historical Society) (mnhs.org)
• 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry overview — LibGuides, Minnesota Historical Society Library (libguides.mnhs.org)
• “5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment,” Wikipedia (Wikipedia)