Exploring Minnesota Chapter 8: The Civil War

Introduction On July 4th, 1858 the 32nd star was added to the blue field of the U.S. Flag – MN By 1858, many Americans had come to think of their nation as two separate parts – the North and the South. Many similarities between the two, but also many differences. North more urban with large factories, South was opposite – Southern economy depended on the plantation and cash crops – sugar, tobacco, cotton Major difference, though, was Slavery.

Land of the Free? Division began over 60 years earlier. Prior to that, both Northerners and Southerners owned slaves. But as people in the North began to see slavery as morally wrong, northern states began to abolish slavery.

Land of the Free? In the south, farmers depended on slavery for cheap labor. Cotton led to a resurgence in slavery. What invention led to this? Who invented it? -- Extra Credit!!!! Southern plantation owners now depended more on slaves than ever before to pick and process the cotton.

Land of the Free? Many Northerners DID support slavery in the in the sense that they did not think that the south should have to abolish it and that runaway slaves should be returned to their “rightful” owners. Most Northerners did agree that they did not want slavery to be spread into the west as new states were formed. White southerners did. Most Minnesotan’s had mixed feelings as well, until 1860 that is.

Freedom for Eliza Winston Eliza Winston was a slave who arrived in St. Paul in the summer of 1860 with the Richard Christmas family. Her duties were to care for the family baby and for sickly Mrs. Mary Christmas. She knew she was in a free state and could walk away from her master. But… Changed when she met Emily and Ralph Grey. Free African American friends of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Freedom for Eliza Wilson The Greys wanted to help Eliza become free. A judge agreed to hear the case and sent officials to take Eliza into custody. Abolitionists were excited as they felt the law was being enforced. Some, however, thought that Eliza had been illegally kidnapped and were afraid that publicity could drive away Southern visitors who spent good money in the north (tourists?). See page 109.

See Dred and Harriet Scott on page 110

Home of the Brave By the fall of 1860, many Minnesotans were turning their attention to politics in joining with other voters in other Northern states to help elect Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. Southerners thought Lincoln’s election marked the end of the Southern way of life and responded by seceding and forming the Confederate States of America.

Home of the Brave Lincoln responded by saying that he way not allow the United States to be split in two. By the spring of 1861, the North and the South (Union and Confederacy) were at war. Both sides immediately began to put together armies with each state expected to contribute soldiers. MN’s first contribution was a volunteer regiment of 1,009 men. They trained at Fort Snelling and were known as the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Charlie Goddard Goes to War Charlie Goddard from Winona was 15 years old when the call came out for volunteers. He enlisted – lied about his age, had to be 18. Went to Fort Snelling and trained. On June 22, 1861, the First Minnesota Regiment left Fort Snelling and headed for Washington D.C. Goddard has just turned 16.

Charlie Goddard Goes to War Wrote to his mother as soon as he reached Washington. Regiment went to the first major battle, the first Battle of Bull Run. Charley had to stay behind. Minnesota regiment sufffered more losses than any other Union regiment.

Charlie Goddard Goes to War The next fall, Charley was 17. The Confederate Army invaded the North. The two sides met near Antietam Creek in Maryland on September 17, 1862. The bloodiest day in American history with 26,000 men killed or wounded. Charley survived but many of his friends did not.

Charley Goddard Goes to War Charley again witnessed the horrors of war at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during July 1-3 of 1863. The First Minnesota Regiment played a crucial role in this battle. See page 113. 160 Minnesotans were killed or wounded on the 2nd day, another 50 on the 3rd.

The First Minnesota by Don Troiani Gettysburg, Pennsylvania -- July 2, 1863 Among the many militia regiments that responded to President Lincoln's call for troops in April 1861 was the First Minnesota Infantry. As the First Union regiment to volunteer for three years of service, the First Minnesota fought at the battles of Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. It was, however, during the Battle of Gettysburg that the First Minnesota played a significant role in American military history. On the morning of July 2, 1863, the First Minnesota, along with the other units of the II Corps, took its position in the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Late in the day, the Union III Corps, under heavy attack by the Confederate I Corps, collapsed creating a dangerous gap in the Union line. The advancing Confederate brigades were in position to breakthrough and then envelope the Union forces. At that critical moment, the First Minnesota was ordered to attack. Advancing at double time, the Minnesotans charged into the leading Confederate brigade with unbounded fury. Fighting against overwhelming odds, the heroic Minnesotans gained the time necessary for the Union line to reform. But the cost was great. Of the 262 members of the regiment present for duty that morning, only 47 answered the roll that evening. The regiment incurred the highest casualty rate of any unit in the Civil War. The gallant heritage of the First Minnesota is carried on by the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 135th Infantry, Minnesota Army National Guard. Download a high-resolution copy of this print here: [11mb JPG]* * Use or reproduction of this print by entities other than the U.S. Government is reserved by the artist. Please contact Don Troiani at HistoricalArtPrints.com.

Charley Goddard Goes to War Charley recovered from his wounds and returned to his company to fight more battles. Returned to Winona, Minnesota in February 1864 where he died four years later after illness at age 23. The First Minnesota Regiment was one of 22 MN units that served during the four years of the Civil War. In all about 25,000 men of all backgrounds. More than 600 hundred were killed in battle. More than 1800 died in crowded army and prison camps due to disease.

Land of the Free To most Minnesotans the war was a fight to preserve the Union. However, many began to see until reason for the conflict – slavery. Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln on January 1, 1863 declared that, if the North won, all slaves would be free. See page 114

Journey to Freedom See Robert Hickman on page 114 In May of 1863, two steamboats arrived in St. Paul carrying about 300 African Americans. People reacted differently to this, see page 115.

Journey to Freedom The North finally defeated the South in 1865. During the war Minnesota saw many positives but all was not well. See page 115.