BWC Timeline: Civil War

The Bring Warm Clothes timeline:
THE CIVIL WAR - 1861 to 1864

Minnesota had only been a state for three years when the Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861. Govenor Ramsey happened to be in Washington on April 13 when the news came that Fort Sumter had surrendered. The next moring he volunteered 1,000 Minnesota men for the Union Army and a patriotic populace was eager to oblige. Minnesota men were involved in some of the worst battles of the conflict, including Antietam, the site of what is now considered to be the single most bloody day of the War Between the States. At Gettysburg a Minnesota regiment was sacrificed to buy time for the Union forces. In all, about 25,000 Minnesota men (mostly volunteers) fought and 2,500 died.

Issac Taylor was a soldier in the First Minnesota Volunteers unit. The following passages from his diary were written in 1863 during his days at Gettysburg. His brother writes the last entry, telling of how Issac died in battle and where he is buried.

June 30

Light showers and sunshine alternate. Mustered for pay in a.m. In P.M. I go "out round" to farm houses and get bread, butter, milk and eggs and etc. A good Union lady gives me a quart of apple butter. We live on the "top shelf" today, the boys are re enthusiastic in their admiration of Maryland generally and at the nice bread and nice girls in particular. General Hancock issues an order complimenting us for our "vigorous exertions" in marching "full thirty miles" yesterday and saying that such a march was required by the Major General commanding on account of "urgent necessity".

July 1.

The news that Gen. Meade has superseded Gen. Hooker is confirmed. I shall hope for the best but I don't like the idea of changing commanders on the eve of battle. Just after passing through (Harneytown), a citizen tells us we are in PA. At Taneytown, we hear there has been fighting at Gettysburg today. At 8:45 P.M. we halt within a few miles of Gettysburg. Build a barricade of fence rails. The full moon occasionally appears from behind the clouds. Bivouac for the night.

July 4th, 1863

The owner of this Diary was killed by a shell about sunset July 2nd 1863--his face was toward the enemy. I, his brother, buried him 350 paces west of the road which passes North and south by the houses of Jacob Hummelbaugh and John Fisher, colored, at about equal distance form each and a mile south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The following is inscribed on a board at his head.

I.I. TAYLOR

1st Minn. Vols.

Buried at 10 o'clock A.M. July 3rd 1863

by his brother

Sgt... P.H. Taylor

Co. "E" 1st Min. Vols.

We buried him where he fell.

Minnesota Historical Society, William Lochren and Family papers

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