Greg R. Anderson - National Parks

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National Parks: Gettysburg - Minnesota Photos

Sacrifice of the 1st Minnesota Infantry
Minnesota was the first state to respond to President Lincoln's request for volunteer regiments to defend the Union. Minnesota soldiers fought in many Civil War battles before Gettysburg. Late on the afternoon of July 2, 1863, on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee had his troops ready across Peach Orchard. Union leader General Hancock rode up to assess the situation and found only one regiment was on hand to stop the Confederate surge. It was the 1st Minnesota Infantry and, on orders, they charged. While outnumbered, they broke the Confederate ranks and the Union line was saved. The cost was high. With 262 Minnesotans in the charge, only 47 escaped death or injury. The Minnesota monument marks the spot of the original charge - the bayonet is pointed in the direction of the charge.

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