Brackett's Minnesota Cavalry Battalion or Brackett's Battalion was a Minnesota USV

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

that served in the Union Army during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

and in the direct aftermath of the

Dakota War of 1862 The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, the Dakota Uprising, the Sioux Outbreak of 1862, the Dakota Conflict, or Little Crow's War, was an armed conflict between the United States and several eastern bands of Dakota people, Da ...

Origins

The companies which would eventually form the ranks of Brackett's Battalion of Independent Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry were drawn from companies G, I, and K of the Minnesota Light Cavalry. These companies had their origins as the "Curtis Light Horse" in 1861, named for

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

Samuel Ryan Curtis Samuel Ryan Curtis (February 3, 1805 – December 26, 1866) was an American military officer and one of the first Republican Party (United States), Republicans elected to Congress. He was most famous for his role as a Union Army general in the ...

and was commanded by

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

William Warren Lowe. The Curtis Horse was made up of volunteers from

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, and

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

. The unit was eventually redesignated as the

5th Iowa Cavalry Regiment The 5th Iowa Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry unit from Iowa that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. History The 5th Iowa Cavalry was originally raised as the Curtis Horse in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 5, 1861, and later ab ...

and fought in several key engagements during the Shiloh Campaign, most notably at the

Battle of Fort Donelson The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11–16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The Union capture of the Confederate fort near the Tennessee–Kentucky border opened the Cumberland River, an important ave ...

and the

Siege of Corinth The siege of Corinth, also known as the first battle of Corinth, was an American Civil War engagement lasting from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. A collection of Union forces under the overall command of Major General Henry H ...

. During a skirmish at Lockridge Mill in

Weakley County, Tennessee Weakley County is a county located in the northwest of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,902. Its county seat is Dresden. Its largest city is Martin, the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin. Th ...

three companies, E, F, and G of the 5th Iowa were captured. During the skirmish Major Carl Schaeffer Boernstein was mortally wounded and later died, Captain William Alexander Haw of Company F was mortally wounded, and Captain Henning von Minden of Company G was also wounded. The unit was later deployed with the

Army of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creatio ...

during the Tullahoma Campaign before it was transferred to Alabama. Companies G, I, and K were eventually detached from the 5th Iowa Cavalry on February 25, 1864 and redesignated as Brackett's Minnesota Cavalry Battalion, named after the 5th Iowa's Major Alfred Bruce Brackett. Brackett had previously been the Captain of Company K when it was first mustered in St. Paul at Fort Snelling on October 28, 1861, he was eventually promoted to Major of the 5th Iowa in 1862. Brackett's Battalion would serve in the

Department of the Northwest The Department of the Northwest was an U.S. Army Department created on September 6, 1862, to put down the Sioux uprising in Minnesota. Major General John Pope was made commander of the Department. At the end of the Civil War the Department was re ...

in Alfred Sully's first and second expeditions against the Dakota from 1864-1866. The battalion fought at the

Battle of Killdeer Mountain The Battle of Killdeer Mountain (also known as the Battle of Tahkahokuty Mountain) took place during Brig. Gen. Alfred Sully's expedition against the Sioux in Dakota Territory July 28–29, 1864. The location of the battleground is in modern ...

and the Battle of the Badlands. In May and June 1866 when the men were finally mustered out the soldiers of Brackett's Battalion had served a total of four years and nine months.

Service

Companies A, B, and C organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Companies, Minnesota Light Cavalry, September to November, 1861. Ordered to Benton Barracks, Missouri, November, 1861, and attached to Curtis Horse, an Independent Regiment of Cavalry, which was later designated 5th Iowa Cavalry. Assigned as Companies G, I, and K. Duty at Benton Barracks, Missouri, until February, 1862. Moved to Fort Henry, Tennessee, February 8–11. Served unassigned, Department of the Tennessee, to November, 1862. District of Columbus, Kentucky, 13th Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. District of Columbus, Kentucky, 16th Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, Turchin's 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to December, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 7, 1864. Detached from 5th Iowa Cavalry February 25, 1864, Designated Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry. Duty at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to May 2, 1864. Attached to Pollock's 1st Brigade, District of Iowa, Department of the Northwest. Sully's Northwestern Indian Expedition June 4 to November 10, 1864.

July 28. Action in Battle of the Badlands, August 8–9. Fort Ridgley, Minnesota, until Spring, 1865. Sully's operations against Indians May to October, 1865. Patrol duty from Sioux City to Fort Randall, October, 1865, to May, 1866. Mustered out June 1, 1866.

Detailed service

Companies A, B, and C were organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Companies, Minnesota Light Cavalry from September to November, 1861. They were ordered to Benton Barracks, Missouri, in November, 1861, and attached to Curtis Horse, an Independent Regiment of Cavalry, which was later designated 5th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. The Minnesota Battalion was assigned as Companies G, I, and K. After duty at Benton Barracks, Missouri, until February, 1862., the battalion moved to Fort Henry, Tennessee, from February 8–11, 1862. Engaged in patrol duty during battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Expedition to destroy railroad bridge over Tennessee River February 14–16. 1862. Duty at Fort Henry and Fort Heiman, Tennessee, until February 5, 1863, and at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, until June 5, 1863. Moved from Fort Henry to Savannah, Tennessee, March 25-April 1, 1862. Moved toward Nashville, Tennessee, repairing roads and erecting telegraph lines April 3–6. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Mississippi, April 29-May 30. Acting as escorts to Telegraph Corps, Lockridge Mills, May 5. Occupation of Corinth May 30, and pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. Duty at Humboldt until August, 1862. Scouting and protecting railroad. Action at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, August 25. Cumberland Iron Works August 26. Expedition to Clarksville September 5–9. New Providence September 6. Clarksville September 7. Scout toward Eddyville October 29-November 10. Expedition from Fort Heiman December 18–28. Fort Donelson February 3, 1863, Duty at Fort Donelson until June. Moved to Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tennessee, June 5–11. Scout on Middleton and Eagleville Pike June 10. Expedition to Lebanon June 15–17. Lebanon June 16. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Guy's Gap, Fosterville, June 25. Guy's Gap. Fosterville and Shelbyville, June 27. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until September. Moved to McMinnville September 6–8, and operating against guerrillas until October. Operations against Wheeler and Roddy September 30-October 17. Garrison Creek near Fosterville and Wartrace October 6. Sugar Creek October 9. Tennessee River October 10. At Maysville until January, 1864. Expedition from Maysville to Whitesburg and Decatur November 14–17, 1863, to destroy boats on the Tennessee River. Outpost duty on line of Tennessee River from south of Huntsville to Bellefonte, Alabama, November and December, 1863. The Minnesota volunteers reenlisted and achieved veteran status on January 1, 1864. Battalion returned to Minnesota on January 7, and was officially detached from 5th Iowa Cavalry Regiment on February 25, 1864, being designated Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry at that time. The battalion remained in garrison at

Fort Snelling Fort Snelling is a former military fortification and National Historic Landmark in the U.S. state of Minnesota on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The military site was initially named Fort Saint An ...

until May 1864 when it was transferred to

Sioux City Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Iowa. The county seat of Woodbury County, Sioux City is the primar ...

, moving there from May 2–25, 1864. It participated in Brigadier General

Alfred Sully Alfred Sully (May 22, 1820 or 1821 – April 27, 1879) was an American military officer who served in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War and the American Indian Wars. He served as Brevet Brigadier General in the Union army ...

's Northwestern Indian Expedition against "hostile" Sioux west of the Missouri River from June 4, 1864 to November 10, 1864. The battalion marched to Fort Sully from June 4–15, 1864, and pursued Indians to the Badlands from July 19–28. Then it participated in the Battle of Tah Kah A Kuty or Killdeer Mountain, Dakota Territory on July 28, 1864. After that action it marched to Fort Rice from June 28 to July 7, 1864, then made the passage of the Badlands of Dakota Territory from August 3–18. During this time, the battalion fought in the engagement near the Little Missouri River at Two Hills, the Battle of the Badlands, Dakota Territory, from August 8–9, 1864. The Minnesota companies also helped in the rescue of Fisk's Emigrant train, from September 10–30, 1864. March on

Yellowstone River The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the Western United States. Considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, via its own tributaries it drains an area with headwaters across the mountain ...

Montana Territory The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 26, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted as the 41st state in the Union as the state of Montana. Original boundaries ...

to Fort Union, Dakota Territory. The battalion spent the winter of 1864-1865 and the spring at

Fort Ridgely Fort Ridgely was a frontier United States Army outpost from 1851 to 1867, built 1853–1854 in Minnesota Territory. The Sioux called it Esa Tonka. It was located overlooking the Minnesota River southwest of Fairfax, Minnesota. Half of th ...

and then served in Brigadier General Alfred Sully's operations against the

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin ( ; Dakota/ Lakota: ) are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations people from the Great Plains of North America. The Sioux have two major linguistic divisions: the Dakota and Lakota peoples (translati ...

from May to October, 1865. The Minnesotans spent October, 1865 until May, 1866 on patrol duty from Sioux City, Iowa to Fort Randall, Dakota Territory, with headquarters at Sioux City, Iowa before being mustered out on June 1, 1866.

Commander

* Major Alfred Bruce Brackett.

Casualties and total strength

During its service, Brackett's Cavalry Battalion lost 1 officer and 4 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds received in battle, 6 enlisted men by disease, for a total of 11 fatalitie

Equipment

The battalion had a variety of weapons and firearms throughout its service in the 5th Iowa Cavalry and later as Brackett's Battalion, the following list is just some of the weapons utilized by the unit during its service from 1861-1866: * M1819 Hall rifle, M1836 Hall Carbine *

Remington Model 1858 The Remington-Beals Model Revolvers along with subsequent models and variations were percussion revolvers manufactured by Eliphalet Remington & Sons in .31 (Pocket) .36 (Navy) or .44 (Army) caliber, used during the American Civil War, and were th ...

Colt Army Model 1860 The Colt Army Model 1860 is a cap & ball .44-caliber single-action revolver used during the American Civil War made by Colt's Manufacturing Company. It was used as a side arm by cavalry, infantry, artillery troops, and naval forces. History ...

Sharps Carbine Sharps rifles are a series of large-bore, single-shot, falling-block, breech-loading rifles, beginning with a design by Christian Sharps in 1848 and ceasing production in 1881. They were renowned for long-range accuracy. By 1874, the rifle wa ...

* Model 1840 Cavalry Saber

References

* Minnesota. Board of commissioners on publication of history of Minnesota in civil and Indian wars. ''Minnesota In the Civil And Indian Wars 1861-1865.'' 2d ed. St. Paul, Minn.: Printed for the state by the Pioneer press company, 189199. * {{cite book , last = Jones , first = Robert Huhn , title = The Civil War in the Northwest , publisher =

University of Oklahoma Press The University of Oklahoma Press (OU Press) is the publishing arm of the University of Oklahoma. Founded in 1929 by the fifth president of the University of Oklahoma, William Bennett Bizzell, it was the first university press to be established ...

, year = 1960 * Bergemann, John D (February 9, 2004). ''Brackett's Battalion: Minnesota Cavalry in the Civil War and Dakota War.'' Borealis Books; 1st edition. * Iowa, Adjutant General's Office. ''Roster And Record of Iowa Soldiers In the War of the Rebellion, Together With Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organizations, 1861-1866'' .... Des Moines: E. H. English, state printer, 1908-1911.

External links

Brackett's Battalion in MNopedia, the Minnesota Encyclopedia

Minnesota Historical Society page on Minnesota and the Civil War