volunteered at the first call of the president. As only ten companies
could go in the first regiment the surplus was held in readiness for
a second call, which it was thought would be soon forthcoming. On the
16th of June, 1861, Gov. Ramsey received notice that a second regiment
would be acceptable, and accordingly the companies already organized
with two or three additions made up the famous Second Minnesota. H.P.
Van Cleve was appointed colonel, with headquarters at Fort Snelling.
Several of the companies were sent to the frontier to relieve
detachments of regulars stationed at various posts, but on the 16th of
October, 1861, the full regiment started for Washington. On reaching
Pittsburgh, however, their destination was changed to Louisville, at
which place they were ordered to report to Gen. W.T. Sherman, then in
command of the Department of the Cumberland, and they at once received
orders to proceed to Lebanon Junction, about thirty miles south of
Louisville. The regiment remained at this camp about six weeks before
anything occurred to relieve the monotony of camp life, although there
were numerous rumors of night attacks by large bodies of Confederates.
On the 15th of November, 1861, Gen. Buell assumed command of all the
volunteers in the vicinity of Louisville, and he at once organized
them into divisions and brigades. Early in December the Second
regiment moved to Lebanon, Ky., and, en route, the train was fired at.
At Lebanon the Second Minnesota, Eighteenth United States infantry,
Ninth and Thirty-fifth Ohio regiments were organized into a brigade,
and formed part of Gen. George H. Thomas' First division. On Jan. 1,
1862, Gen. Thomas started his troops on the Mill Springs campaign
and from the 1st to the 17th day of January, spent most of its time
marching under rain, sleet and through mud, and on the latter date
went into camp near Logan's Cross Roads, eight miles north of
Zollicoffer's intrenched rebel camp at Beech Grove. On the night of
Jan. 18, Company A was on picket duty. It had been raining incessantly