[1] One of the regiment's most famous actions was on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg when Major General Winfield Scott Hancock ordered the 1st Minnesota to charge into a brigade of 1,200 Confederate soldiers.

On April 14, 1861, Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey was visiting Washington, D.C. when he first heard news of the attack on Fort Sumter causing him, along with Senator Wilkinson, to rush to the office of the Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, to offer 1,000 Minnesotan Soldiers to the Union Army.

These companies were the first troops offered by any state to meet Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 men to assist the Federal Government to deal with the secession.

Josias Ridgate King of the St. Paul Pioneer Guard is credited as being the first northern volunteer to stand to for Lincoln's call for men to fight the Confederacy.

While straddling Rickett's Battery in support, the regiment saw heavy fighting on Henry House Hill in close proximity to the enemy.

The First Minnesota Regiment moved from its position on the left of the field to the support of Ricketts' battery, and gallantly engaged the enemy at that point.

I respectfully refer you to Colonel Gorman's report for the account of his regiment's behavior and of the good conduct of his officers and men.

The brigade commander noted, "The First Minnesota Regiment fired with so much coolness and accuracy that they brought down [three times one] of the enemy's flags, and finally cut the flag-staff in two.

This action blunted the Confederate attack and helped preserve the Union's precarious position on Cemetery Ridge at the end of the second day of the battle.

Just before the 1st Minnesota became nearly encircled by enemy troops, Union reinforcements arrived in time to allow some of the men to make a fighting withdrawal.

In his official report, Confederate Brigadier General Cadmus M. Wilcox perceived the inequality of the fight differently (bold emphasis likely refers to the First Minnesota):This stronghold of the enemy [i.e., Cemetery Ridge], together with his batteries, were almost won, when still another line of infantry descended the slope in our front at a double-quick, to the support of their fleeing comrades and for the defense of the batteries.

The enemy did not pursue, but my men retired under a heavy artillery fire, and returned to their original position in line, and bivouacked for the night, pickets being left on the pike.

During this charge, Private Marshall Sherman of Company C captured the colors of the 28th Virginia Infantry[16] and received the Medal of Honor for this exploit.

[17] After being knocked out by a bullet to the head and later shot in the hand, Corporal Henry D. O'Brien repeatedly picked up the fallen colors of the 1st Minnesota and carried a wounded comrade back to the Union lines.

"[20] Emphasizing the critical nature of the circumstances on July 2 at Gettysburg, President Coolidge considered: "Colonel Colvill and those eight companies of the First Minnesota are entitled to rank as the saviors of their country.

To gain time to bring up the reserves & save this position, Gen Hancock in person ordered the eight companies to charge the rapidly advancing enemy.

And the charge was instantly made down the slope at full speed through the concentrated fire of the two brigades breaking with the bayonet the enemy's front line as it was crossing the small brook in the low ground there the remnant of the eight companies, nearly surrounded by the enemy held its entire force at bay for a considerable time & till it retired on the approach of the reserve the charge successfully accomplished its object.