The regiment went on to campaign in the south and especially distinguish itself at the battles of Mill Springs, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge.

When the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment formed in answer for President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers, the companies quickly filled beyond capacity.

[1] The regiment organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and mustered in by companies for three years service beginning June 26, 1861.

[1] On October 14, the regiment received orders to report to Washington D.C and left with a large crowd bidding them farewell.

The 2nd Minnesota arrived at Louisville on October 22[1] and reported to General William Tecumseh Sherman, commanding the Department of the Cumberland.

Come January 2, 1862, the 2nd Minnesota was assigned to the III brigade of George H. Thomas' I division, Army of the Ohio.

Throughout January, the army moved to push the advancing Confederate Generals Felix Kirk Zollicoffer and George B Crittenden across the Cumberland River.

[1]The rebel infantry quickly fled except for one officer who fired his revolver, wounding Lieutenant Stout of Company I before being shot down;[1] this man was later identified as Bailie Peyton.

Come October 1, 1862, the Army of the Ohio prepared to recover parts of Kentucky and Tennessee taken by the Confederates in the Heartland Offensive.

Due to miscommunication between the senior army officers, the 2nd Minnesota took no active part in the main engagement.

[2] On the morning of the battle, Bishop lead a company of men to gather water to fill the regiment's canteens.

[1] Bishop described this encounter in the 2nd's narrative:We had no experience in the whole war so startling as that cocking of muskets behind us, knowing as we did that they were in the hands of friends who were not informed of our presence in front of them.

[1]Eventually, the 2nd Minnesota found themselves coincidentally encamped on the property of Col. Battle, 20th Tennessee, who was now with his regiment in Confederate General Braxton Bragg's army.

The main objective was to drive Bragg's army out of central Tennessee, then threaten the strategic city of Chattanooga.

[2][1] Next morning on September 19, the Minnesotans enjoyed a 20-minute breakfast before being ordered off of the Lafayette-Chattanooga road to take part in the day's fighting.

[1] The 2nd and its brigade were soon ordered to advance and defeat the Confederate forces before them; it did not take long for them to find the enemy in the wooded areas in front.

[1] Afterward, the 9th Ohio of the same brigade returned from guarding an ammunition train, and attempted to recapture Gunther's Battery lost earlier in the day.

[1] Despite the danger, the III brigade continued charging against the rebel forces and drove them into the woods; the first line fired into the withdrawing Confederates.

Along the way, Maj. Gen. Thomas rode by the regiments he had led at Mill Springs, including the 2nd Minnesota and said he was glad to see them in "good order".

[1]After the battle of Chickamauga, the 2nd Minnesota went with the Union army back to Chattanooga where Bragg intended to besiege the defenders by utilizing key terrain around the city.

The 2nd Minnesota had been reassigned to the II brigade, III division of the XIV Corps now commanded by John M.

The next day, the III division was to attack with the II brigade assigned to the center, 2nd Minnesota leading in front.

The regiment appeared from the edge of the woods that concealed them and could fully view the enemy defenses atop the ridge and at its foot.

Firing commenced and continued for 20 minutes[1] until the rest of the supporting regiments began a general advance.

The 2nd Minnesota and the III brigade made another charge, this time driving the Confederates from the ridge completely.

The Union army had revenge for the Battle of Chickamauga, and Chattanooga would remain firmly in northern hands.

The 2nd Minnesota had 185 men and officers present for duty of which five were killed and 34 wounded; despite the uphill advance against entrenched infantry and artillery.

A few weeks later around 10 December, an announcement was received from the War Department stating that regiments who had served for a period of two years or longer were welcome to re-enlist for three more.

[1] The War Department promised a 30-day furlough to all re-enlisting men, and the 300 veterans embarked on 8 January 1864, for Minnesota; the 75 non-veterans remained behind in a temporary company.