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MINNESOTA
TENTH INFANTRY
(Three Years)

     Tenth Infantry.--Col., Tames H. Baker; Lieut.-Col., Samuel 
P. Jennison; Majs., Michael Cook, Edwin C. Sanders.  This 
regiment was organized in the summer of 1862 and mustered in by 
companies at different dates.  A squad of Co. I, 18 men, under 
Lieut. Merrill, voluntarily assisted in the defense of New Ulm.  
Another squad of 45 on the way to Fort Snelling, faced about 
and marched to Fort Ridgely under Lieut. Gorman, taking part in 
the defense of that fort and in the battle of Wood Lake.  Part 
of Co. G under Capt. Sanders also assisted in the defense of 
New Ulm.  Co. C was mounted, sent to Yellow Medicine agency and 
employed as guard over prisoners, taking all the Indians to the 
lower agency, after which it was sent to Fort Ridgely for the 
winter.  Co. F was also mounted, employed in scouting and 
burial of the dead, and was sent to the Winnebago agency for 
the winter.  Cos. B and F were assigned to the Winnebago 
reservation.  Headquarters were established at Le Sueur, with 
Co. G and part of Co. I in garrison.  Co. A was located at 
Garden City, D and E at Henderson, H at Seven lakes and Vernon 
Center, K at Norwegian lake, and I was not yet mustered in.  
Cos. A, B, F, G and H were at the Mankato execution on Dec. 26.  
In June, 1863, the regiment moved to Camp Pope and left there 
with the expedition to the Missouri river.  Cos. A, F, C and K 
were in the engagement at Big Mound; the regiment bore the 
brunt of the attack at Dead Buffalo lake, when fully 4,000 
Indians assaulted the troops, flanking the regiment on both 
sides before the other regiments were in position.  On the 
return of the expedition it was ordered to Fort Snelling and 
furloughed.  It left the state Oct. 7, for St. Louis, where it 
did provost and garrison duty.  Col. Baker was appointed 
commanding officer of the post at St. Louis and finally 
appointed provost marshal-general, Department of the Missouri, 
which he held until the war closed.  On April 22, 1864, the 
regiment was ordered to Columbus, Ky., Cos. E and D being 
detached for duty at Island No. 10.  In June the regiment was 
ordered to Memphis and assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st 
division, 16th army corps.  It participated in several 
expeditions and at the battle of Tupelo was in reserve.  It 
joined in the pursuit of Forrest, was in the raid after Price, 
went into camp at Nashville Nov. 30, was in the battle at that 
place in December, when it participated in the charge upon the 
principal point, and forced the enemy out at the point of the 
bayonet.  The regiment lost nearly 70 men in two days.  Of the 
charge Gen. Thomas said, it was the handsomest feat of arms he 
ever saw.  The regiment went into winter quarters at Eastport, 
and was later sent to take part in the siege of Mobile.  After 
the fall of that city it was sent to Montgomery, Ala., and in 
May was ordered to Meridian, Miss.  It was mustered out at Fort 
Snelling, Aug. 18, 1865.

Source:  Union Army

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  Report of Col. James H. Baker, Tenth Minnesota Infantry.

  HDQRS. TENTH REGT. MINNESOTA INFANTRY,
  Camp Williston, August 5, 1863.
  CAPT.: I have the honor herewith to submit a report of such part as
  was borne by my regiment, or any portion of it, in the several actions
  from July 24, at Big Mound, to the Missouri River.

  About 3.30 o'clock on Friday, the 24th of July, while on the march,
  doing escort duty in the center, I received information from the general
  commanding that a large force of Indians was immediately in our front,
  accompanied by an order communicated by Lieut. Beaver to prepare
  my regiment for action, which order was immediately executed.
  Meantime the train was being corraled on the side of the lake; after
  which I received orders to form my regiment on the color line indicated
  for it, immediately in front of the corral, and fronting outward from the
  lake, and to throw up intrenchments along the line, which was speedily
  done. The action of this day began on my right, more immediately in
  front of the Seventh (which regiment, being in advance during the day's
  march, was entitled to the forward position), by the artillery under
  Capt. Jones, when, at 4.30 p. m., I received an order by Capt. Olin
  to deploy a company to support this battery. I immediately deployed
  Company B, Capt. Edgerton, and that company, though fatigued
  already with an ordinary day's march, continued with the battery
  (marching for many miles on the double-quick) during the entire pursuit
  of the enemy, for 15 miles, and through out the night till sunrise next
  morning, when they returned from the pursuit to camp, having made
  during the day and night the almost unparalleled march of quite 50 miles.

  At about 5 o'clock I received an order by Capt. Pope to send Lieut.-Col.
  Jennison with four companies, to be deployed and to follow in the direction
  of the retreating enemy, as a support for the cavalry and artillery. Col.
  Jennison moved forward, with Companies A, F, C, and K, 5 miles, more than
  half of it on the double-quick, and reported his command to the general
  commanding, at that time in the front. After resting about one hour, by the
  order of the general commanding, Col. Jennison was directed to return to
  camp with his force, and arrived at a little after 9 p. m. At the same time
  that the first order above alluded to was given, I was directed to assume
  command of the camp, and make the proper dispositions for its defense,
  which I did by completing all the intrenchments and organizing and posting
  such forces as were yet left in camp, not anticipating the return of our
  forces that night.
  The action of the 26th of July took place on the side of the camp
  opposite from my regiment, and, consequently, we did not participate
  in it. We were, however, constantly under arms, ready at any moment
  for orders or an opportunity.

  On Tuesday, the 28th of July, my regiment being in the advance for the
  day's march, we started out of Camp Ambler at 5  o'clock in the
  morning. The general commanding, some of the scouts, and a few of
  the headquarters wagons had preceded my regiment out of camp, and
  were ascending the long sloping hill which gradually rose from Stony
  Lake. I had just received, directly from the general commanding, orders
  for the disposition of my regiment during the days' march, when the
  scouts came from over the hill on the full run, shouting, "They are
  coming! they are coming!" Immediately a very large body of mounted
  Indians began to make their appearance over the brow of the hill, and
  directly in front of my advancing column. I instantly gave the necessary
  orders for the deployment of the regiment to the right and left, which,
  with the assistance of Lieut. Col. Jennison and the great alacrity
  of commandants of companies, were executed with the utmost rapidity,
  though a portion of my line was thorn into momentary confusion by the
  hasty passage through it of the returning scouts and advance wagons. At
  this moment an Indian on the brow of the hill shouted, "We are too late;
  they are ready for us." Another one replied, "But remember our
  children and families; we must not let them get them." Immediately the
  Indians, all well mounted, filed off right and left along the hill in my
  front with the utmost rapidity. My whole regiment was deployed, but
  the Indians covered my entire front, and soon far outflanked on both
  sides, appearing in numbers that seemed almost incredible, and most
  seriously threatening the train to the right and left of my widely
  extended line. The position of the train was at this moment eminently
  critical. It has begun to pass out of the corral around both ends of the
  small lake, to mass itself in the rear of my regiment, in the usual order
  of march. The other regiments were
  not yet in position, as the time to take their respective places in the
  order of march had not arrived. Fortunately, however, Capt. Jones
  had early moved out of camp with one section of artillery, and was in
  the center of my left wing, and Lieut. Whipple, with another, near
  to the center of my right, which was acting under Col. Jennison.

  Simultaneously with the deployment of the regiment, we began a steady
  advance of the whole line up the hill upon the foe, trusting to the speedy
  deployment of the other infantry regiments and the cavalry for the
  protection of the train, so threatened on either flank at the ends of the
  lake. My whole line was advancing splendidly up the hill, directly upon
  the enemy, the artillery doing fine work, and the musketry beginning to
  do execution, when I received a peremptory order too halt the entire
  line, as a farther advance would imperil the train. So ardent were both
  officers and men for the advance, that it was with some considerable
  difficulty that I could effect a halt. Believing fully that the great
  engagement of the expedition was now begun, and seeing in my front
  and reaching far beyond either flank more than double the number of
  Indians that had hitherto made their appearance, I took advantage of the
  halt to make every preparation for a prolonged and determined action.
  Meantime long-range firing continued throughout the entire line, and
  frequently the balls of the enemy would reach to, and even pass over,
  my men, though it was evident that the range of the Indian guns bore no
  comparison to ours. About this time I twice received the order to cause
  the firing to cease, which order I found very difficult to execute, owing
  to the wide extent of my line and intense eagerness of the men. I then
  received orders that, as the train was closed up, I should form my
  regiment in order of battle, deploy as skirmishers, holding two
  companies in reserve, and that, thus advancing, our order of march
  would be resumed in the face of the enemy. In a few minutes, the
  dispositions being made, all was ready, and, in the order of battle
  indicated, we passed again for a moment, on a distant hill, in great
  numbers, when they entirely disappeared. My regiment marched in
  deployed order of battle en echelon at the head of the column for 18
  miles, expecting and ready to meet the enemy at any moment.

  The number of Indians so suddenly charging upon us was estimated at
  not less than from 1,500 to 2,000. They were well mounted, and moved
  about with the utmost rapidity and with their characteristic hideous yells.
  The artillery, under Capt. Jones and Lieut. Whipple, did great
  execution, as I could well observe, and the fire of my men did effective
  service, and enabled us to hold the enemy at bay till the train was closed
  up and the regular dispositions for its defense made. At least 3 of the
  enemy were seen to fall by the fire from my line, their bodies being
  thrown on ponies and rapidly carried away. The artillery must have
  killed and wounded a considerable number. Nothing could exceed the
  eagerness, firmness, and gallant bearing of all the officers and men of
  my command during this unexpected and by far, numerically, the
  greatest effort the Indians had yet made upon the forces of the
  expedition. In their courage and earnest desire to clear the enemy from
  the hill by a double-quick charge, my officers and men were a unit.
  Nothing but the immediate peril of the train could induce them to cease
  the advance they had so gallantly begun.

  On the 30th of July, while at Camp Slaughter, on the Missouri, I
  received an order to send three companies of my regiment, under
  Lieut.-Col. Jennison, to join an expedition under Col. Crooks, the object
  of which was to skirmish through the timber and heavy
  underbrush to the river, and destroy the property of the Indians, known
  to be upon its banks. This most laborious task was assigned to Companies B,
  F, and K, and a portion of Company C. A report of their operations will,
  of course, be given you by the officer commanding the expedition.

  I desire, captain, to avail myself of this opportunity to express my
  sincere gratification at the good order, faithful devotion to very duty,
  most determined perseverance in the long and weary marches, uncomplaining
  in the severe guard and trenching labors, submitting unmurmuringly to every
  fatigue, which as characterized the officers and men of my regiment during
  the tedious and arduous march we have made to the distant shores of the
  Missouri River. It is with justifiable pride that I here note how nobly
  they have performed all that has been required at their hands.

  I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

  J. H. BAKER,
  Col. Tenth Regt. Minnesota Infantry.

  Capt. R. C. OLIN,
  Assistant Adjutant-Gen., District of Minnesota.

   Source:  Official Records
   PAGE 369-32   MO., ARK., KANS., IND. T., AND DEPT. N. W.   [CHAP. XXXIV.
  [Series I. Vol. 22. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 32.]

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  Report of Lieut. Col. Samuel P. Jennison, Tenth Minnesota Infantry.

  HDQRS. TENTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY,
  Memphis, Tenn., July 23, 1864.
  I have the honor to report the operations of my command during the late
  expedition under Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith to Tupelo, Miss.:

  The regiment, which has been detained upon provost duty, left La
  Grange on the afternoon of the 5th instant to join the rest of the brigade.

  On the 13th instant the regiment was formed to resist the flank attack of
  the enemy made near the creek, about --miles from Tupelo, on the
  road Thither from Pontotoc. One company (Company F, Capt.
  George T. White commanding) was thrown forward as skirmishers, who
  become engaged on the left of the advanced line, and to whose support
  Company K, Capt. O'Connor, was afterward dispatches, but the rest
  of the regiment took no other part than to change position as support
  several times, and to endure the harmless shelling of the enemy's
  artillery.

  During the engagement of two hours and a half, on the 14th instant, we
  were on the left of the First Brigade, which formed the right of our
  semicircular line. Two companies, A and E, were throughout absent
  upon picket duty. Company C, Capt. Hopson, was deployed to cover
  our front, and was often engaged with the skirmishers of the enemy.
  The regiment, although much exposed, was held in reserve until the last
  advance of the enemy, when Col. McMillen directed me to swing my
  regiment around upon its left, temporarily disconnecting its right from
  the rest of the line, so as to extend the line that was hitherto engaged by
  the length of my battalion. Their new position was concealed from the
  enemy by the crest of a ridge, upon which Mueller's battery of Rodman
  guns had been excellent service. I awaited the enemy until I was
  satisfied I could reach them with the fire of my riflemen, when the
  regiment rose as one man, developing a line of greater extent to their
  left than the enemy had yet seen, and gave them a volley, which was the
  last they waited to receive that day. They turned in utter rout and our
  victorious line was ordered forward. Presently my regiment was recalled
  by order of Gen. Mower. The evening and night following I was
  ordered directly by Maj.-Gen. Smith to guard the rear of the train,
  the hospitals, and the road to Tupelo, along which it was expected the
  enemy would make an attempt.

  On the 15th the Tenth Minnesota was again sent in as a reserve, taking
  position by the direct order of Gen. Mower. Upon the afternoon of
  that day, when the enemy attacked us just as we were arriving in camp,
  my regiment had been the leading one on the march, and was therefore
  the last to receive the order to return to attack the enemy. The regiment
  returned immediately, under the guidance of a staff officer of the
  brigade commander, but only to be ordered to return to camp, the other
  regiments of the brigade having gallantly driven the enemy for about
  two miles.

  I have no other circumstances to mention wherein my regiment bore any
  special part. Although commonly held in reserve in the engagement, it
  was often in very trying positions.

  I can only say of the behavior of my officers and men that it is all I
  could desire. They promptly moved whenever and wherever ordered,
  and they remained until ordered away. I had about 400 men in line on
  the 14th and over 500 on the 15th.

  My loss was 1 killed and 20 wounded.

  Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

  S. P. JENNISON,
  Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Tenth Minnesota Infantry.

  OSCAR MALMROS,
  Adjutant-Gen., Minnesota.


  Source:  Official Records
  CHAP. LI.]   EXPEDITION TO TUPELO, MISS.   PAGE 263-77
  [Series I. Vol. 39. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 77.]


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Nashville, TN after battle report:
  
  No. 146.

  Report of Capt. Edwin C. Sanders, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, of operations
  December 15-16, 1864.

  HDQRS. TENTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
  In the Field, December 23, 1864.
  SIR: I have the honor to report the part borne by the Tenth Minnesota
  Infantry in the battles of the 15th and 16th of this month near Nashville,
  Tenn.

  On the morning of the 15th the regiment, commanded by Lieut.
  Col. S. P. Jennison, moved from the earth-works near Nashville as the
  center of your command. In the charges which were made during the
  afternoon of this day it participated and contributed in no small degree
  toward carrying the strong works of the enemy on the left of his lines, which
  resulted to him in the loss of six cannon and many prisoners, together with
  very strong defensible positions. On the morning of the 16th the regiment
  took position on the left of your brigade, the left resting on the right of the
  Second Brigade, of Gen. McArthur's division, within musket-range of the
  enemy's earth-works, and in this position about 100 rods to the right and
  took position parallel to and in front of the Twenty-third Army Corps, where
  it remained about forty-five minutes, when it participated in the grand charge
  so gallantly and successfully made by your command against the salient point
  of the enemy's works, and did very much toward producing the glorious
  results of the day.

  All the officers and men, during these sanguinary conflicts, were at their
  posts and nobly did their duty; especially did Lieut. Col. Jennison
  display a high order of those qualities which endear an officer to his
  command, and by his coolness and noble daring did very much in carrying
  his regiment repeatedly over the enemy's defenses, the last of which himself
  did not pass over, being struck down severely wounded while in the act of
  scaling the works. I should hardly do my duty if I failed to mention Sergeant
  O'Neill, the color-bearer of the regiment, who particularly distinguished
  himself in all the charges made, especially so in the last one, in which case
  he was the first to enter the enemy's works, and, with one toot upon an
  enemy prostrated by his own hand, waved the regimental colors.

  Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

  E. C. SANDERS,
  Capt., Cmdg.

  Col. W. L. McMILLEN, Cmdg. Brigade.

  Source:  Official Records
  PAGE 444-93   KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., ALA., AND N. GA.   [CHAP. LVII.
  [Series I. Vol. 45. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 93.]

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  Report of Lieut. Col. Samuel P. Jennison, Tenth
  Minnesota Infantry, of operations March 25-April 9.

  HDQRS. TENTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY,
  Near Fort Blakely, Ala., April 12, 1865.
  LIEUT.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
  operations of my regiment before Spanish Fort, Ala.:

  My command left Fish River March 25, 1865, with the rest of the
  brigade. On the morning of the 27th, having passed somewhat beyond
  or to the north of Spanish Fort, on the road to Blakely, I was ordered
  to form in line of battle upon the left of the Ninety-thrid Indiana
  Infantry, facing the west, to cover my front with a strong skirmish line,
  and conform to the movements of the regiment on my right. We were
  then advanced about half a mile, when it was found that by the
  convergence of our lines of advance we were lapping the brigade on our
  right. We were moved to the left, and then forward until I came to the
  position occupied by Reed's Station Iowa Battery. I halted in rear of this
  battery and reported the fact to the colonel commanding brigade, who
  directed me then to remain. Later in the day, when it became apparent
  that the enemy would not accept battle outside of his works, I was
  directed to move forward and intrench myself on the right of the Second
  Brigade. I went to my assigned position about 4 p.m., procured axes
  and spades, and commenced to throw up works in plain view ofthe
  enemy and within 500 yards of their northeast bastion. Part of my front
  was claimed to plant the Second Iowa Battery. I therefore placed four
  companies in the front line and entrenched the other companies in rear
  of the battery. This position we occupied as our camp for twelve days,
  within which my command threw up a breaks-work which resisted the
  penetrative power of an 8-inch columbiad at point-blank range, covered
  themselves against splinters of the enemy's shell, assisted to drive
  forward a sap within seventy-five yards of the enemy's works, built a
  second parallel and nearly completed a third, constructed substantial
  works for sixteen siege guns and for lighter pieces, felled the heavy pine
  timber to give ranger to artillery upon about forty acres, and expended
  23,000 rounds of cartridges in skirmishing. I was present in the
  advanced parallel with six companies of my regiment the night of the
  evacuation of the fort by the enemy, and observed the advance of a
  brigade of the Third Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, which was made
  at midnight on the 8th instant. Although that advance men no resistance
  whatever, and I might from my advanced position have preceded all the
  troops into the fort, I thought best not to experiment without orders, and
  accordingly remained until directed by the colonel commanding to
  advance into the fort. Of the duty peculiar to a siege I think no equal
  number of men ever did more, or better, or more willingly than the
  regiment I have the honor to command.

  Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

  S. P. JENNISON,
  Lieut. Col., Cmdg. Tenth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers.

  Lieut. THEODORE LIVINGS,
  Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., First Div., 16th Army Corps.


  Source:  Official Records
  PAGE 238-103   KY., S. W. VA., TENN., N. & C. GA., MISS., ALA., & W. FLA.
  [Series I. Vol. 49. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 103.]


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