The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

7th Minnesota Infantry, Henry Mills' Outfit-- Part 2: Battle of Nashville and the End of the War

Late in November 1864, the 7th Minnesota arrived at Nashville, Tennessee and joined Genera; George Thomas' army who were  fighting Gen. John Bell Hood's Confederates. 

On December 15, Thomas' troops attacked the Confederate lines outside the city.  The 7th Minnesota's brigade charged a gun position and captured three cannons.  Unfortunately, Colonel Sylvester  G. Hill, the brigade commander, was killed.  The 7th's Col. Marshall then took command of the brigade.

The Union forces renewed the attack the following day  which was rainy.  The 7th and their comrades charged over soft rain soaked ground across a corn field and captured the Confederate works.  Union forces were successful all along the line  and Hood's army was all but destroyed.

The 7th had six men killed and fifty-four wounded in the two-day battle.  One of those wounded was Henry Mills.

Following the Battle of Nashville, the 7th served in Tennessee and Mississippi.

In March and April, 1865, they fought in Gen.  E.R.S. Canby's campaign against Mobile, Alabama.  This was the last campaign of the 7th, and they returned home and were mustered out of service on August 16, 1865.

--Old Secesh


No comments: