2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry

Brief History
The 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on December 5, 1863, to January 5, 1864. Companies were mustered out at the Headquarters at Fort Snelling, until May, 1866. Companies "B," "C," "D," "E," "F," "G," "I" and "M" were mustered on November 17 to December 29, 1865. Company "A" mustered on April 2, 1866. Company "H" mustered on April 28, 1866, and Companies "K" and "L" on May 4, 1866.

For more information on this regiment see the following:


 * Wikipedia,(accessed 9 Dec 2010) article for 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.
 * The Civil War Archive section, 2nd Regiment Cavalry, (accessed 28 March 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The following counties of origin are taken from the Adjutant General's Report, found on the Internet Archives web site. The rosters show the men who served in each regiment, their residences, dates of enlistment and mustering out, and other remarks. Also see the Dalby Database, a site from Minnesota, searchable by men, counties, regiments and companies.

Company A - many men from Fillmore County, Wabasha County, Ramsey County, and Houston County - Roster, page 710.

Company B - many men from Mower County and Nicollet County - Roster, page 714.

Company C - many men from Steele County and Freeborn County - Roster, page 718.

Company D - many men from Hennepin County, Houston County, and Meeker County - Roster, page 722.

Company E - many men from Blue Earth - Roster, page 726.

Company F - many men from Dakota County and Goodhue County - Roster, page 730.

Company G - many men from Rice County, Winona County, and Brown County - Roster, page 734.

Company H - many men from Faribault County, Dakota County, and Blue Earth County - Roster, page 738.

Company I - many men from Winona County - Roster, page 742.

Company K - many men from Dodge County, Faribault County and Washington County - Roster, page 746.

Company L - many men from Olmsted County, Winona County and Scott County - Roster, page 750.

Company M - many men from Brown County, Nicollet County and Wabasha County - Roster, page 754.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,909 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Minnesota in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Minnesota in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Minnesota, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Carley, Kenneth, and Richard Moe. Minnesota in the Civil War: An Illustrated History. (Minnesota Historical Society Press, c2000). Book of battle histories, photographs, short biographies and a roster of the different regiments with their officers, beginning on page 204. Google book (Not all pages are shown). Other libraries with this book.


 * Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Compiled and Arranged from Official Records of the Federal and Confederate Armies : [Minnesota]. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1993). . FHL US/CAN Fiche 6084700. Other libraries with this book.


 * Minnesota. Adjutant General's Office. Minnesota Adjutant General's Report of 1866. (Roseville, Minnesota : Park Genealogical Books, c1997). FHL US/CAN Book  977.6 M2ma Other libraries with this book. Arranged in alphabetical order by soldier's name. Gives soldier's name, age, birthplace, rank, regiment, company, date and place mustered in, date and place mustered out, and other information.


 * Minnesota. Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars 1861-1865. (St. Paul, Minn: Electrotyped and printed for the State by the Pioneer Press Company, 1890).. FHL US/CAN Book 977.6 H2bc. Other libraries with this book. Click on the FHL Collection link to view this book online. It contains detailed histories and rosters of each Minnesota Military Unit.


 * United States. War Department. Record and Pension Office. Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in Volunteer Union Organizations. (Washington, District of Columbia : The National Archives, c1964). FHL US/CAN Film 1488542. Other libraries with this microfilm. View online at Internet Archives.