Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry

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Brief History
Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry was made up of Companies "A," "B" and "C." They were organized at Fort Snelling, Minn., as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Companies, Minnesota Light Cavalry, from September to November, 1861. Headquarters was at Sioux City, October, 1865, to May, 1866. The regiment mustered out on June 1, 1866.

For more information on Brackett's Battalion see the following:


 * Wikipedia, (accessed 9 Dec 2010) article on Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry.


 * Civil War Archive. (accessed 9 Dec 2010) Brief history of Brackett's Battalion Cavalry.

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 Ramsey County, Sibley County and Winona County - Roster, page 684.

Company B - many men from Jackson County, Blue Earth County, Hennepin County, and Faribault County - Roster, page 690.

Company C - many men from Ramsey County, Olmsted County, Scott County and Hennepin County - Roster, page 696.

Company D - many men from Olmsted County, Dakota County, Mower County and Fillmore County - Roster, page 701.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 986 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Source Material
WEBSITES


 * 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.


 * Rootsweb. (accessed 9 Dec 2010) Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry history and a roster of the men from Wabasha county.

BOOKS


 * 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 in the Civil War: An Illustrated History, Kenneth Carley, Richard Moe (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2000). 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.


 * 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.