1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers)

Brief History
The 1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers) was organized at St. Cloud, St. Peters and Fort Snelling, Minnesota on October 9 to December 30, 1862. It was mustered out from October 20 to December 7, 1863 at Fort Ripley and Fort Snelling,Minnesota.

For more information about this regiment, see the following:


 * Wikipedia,(accessed 9 Dec 2010) article for 1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers).
 * The Civil War Archive section, 1st Regiment Cavalry "Mounted Rangers", (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 Hennepin County, Houston County, Dakota County and Rice County - Roster, page 636.

Company B - many men from Nicollet County, Blue Earth County, and Faribault County - Roster, page 640.

Company C - many men from Anoka County and other Minnesota counties - Roster, page 644.

Company D - many men from Stearns County - Roster, page 647.

Company E - many men from Nicollet County, Blue Earth County and Le Sueur County - Roster, page 651.

Company F - many men from Fillmore County and other Minnesota counties - Roster, page 655.

Company G - many men from Ramsey County, Dakota County and Houston County - Roster, page 659.

Company H - many men from Rice County, Freeborn County and Blue Earth County - Roster, page 663.

Company I - many men from Olmsted County and Fillmore County - Roster, page 667.

Company K - many men from Faribault County and Nicollet County - Roster, page 671.

Company L - many men from Brown County - Roster, page 675.

Company M - many men from Chisago County, Dodge County, and Mower County - Roster, page 678.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,611 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.


 * The Civil War Archive. (accessed 9 Dec 2010) Contains brief history of this regiment.


 * Rootsweb. (accessed 9 Dec 2010) "Mounted Rangers" history and a roster of the men from Wabasha County.


 * ResearchOnline. (accessed 9 Dec 2010) A brief history and biblography about the 1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers).


 * 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). WorldCat 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. 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.


 * Narrative and rosters of the Minnesota Mounted Rangers &amp; Cavalry, (Roseville, MN : Park Genealogical Books, [199-?]). 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.


 * Potter, Theodore Edgar. ''The autobiography of Theodore Edgar Potter. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1993),


 * 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.