The 2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and mustered in by companies for three years service beginning June 26, 1861, under the command of Colonel Horatio P. Van Cleve. Companies A and B mustered in June 26, 1861; Companies D and E mustered July 5, 1861; Companies F and G mustered in July 8, 1861; Company H mustered in July 15, 1861; Company I mustered in July 20, 1861; and Company K mustered in August 23, 1861. The regiment was attached to R. L. McCook's Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to December 1861. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, III Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Center, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XIV Corps, to October 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, XIV Corps, to June 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, XIV Corps, to July 1865. The 2nd Minnesota Infantry mustered out of service on July 11, 1865.
Detailed service
Companies A and F sent to Fort Ripley on the upper Mississippi, Companies B and C to Fort Abercrombie on the upper Red River, and Companies D and E to Fort Ridgely on the upper Minnesota River, and garrison duty at these points until September 20, 1861.
Regiment concentrated at Fort Snelling and left Minnesota for Louisville, Ky., October 14, arriving there October 22. Moved to Lebanon Junction, Ky., October 22, and duty there until December 8.
Moved to Lebanon, Ky., December 8, 1861, and duty there until January 1, 1862.
At Somerset until February 10. March to Louisville, Ky., February 10–25, thence moved to Nashville, Tenn., February 26-March 2. Moved to Savannah, Tenn., and Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 20-April 9.
Pursuit to Booneville, May 31-June 12. At Corinth until June 22.
March to Iuka, Miss., June 22–25, thence to Tuscumbia, Ala., June 27–29, and duty there until July 26.
March to Athens, Ala., and Winchester, Tenn., July 26-August 7, thence to Dechard and Pelham Gap, Tenn., August 19–31, and to Manchester, Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tenn., September 1–7.
March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg September 14–26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1–20.
Missionary Ridge, November 24–25. Pursuit to Ringgold, November 26–29. Regiment veteranized on December 29, 1863.
Veterans on furlough, January 8 to April 9, 1864. Non-veterans on duty as provost guard at Division Headquarters until April 1864. Reconnaissance from Ringgold, Ga., toward Tunnel Hill, April 29.
Tunnel Hill, May 6–7. Rocky Faced Ridge, May 8–11.
Battle of Resaca, May 13–15. Guard trains, May 21-June 2. About Dallas, June 2–5.
Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain, June 10-July 2. Pine Hill, June 11–14. Lost Mountain, June 15–17. Assault on Kennesaw, June 27.
Ruff's Station, July 4. Garrison duty at Marietta until July 13. Assigned as provost and depot guard at Marietta, July 15-August 19.
The regiment lost a total of 281 men during service; 2 officers and 91 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 186 enlisted men died of disease.
Commanders
Colonel Horatio P. Van Cleve - July 23, 1861, to March 21, 1862