The Air was Literally Full of Iron: The 1st Minnesota and Pickett's Charge

Watching the approach of the lines of Confederates on the afternoon of July 3, 1863, one Minnesota soldier was moved to write "such bravery, coolness, and determination as the Rebels showed in this charge is not recorded in history. MacDonald’s charge at Wagram does not come up to the steady, determined, unwavering approach of these men without a shot or a shout, although not one of every ten who started reached our lines."

    Although unsigned, I’m reasonably certain this letter was penned by Second Lieutenant William Lochren of Co. K of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The letter was written to Colonel George N. Morgan who formerly commanded the 1st Minnesota and was then the commander of Fort Snelling. The letter first saw publication in the July 31, 1863, edition of the Weekly Pioneer & Democrat published in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

First Lieutenant William Lochren, Co. E, 1st Minnesota Infantry resigned his commission due to ill health at the end of 1863. An attorney, he returned to practice in Minnesota and later served a term as pension commissioner during Grover Cleveland's second term and as a federal judge until retirement in 1908. A lifelong Democrat, Lochren did not enjoy a good relationship with the local G.A.R. post but was fiercely loyal to his comrades in the 1st Minnesota. 

Bivouac of First Regt., Minnesota Vols.

Near Antietam Creek, Maryland

July 15, 1863

Dear Colonel,

          I write the first moment of time I have had since the Battle of Gettysburg- the most fatal to use that we ever participated in. You doubtless have heard the particulars ere this reaches you. I sent a list of the killed and wounded to the Adjutant General of the State two days ago. We lost about three-fourths of the officers and men and engaged.

          Poor Periam [Captain Joseph Periam, Co. K] fell in the first charge. I was just by his side and saw the bullet hole by his right ear. I did not suppose he would breathe again and passed on. Co. K had 29 men when we went into that charge. Of these eight were killed and thirteen wounded. Corporal Leslie Gore, the company clerk, was killed. Matt Marvin was badly wounded in the foot. Samuel Tenny also had a bad wound. The whole regiment (except Cos. C, F, and L who were not engaged here) suffered nearly as bad.

          Captain Louis Muller [Co. E] was shot through the brain. Lieutenant Francis was also shot through the brain. Among the others that you knew particularly were Sergeant Trevor and Privates Jackins, Davis, and J.L. Taylor of Co. E (poor “Tactics,” his notebook is closed forever.) Colonel Colville and Lieutenant Colonel Adams are both badly wounded. Downie has two wounds in the right arm while Peller’s left arm is broken. Tom Sinclair had a bullet flatten itself on his breastbone. I told him there was no necessity that he should get “ironclad.”

Sergeant Matthew Marvin of Co. K of the 1st Minnesota suffered his third and final wound of the war when he was badly wounded in the foot during the 1st Minnesota's charge on July 2nd but would survive. July was a rough month for the Minnesotan: he had previously been wounded July 21, 1861 at First Bull Run, a second time July 7, 1862 at Harrison's Landing, and then at Gettysburg. The native New Yorker returned home to Minnesota and lived until 1903. 

          The next day (Friday), we withstood the shock of the decisive charge of the battle. After shelling for about three hours, during which the air was literally full of iron and compared with which all the other shellings we ever withstood seemed insignificant, A.P. Hill’s corps charged our line just at the point held by our Second Brigade. The enemy advanced in solid column, in beautiful order and style, without firing a shot although it left the ground over which it passed strewn with its dead and wounded from a deadly fire which we poured into its front and flanks besides canister from a dozen batteries. It never wavered nor fired a shot until it planted its colors upon our nearest battery.

          Our brigade, moving by the right flank to the point of attack and constantly firing, arrived at the battery just with the enemy and charged him. Decimated as they were by our murderous fire, what of them who were left were obliged to succumb and our regiment alone, although not more than 100 men strong, took over 500 prisoners and the colors of the 28th Virginia regiment.

Flag of the 28th Virginia captured by Herman Marshall of Co. C of the 1st Minnesota Infantry on July 3, 1863, during Pickett's Charge. 

Such bravery, coolness, and determination as the Rebels showed in this charge is not recorded in history. MacDonald’s charge at Wagram does not come up to the steady, determined, unwavering approach of these men without a shot or a shout, although not one of every ten who started reached our lines. As they reached our battery, they fired upon us and we had all along been under a withering fire of grape from their batteries which came up to close range. Here Captain Messick, then commanding the regiment, along with Captain Ferrell fell.

The provost guards were ordered up. Lieutenants May and Mason were wounded severely and Lieutenants Harmon and Heffelfinger were wounded slightly. Immediately after this, another charge was made to our left but the Johnny Rebs were completely “gobbled up” by the Second Vermont Brigade who charged them at a run when they approached within about 50 yards of their line and took nearly every one prisoner. Thus ended the Battle of Gettysburg, the most sanguinary that I have ever participated in.

You may judge how our men fight when I tell you that after the battle, but one man was missing while three-fourths of the whole were killed or wounded. We are now in front of the enemy here. Heavy skirmishing has been going on these two days and a battle is imminent. Captain Coates commands the regiment.

Source:

Letter from First Lieutenant William Lochren, Co. E, 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Weekly Pioneer & Democrat (Minnesota), July 31, 1863, pg. 5


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