As the Civil War drew to a close in late spring 1865, many of Minnesota’s veterans began the long trek home from Southern battlefields. Not every unit returned; some remained for occupation duty. Those who did return typically came home via the Mississippi River, then reported to Fort Snelling where they awaited mustering out of federal service.
On August 26, 1865, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant visited Minnesota by steamer. Having led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War, he and his entourage were welcomed with cheers at stops in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Minnehaha Falls and Fort Snelling before departing back down river.
Honoring the troops
Not all units arriving at Fort Snelling experienced a grand reception. The earliest units arrived without fanfare. Concerned citizens quickly formed a Soldiers’ Reception Committee, which organized celebrations to welcome home Minnesota’s warriors in a fashion they believed deserving of defenders of the Union.
Parades, band concerts, banquets, speeches and other festivities were held for the newly arrived troops. After the initial welcome, soldiers reported to Fort Snelling, where they received their final pay, turned in their weapons and equipment and formed up one last time, often to hear farewell speeches from their commanders.
Many soldiers quietly returned to civilian life. Others continued to serve the state, filling various administrative ranks, including eight Civil War veterans who went on to serve as Minnesota governors in subsequent years.
State Capitol paid homage
The history of the Civil War was not forgotten. When the new State Capitol opened in 1905 after 12 years of planning, it was adorned with Civil War statues, paintings and battle flags. Soldiers also held veteran reunions in the years that followed, which helped steel friendships forged in war.
The Minnesota Historical Society serves as a steward for many wartime manuscripts and artifacts. The society was already an active collecting institution when the war began in 1861, so it was a logical repository for both personal and government documents.
Many letters, diaries and reminiscences have found their way into the collections over the years. Official state records, particularly of the governor and the adjutant general, including nearly 2,000 muster rolls, have been added, along with an extensive collection of regimental histories, diaries and official sources, many dating from the years just after the war.
Minnesota Historical Society. This article first appeared in the August 2015 issue of Minnesota Good Age.