William F. Fox, Lt. Col. U. S. V., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War, 1861-1865: A Treatise on the extent and nature of the mortuary losses in the Union regiments, with full and exhaustive statistics compiled from the official records on file in the state military bureaus and at Washington

First Minnesota Infantry.

187 killed == 15 per cent.

Total of killed and wounded, 585; missing and captured, 136; died in Confederate prisons (previously included), 13.

Present, also, at Yorktown; West Point; Peach Orchard; Malvern Hill; Second Fredericksburg; Mine Run; Strawberry Plains; Hatcher's Run; Farmville; Appomattox.

notes.--The greatest regimental loss in any battle, in proportion to the number engaged, occurred in the ranks of the First Minnesota, at Gettysburg. In that battle, on the afternoon of the second day, the Confederates had broken through Sickles's ranks, and were about seizing an important position within the Union lines. The only body of troops at hand was the First Minnesota. Hancock, desiring to impede the enemy's advance until reeinforcements could be brought up, ordered Colville to charge the advancing Confederate brigade with his regiment. Alone and unsupported it attacked them, drove them back, and captured their colors. But it was accomplished at a terrible cost; of the eight companies engaged--262 all told--215 were killed and wounded. It is the largest percentage of loss recorded in the annals of modern warfare. It was in action again on the following day, its casualties at Gettysburg aggregating 51 killed, and 173 wounded; total, 224. This regiment was organized April 29, 1861, and was the first in the Union Army to be mustered in for three years. It fought at First Bull Run--then in Franklin's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division. Its casualties on that field were 42 killed, 108 wounded, and 30 missing, the largest loss sustained by any regiment there. It was assigned, soon after, to the First Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps, in which it remained during its service.