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Hatch's Cavalry Battalion
in the Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Hatch's Cavalry Battalion. — Maj., E. A. C. Hatch. This
battalion was organized during Aug. and Sept., 1863, and left for
Pembina Oct. 5, for Indian duty, accompanied by one section of the 3d
Minn. light battery. It acted as escort for a transportation train from
St. Cloud, and from Pomme de Terre Oct. 24 the major portion of the
troops were sent to Fort Abercrombie to obtain additional ordnance, the
rest of the command under Lieut. Charles Mix, continuing with the train,
a junction to be effected at Georgetown. A sudden thaw compelled the
train to rest days and travel nights and the road was lost, the command
being thus several days late in reaching Georgetown. Animals and men
suffered greatly, owing to the failure of contractors to deliver hay and
grain as agreed, and only by most determined work did the expedition
continue. Two hundred and fifty horses, mules and oxen died between
Georgetown and Pembina, and as much of the stores as could be spared
were left at Georgetown. In December a small detachment surprised and
captured a party of Indians and soon afterward some 200 of Little Crow's
band surrendered. Others came in until Maj. Hatch had nearly 400, and
early in Jan., 1864, the Sioux chiefs, Little Six and Medicine Bottle,
were captured, sent to Fort Snelling and after trial were hung for their
crimes in the massacre of 1862, Little Six confessing to having
personally killed 50 people. In February the battalion was joined by
Maj. Joseph R. Brown, with over 40 friendly Indians. Maj. Brown left for
Fort Snelling with the prisoners and on April 10, Lieut. Mix and party
left for Fort Abercrombie. On May 5, the entire command moved for Fort
Abercrombie. Co. C was detailed to Alexandria and Pomme de Terre and Co.
D to patrol duty from Fort Abercrombie to Pembina. Maj. Hatch resigned
in June because of ill health, being succeeded by Lieut. -Col. C. Powell
Adams, and Cos. E and F were mustered in during Aug. and Sept., 1864.
Post and patrol duty was the order until 1866, when the regiment was
mustered out by companies during April, May and June.
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Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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