CIVIL WAR

"THE EIGHTH REGIMENT"

History of Anoka County - copyright 1905

In the fall of 1862, John S. Cady, a man who had greatly endeared himself to the people of Anoka county, began to organize a company of volunteers in response to a fresh call from the government.  This company was destined to become Company A of the Eighth Regiment.

Major Hippler, of Colonel Peteler's Sharpshooters, was secured as drill master, and rapid progress was made in putting the company in condition for service. Before the regiment had been mustered in, its several companies were hastily sent to the frontier to protect the settlers against the Sioux, and were occupied in patrolling the western counties until the spring of 1864. In this service the captain of Company A lost his life.

        At the time of his death Captain Cady was accompanied by Edward S. Clinch and Elias W. Pratt.

       The Indians had stolen some horses at Silver Creek in Wright county, and a detachment of Company A had followed their trail to Kandiyohi lake.  Here several of them were overtaken by Captain Cady and his two companions. In an effort to escape, one of them galloped through an exposed spot clinging to the further side of his horse.  As he passed, the Sioux fired under the horse's neck, killing Captain Cady instantly.  A return fire hit the horse in the jaw and made him unmanageable, but the Indian escaped by jumping into the brush.  Clinch and Pratt brought the body of their dead captain back to Anoka.

        In May, 1864, the Eighth Regiment was mounted for the purpose of taking part in an 

expedition again the Sioux.  The regiment marched to the Missouri river, where it

joined General Sully's command.  A severe battle took place at Killdeer Mountain, and then

the Indians were pursued through the Bad Lands and into Montana and Wyoming, and 

thoroughly whipped and demoralized.  In October the regiment was ordered south, and

saw a great deal of severe service before the close of the war.

Following is a roster of Company A:

            Captain, John S. Cady, killed by Indians June 11, 1863

            First Lieutenant, Marcus Q. Butterfield, promoted Captain

            Second Lieutenant, Nathaniel Tibbetts, promoted First Lieutenant.

            First Sergeant, Martin V. bean, promoted Second Lieutenant.

            Abbot, Hadley T., Wagoner

            Atckison, Michael

            Austin, Julius D.

            Ballard, Amos B. transferred to Third Minnesota Battery May 1, 1863

            Beck, William B., corporal

            Bird, Frederick T.

            Bird, Jeremiah

            Brown, Charles A., corporal

            Brown, Nathan R., corporal

            Brown, Albert

            Brockway, Isaac D.

            Cates, Wm. C.

            Cheetham, Thomas J.

            Clark, Josiah F., musician; promoted chief musician and transferred to Non-Com Staff

            Clinch, Edward S., corporal; promoted sergeant

            Clark, George A., promoted corporal

             Clough, Gilbert, detailed as orderly

            Cook, Joseph H.

            Cooper, John

            Cooper, William, wounded in battle of Cedars

            Curial, Nathan W., sergeant

            Damon, Albert B.

            Donnelly, Hugh

            Downs, Joseph

            Eastland, Olaf

            Edwards, William, sergeant; killed by Indians in Meeker county, Sept. 11, 1863

            Fogg, Frederick K., promoted hospital steward

            Fuller, Eben E., wounded at Cedars

            Gallagher, Patrick

            Gaslin, John W.

            Gay, Watler D.

            Gilligan, John

            Greer, George W.

            Hancock, Charles H.

            Hathorn, Isaac N.

            Heath, Albert H., corporal; promoted sergeant

            Heath, Alden B.

            Henderson, George L.

            Hollar, John A.

            Hunter, John

            Ives, William P., sergeant; promoted first sergeant

            James, Alfonso

            Johnson, Christian

            Jones, James T

            Keyes, Hartwell C.

            Keene, Alvin F., musician

            Lee, Thomas

            Leyerly, Robert U.

            Lyman, Thomas

            Mansur, Henry

            Mason, Timothy D., corporal

            Malverhill, John

            McCormick, Daniel W.

            McDonell, John, transferred to Third Minn. Battery May 1, 1863

            McLaughlin, Charles E.

            McClellan, Acton

            McKenzie, Benjamin

            Merrill, Abraham A., sergeant

            Morton, Thurman W.

            Moses, Charles A.

            Mountain, Benjamin

            Murphy, James F., corporal

            Nutter, Jarvis

            Parker, Henry L.

            Payne, John

            Pemberton, Henry A.

            Pitman, Ira P.

            Pratt, Elias W., promoted sergeant

            Robbins, Andrew B.

            Rogers, David

            Scully, Michael

            Secoy, George J.

            Seelye, William E.

            Sevey, Warren T.

            Shea, Charles

            Small, George M.

            Smith, Freeman A.

            Smith, George

            Smith, John C.

            Smith, Matthias, promoted corporal

            Snider, Russell

            Snow, George T.

            Snow, Orin, promoted corporal

            Starkey, John M.

            Stiles, Clark T.

            Strong, John H., corporal

            Taplin, Amos U., promoted corporal

            Tibbetts, Joshua

            Tibbetts, James W.

            Tilden, Cassius M.

            Twitchell, Louisville, promoted hospital steward

            Walker, Thomas S.

            Weaver, George D.

            Webb, Thomas E.

            Wiley, Henry H., promoted corporal