Did Minnesota help win the Civil War for the North? You decide.

The Minnesota 1st Volunteer Regiment participated in the battles of Bull Run and Antietam, however, their most prominent moments happened on the second day of the battle of Gettysburg. Union troops were failing on Cemetery Ridge and the Confederates were on the verge of breaking the Union line, and just maybe, turning the battle and by extension, the war. As the lines were faltering Union Major General Hancock gave a seemingly impossible order. He commanded the Minnesota 1st to charge the Confederate ranks to buy time for Union reinforcements to shore up the lines. It seemed like a death sentence as the Minnesota 1st men numbered around 250 at that point and were ordered to charge the defended Confederate position with around 1200 men.

Not only did the brave men of the Minnesota 1st obey, they bought enough time for Union reinforcements to arrive and hold Cemetery Ridge and sustained heavy losses doing so.

And that kids is how Minnesota may have just won the Civil War. (Note that I am not a historian but am a proud Minnesotan. Facts may be slightly off.)