Sherman's Woodticks: The Adventures, Ordeals and Travels of the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry During the Civil War

During the last year of the Civil War, the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment traveled more miles and served under more extreme conditions than any other unit in the Union Army. From the Yellowstone River to the Dakota plains and on to North Carolina, the soldiers endured dehydration, hunger and exhausting marches, often while exposed to scorching heat or bitter cold. Along the way, the regiment fought against foes led by men such as Sitting Bull and General Nathan Bedford Forest, but came away victorious each time. The Eighth Minnesota soldiers from Company E, the focus of this book, were drawn from among Minnesota’s first settlers. They were tough frontiersmen and also proud patriots. They enlisted with the determination to be good soldiers for the service of their country. At the same time, these men were determined to have as much fun in the army as possible, and they did! Fiercely independent, the men had little patience for bureaucracy and they despised injustice. When unfairly treated, they didn’t just grin and bear it - they actively rebelled, sometimes with humorous results. It is a fascinating story but only snippets have so far been told. Sherman’s Woodticks for the first time brings together the full story of the Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, from their enlistment in 1862 until the soldiers mustered out in 1865. This meticulously researched book focuses on the experience of the men in Company E through diaries, reminiscences, letters and many other contemporary sources to piece together their story. This is not the account of strategic plans, generals and politicians, but rather the impressions and experiences–humorous, mundane, and terrifying–of the humble volunteers who gave up so much for their country.