Minnesota sent over 24,000 men to the Union Army in the Civil War. They were organized into 11 regiments of infantry, 2 regiments and 2 independent battalions of cavalry, 1 regiment of heavy artillery, and 3 batteries of light artillery. All but one regiment fought in the Western Theater.
The solitary Minnesota infantry regiment that was sent to the Eastern Theater fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. But it more than did its fair share. It is honored by three monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield and in the National Cemetery. Of its 378 men who were engaged, 224 became casualties. This was almost 60%, the highest percentage loss of any Union state. (see the States at Gettysburg)