William Newel Irvine came to Minnesota in the late 1850's, settling in Monticello, where he worked on his father's farm. When the Civil War broke out he traveled to Fort Snelling and, on May 21, 1861, was mustered into Company D of the First Minnesota Infantry. He proved to be a competent soldier and was promoted to corporal. His younger brother Theodore enlisted in December of 1861. He was placed in Company C. Both brothers were better known by their middle names. William was known as Newel and Theodore went by Alonzo. They left at home a brother by the name of Algernon. Newell and Alonzo wrote letters home to both their father and their brother. At the battle of Fredericksburg, Colonel Morgan received orders to establish a new line as close to the enemy as it was possible to get. On the evening of Dec 14, 1862 the regiment was carefully trying to establish this close line, when it found itself in a precarious position. Some of the men heard noises in front of them that sounded like shoveling. Lieutenant Chris Heffelfinger and Corporal Irvine crept out to check out to make observations and check out the activity. While doing so the Confederates were aroused. Heffelfinger made it back but Irvine was captured. Within a month or so Irvine was released on parole. On Jan 24, 1863, Ivine's brother, Theo, wrote a letter to their father in which he said, "I have heard from Newel twice since I came back. He says that he is tired of staying at Camp Parole hopes he is exchnaged as there has been an exchange of prisoners that is all taken up until the 1st of January it may be that he is. I cannot help but think how fortunate that Newel was. Nearly everyone in the Regt supposed that he was dead till he came to Camp Parole. It would be certain death for a reb to undertake to come into our lines at nightas we would not halt them but fire. If the rebel picket had done so Newel would not be alive now. I wished that you could see the letter that Lieut. Harmon of Co. D wrote Col. Aldrich for him to aide Newel to get a furlough. It praised Newel up to the highest notch for his bravery etc. Newel is well liked by his Co and I think he will be promoted if he ever comes back to the Regt." On July 3rd, during the repulse of Pickett's charge, Corporal Irvine took charge of the flag after Corporal O'Brien was shot. The image above shows him holding the First Minnesota's tattered flag, with its broken staff, a short time after the battle of Gettysburg. 1st Sgt James Wright, of Company F, wrote about the incident later in life. "Captain Messick was in command, and Corporal John Dehn carried the flag-he being the only one of the color guard of the day before able to be on his feet at the close of fighting the evening of the 2nd-a new detail being necessary. In the 'mix-up' with Pickett's men he was shot through the hand, and the same shot splintered the flagstaff so that it broke in two pieces. Corporal Henry D. O'Brien then took the piece with the flag on and kept it until twice wounded, when it passed to the hands of Corporal William N Irvine, who carried it through the fighting. The flag of the 28th Virginia was captured by Marshall Sherman. A portion of this staff was used to replace the broken portion of ours. The splice made in the field by a little rough whittling and bound with a knapsack strap and was carried afterwards until the regiment returned to the state the following February." Irvine was promoted to the rank of Color Sergeant and carried the regiment's colors for the rest of their service until they were discharged. A letter by Irvine shortly after the battle of Bristow Station reads as follows: "I take my pen to day to inform you I am still all right and hope to see you in the spring. We came across the river 5 days ago and drove the rebels out of their camp and log houses and we are in them now. I sit writing in front of a large fire place that the rebs left and a good House. Alonzo was up here yesterday, Jared was over and we had quite a visit. Jared is camped about 100 rods of me and Alonzo is at Div. Head Quarters 1 ½ miles here to the rear. Jared is on our right in the same line. Jared is in the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps. Charles has not arrived here yet, I expect him every hour. I got a pass and [saw] him 6 days ago. I don't see what is the reason he don't get here. He came within 5 miles of us when we were fighting at Bristow Station and went back to Washington and Alonzo was not over a mile from the depot. I rec'd the Colors the other day [it is] the prettiest flag I ever saw, they made a mistake and put on Balls Bluff that I did not want on and we have got to send it back if Charles comes and have the dates put on and the Balls Bluff taken off. Platt got a letter from home last night. I have not had a letter only from Charles for four weeks. I wrote you at Cechecter but never heard where you were not even when you came to Cechecton only by Mary C. Irvine. I have not had a letter from Viola or Sallie for a long time. We have orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice, the rebels are advancing on us. I suppose to drive us out of their winter Quarters, they will have to fight before they get them. Write soon, I must pack up and..." From your afft. Son [in house?] Color Bearer 1st Minn. 1st Brigade, 2nd Div., 2nd Corps Army of the Potomac U.S.A. When the regiment was due to be mustered out, in May of 1864, Irvine was one who chose to re-enlist. He retained his rank as the Regimental Color Sergeant. Shortly thereafter the new First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry was engaged with the enemy at the Battle at Petersburg. On June 18, 1864, while carrying the flag forward, during the fight, Irvine was shot in the forehead. He was immediately brought to the 2nd Division Hospital. On June 22nd he was conveyed to the Carver Hospital in Washington, DC. The bullet had created a one inch hole in his head and had entered his brain. He was operated on and initially responded favorably. However, he became delirious and on June 28th, he died, 10 days after having been wounded. Color Sgt William Newel Irvine was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Not everyone favored Irvine's actions. An aging and somewhat negatively minded Daniel Bond of Company F mentioned Irvine in his recollectionswritten late in his life. He stated that Irvine was "a glory seeker and hoped for higher rank. He had been promoted to sergeant by the day of his death. He was in advance of the Union attack, showing his courage in a foolish manner and was shot in the head, dying ten days later." Corporal Bond felt that this was divine providence since it meant that he would not lead other men to unnecessary deaths.
Sources: Recollections of Dan Bond; MHS History of the First Minnesota; Holcombe Minnesota 1860 Census; MHS No More Gallant a Deed, James Wright, 2001, Minnesota Historical Society, p 242 & 313. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
