First Nebraska Militia

The First Nebraska Militia was a temporary military force mobilized by Territorial Governor Alvin Saunders in August, 1864 during the Indian uprising of 1864 which threatened travelers on the Overland Trail and settlers on the frontier. The First Nebraska Militia reinforced the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, which had previously been deployed and had constructed Fort McPherson near present-day North Platte, Nebraska, and the First Nebraska Veteran Volunteer Cavalry.^[1]

The Nebraska MILITIA were frontiersmen who furnished their own horses and arms. They were, as soldiers, first-class in every respect. The companies were small but efficient.^[2]

Companies

• First Regiment, Second Brigade:
  • Company A: fifty-three men with a captain, a first lieutenant, and a second lieutenant, mustered into service August 12, 1864 who served four months and nine days.
  • Company B: fifty-three men with a captain, a first lieutenant, and a second lieutenant, mustered into service August 13, 186i who served six months.
  • Company C: fifty-seven men with a captain, a first lieutenant, and a second lieutenant, mustered into service August 24, 1864 who served five months and thirteen days.
• First Regiment, First Brigade:
  • Company A: forty-seven men with a captain, a first lieutenant, and a second lieutenant, mustered into the service August 30, 1864 who served two months and twelve days.
• A detachment of artillery militia under command of Captain Edward P. Childs, numbering thirteen men, rank and file, was mustered into the service August 30, 1864, and served two months and twelve days.^[3]

Companies "B" and "C," First Nebraska Militia (mounted) were present at the January, 1865 attack on Camp Rankin and Julesburg and under the command of General Robert B. Mitchell were part of the force which engaged in a fruitless pursuit of the marauding Indian forces after the battle.^[4]

References

1. Page 159 to 161 Johnson's History of Nebraska, Harrison Johnson, Henry Gibson (Omaha, Nebraska, 1880)
2. Chapter 32, Ware, The Indian War of 1864
3. Pages 160, 181 Johnson's History of Nebraska
4. Chapter 32, Ware, Eugene, The Indian War of 1864: Being a Fragment of the Early History of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming", Crane & Company (1911) Eugene Ware was the most junior officer in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry when on September 19, 1863 it was deployed to Omaha en route to the Indian Wars.