A group of Minnesotans will be part of this weekend's re-enactment of the Civil War Battle of Antietam in Maryland.
On September 17th, 1862, a battle broke out between Union and Confederate forces. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000 casualties. Minnesotans were among them.
That's why last week, there was an official send off for several Minnesota Civil War re-enactors, and former Gov. Al Quie, whose grandfather, Halvor Quie, was a member of the First U.S. Sharpshooters Regiment which was then attached to the First Minnesota Regiment.
To discuss the Battle of Antietam, the first fought on northern soil in the Civil War, MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Morning Edition historian, Annette Atkins. Professor Atkins teaches history at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University.