"The regiment's most famous action occurred on July 2, when [Major General](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_General_(United_States)) [Winfield Scott Hancock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winfield_Scott_Hancock) ordered the 1st Minnesota, composed of roughly 250 men, to charge into a brigade of roughly 1,200 men belonging to [James Longstreet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Longstreet)'s [corps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Corps,_Army_of_Northern_Virginia) and [Richard H. Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_H._Anderson_(general))'s Division. Although the regiment was outnumbered by a ratio of at least 5 to 1, charging was Hancock's only opportunity to buy time for Union reinforcements to arrive. One survivor stated afterward that he expected the advance to result in "death or wounds to us all". The regiment immediately obeyed the order and Hancock was reportedly amazed at the unit discipline, valor, and the tremendous casualties taken in carrying out his order. This action blunted the Confederate attack and helped preserve the Union's precarious position on [Cemetery Ridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemetery_Ridge) at the end of the [second day of the battle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg,_second_day)."

Happy First Minnesota Infantry for all who celebrate (and refusal to return 28th VA battle flag)