Wayne Jorgenson to Speak on Minnesota's First Regiment During Historical Society Dinner

Author and researcher Wayne Jorgenson will be the featured speaker at the Washington County Historical Society’s annual meeting on Thursday, March 28 at the Water Street Inn in downtown Stillwater. 

Jorgenson, a founding member of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry reenactment group, recently released a book on the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry titled Every Man Did His Duty.

His book is a compilation of the individual stories from more than 100 men who served in the First Minnesota during the Civil War.

When the First Minnesota was formed it included the Stillwater Guards, which became Company B of the Regiment.

Many stories of this Company are told including that of Sam Bloomer, Adam Marty and the famous Last Man’s Club that met after the war was over in Stillwater.

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Jorgenson researched the men and history of the First Minnesota of decades, gathering stories from diaries, pension records, newspaper articles, and family archives, as well as published histories.

“Wayne Jorgenson’s photographs and commentary on the First Minnesota offer an entirely new – and an especially human – understanding of these remarkable men who gave so much,” Richard Moe, author of The Last Full Measure, said of Every Man Did His Duty.

The event is open to the public and the cost is $20 for WCHS members and $25 if you are not a member.

Social hour will begin at 5:30, dinner will be served at 6:30 and the business meeting will start at 7:30. Jorgenson’s program will begin at 8 p.m., and will have copies of his book on hand to purchase.

Reservations are required.

For more information, or to make reservations, call 651-439-5956 or visit www.wchsmn.org.