The 1st Minnesota was a the very first regiment raised in defense of the Union after the South seceded from the United States. The Minnesota governor at the time, Alexander Ramsey, happened to be in Washington when war was declared, and volunteered 1,000 soldiers for the defense. When the call went out back here at home, so many men volunteered that most were turned away from service. After training, the 1st Minnesota went off to Washington D.C. to join the rest of the gathering Union Army, with whom the 1,000 men from the new state of Minnesota would fight in nearly every major battle leading up to Gettysburg.

 When Gettysburg started on July 1st, 1863, the 1,000 men that left Minnesota in 1861 had fallen to only 262 men left. 750 men had gone from being killed, passing from disease, or weather conditions, or being too wounded to continue fighting. But despite the severe losses, those 250 men were willing to continue on – and those 262 men would play a pivotal role in the battle.

Gettysburg was a chaotic affair, even as battles go, when Confederate and Union cavalry soldiers randomly ran into each other just outside the town of Gettysburg on July 1st. What started as a small skirmish, quickly turned into a massive fight as both sides started pouring every regiment in the area into the battle. The 1st Minnesota arrived on the second day of the battle, July 2nd and were sent to a position at the edge of the line on Cemetery Ridge, and near Little Round Top (where Colonel Chamberlain made his famous stand with the 20th Maine). When the 1st Minnesota arrived to their position, there was large gap between the Union forces on Cemetery Ridge and Little Round Top – which was an incredibly dangerous thing to happen. If Confederate forces found that gap, and attacked it, the Union Army would be split in two, and then likely routed and defeated.

And the Confederates found that gap, and were attacking. 1,200 men from an Alabaman regiment were charging the gap, looking to hit the Union lines from there undefended sides. General Hancock, who was in charge of this area of the Union forces, noticed the charging Southerners, and the immediate danger it represented. Other units were marching in, but were still 15-20 minutes away, and the Alabamans would be here much sooner than that. He needed to buy time. He turned to Colonel William Colvill, commander of the 1st Minnesota, and ordered him to charge. Without arguing, complaining or attempting to get out of it, and knowing that this was a suicide charge, Colvill gave the order, and all 250 men lowered their bayonets, and charged.

Of the 262 men who charged, 47 came back. A casualty rate of 82% – the 2nd highest casualty rate by any American military unit in its entire history. But, those men, outnumbered 5 to 1, fought hard and actually managed to disrupt the Confederates attack and prevent them from exploiting the Union gap. Union forces arrived during the fight, and allowed the surviving Minnesota to fall back. The gap in the Union line was filled, preventing the Confederates from defeating the Union Army.

 Due to their heavy loses, the 1st Minnesota was then placed in was supposed to be a “safer” spot in the Union line, as with only 47 men left, there wasn’t much that they could contribute to the battle now. But this “safer” spot happened to be right in the middle of where Pickett’s Charge in the final hours of the battle occurred. During the charge, the 1st Minnesota once again stood firm in the face of overwhelming odds, and actually managed to capture the battle flag of the 28th Virigina Regiment (which was a huge honor during these times). That flag is still kept by the Minnesota government, and which refuses to return it to Virginia, despite numerous requests. Governor Ventura replied, when asked by Virginia to return it, famously said “Why? I mean, we won. We took it, that makes it our heritage”.

So, why tell this story? Beyond highlighting the incredible impact that Minnesota has had on this country, there is a profound lesson here about teamwork and dedication—one that can often be overlooked in the modern working environment.

When General Hancock gave the infamous order, every soldier of the 1st Minnesota knew the stakes. They didn’t stop to argue, complain, or question the fairness of the task. They acted with discipline and selflessness, understanding that their sacrifice, however unfair, was necessary to save their comrades and secure the Union line. Diaries from those soldiers revealed no regret for their actions—only a sense of pride in doing the right thing, even when it was the hardest thing to do.

While this is, of course, an extreme example, the principle holds true in our own teams and organizations. The right thing to do is rarely easy or comfortable. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones, take on challenging tasks, and make sacrifices for the greater good. Whether it’s delivering a critical project under tight deadlines, solving a complex issue, or stepping up for a colleague, success depends on our ability to work together with a shared sense of purpose.

As we look toward the new year, this story also reminds us of the importance of resilience and the impact of small acts of courage. Just as the 1st Minnesota’s actions shaped the outcome at Gettysburg, the choices we make—however difficult—can have lasting positive effects on our teams, our clients, and the organizations we serve.

During this holiday season, let’s honor the spirit of teamwork and commitment exemplified by the 1st Minnesota. May we carry that same resolve into the year ahead, finding strength in our shared purpose and knowing that even the toughest challenges can lead to meaningful progress.

Happy Holidays, and here’s to a successful and fulfilling New Year.