South Dakota National Guard Began 1862, during Civil War
by Duke Doering
The history of the South Dakota National Guard began on January 27, 1862, when it was still Dakota Territory. Prior to that time there was little need for a militia because the Army had garrisons at Ft. Pierre and Ft. Randall.
When the Army troops were removed from these posts to enter the Civil War the Territorial Governor, Dr. William Jayne, was under stress about the territory being in an exposed position. On December 7, 1861 the Governor issued a proclamation to raise two companies of volunteers. In a little over a month enough men had been raised for the first company and on January 27, 1862 these men were ordered to assemble at Yankton. This was the origin of the Dakota Territory National Guard which, with statehood on November 2, 1889, became the South Dakota National Guard.
On April 29, 1862 the federal government accepted the unit as Company A, First Dakota Cavalry. The company officers were Capt. Nelson Miner, 1st Lt. John Fowler, and 2nd Lt. Frederick Plughoff. First Sgt. A. M. English was one of 94 enlisted Soldiers mustered into Federal service for three years. The occasion was dignified by the presence of the Territorial Legislature and the presentation of several speeches, including one by Governor Jayne.
Company A was quartered in Yankton. It took three buildings for barracks, and another for a cookhouse. They set to learning the rudiments of soldiering under Lt. Plughoff who was an old Regular, and a disciplinarian. Horse equipment and arms were issued, along with some clothing. The original issue of arms included the Hall carbine which was a breech loading “muzzle loader”, invented in 1825, and the side arms were French revolvers.
Both of these weapons were sub-standard and 1st Sgt. English explained, “The carbine and revolvers were miserable arms, the men being in about as much danger in the rear as the enemy in the front.” Company A soon exchanged the carbines and pistols for the good Colt revolvers and the Sharps carbine.
On May 20, 1862 Company A, Dakota Militia departed for Fort Randall and was listed on that stations May post returns (Morning Reports) with three officers and 43 enlisted men. Company A increased in strength to three officers and 80 enlisted men by the end of June.
Earlier in May 1862, a resolution was passed by the Territorial legislature which allowed the governor to station the troops where he deemed necessary for the protection of the settlements of Dakota. Consequently, by the July 31 return (Morning Report) no Dakota Cavalry were shown at Fort Randall and it appeared that the governor had decided to station Company A, Dakota Cavalry at strategic places about the Territory.
