Map of Kansas – Nebraska Territories 1854
One of the causes of the Civil War was the question of expanding slavery into the territories. Congress was evenly split on this issue, but with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 this left the issue up to the people to decide (also called Popular Sovereignty) and overturned the Missouri Compromise of 1820. This lead to the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates and “Bloody Kansas” were neighbor started fighting neighbor. For additional information see the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
In April, 1861 Confederate soldiers fired the first shots of the American Civil War on Ft. Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Shortly after this incident, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to help fight in this rebellion. The call was heard all 
across the country, even in the fledgling territory of Nebraska. In June and July of 1861 companies were raised throughout the territory and surrounding states, and by August the 1st Nebraska was marching off to war. The regiment fought in the famous battles of Ft. Donelson and Shiloh in one of Grant’s Divisions under the command of General Lew Wallace. Later the regiment served in the Army of Southwest Missouri under the command of General Davidson where it fought in minor engagements in Missouri and Arkansas. In October, 1863 the regiment was changed from infantry to cavalry, and was later transferred to the frontier to battle the Plains Indians. The regiment was finally mustered out of service in 1866. By war’s end, the Territory of Nebraska had offered more than one third of her eligible male population to the war, a ratio matching the Union’s most populous states.
Business meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post #1 at 7811 Davenport Street in Omaha, Nebraska. Guests are always invited to attend. The best way to contact us is by telephone. Please contact Bill Deardorff in Omaha at 402-639-3054 or Larry Angle in Lincoln at 531-500-5293.
Members of First Nebraska worked with Jeff McArthur to develop a Book Trailer for his new book “The American Game”. The novel covers the development of Baseball around the time of the Civil War. Hope you enjoy the video The American Game. Available through Bandwagon Books, either print copy or electronic. List Price: $12.34 in print, $2.99 for kindle.
Dakota Epic: Experiences of a Reenactor During the Filming of “Dances With Wolves”. Written by Bill Markley (1st Nebraska Member) Available at Borders, Barnes & Nobles, and Amazon.com with list price: $13.95
Marching With The First Nebraska: The Civil War Dairy of August Scherneckau. Edited by James Potter and Edith Robbins. Available at Barnes & Nobles, NE Historical Society and Amazon.com with list price: $34.95dLarry Angle
Last Update: March 30, 2017
First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry 