Organized at Fort Snelling in the fall of 1861, the Third Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment was unique. The third-largest Minnesota infantry unit, it had the most men die of disease (239) and the third-highest number of deserters (most of them prisoners of war who returned to service by 1863). It also had the most men promoted as officers into United States Colored Troop units (eighty-two), making it one of the top ten sources of USCT officers. Noted for their discipline and hardiness, the men of the Third twice repulsed cavalry charges while in line of battle rather than in a bayonet-armed square formation.