The Minnesota 3rd Regiment was mustered in 15 November 1861 and left the state on the 17th for Louisville, where it went into camp. On 6 December it left for Shepherdsville, where six Companies were detailed to guard bridges, the other four being sent to Lebanon Junction for the same purpose. The Regiment was assigned to the 16th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, went into camp near Nashville 24 March 1862, and on 27 April moved to Murfreesboro, from which several expeditions were made.

 At Murfreesboro in July, while supporting a Battery, Forrest's Confederate Cavalry charged causing the Regiment to be surrendered to Forrest in spite of objections of most of the men in line. There was in fact, a camp guard of only 20 men which had repulsed four times that number in two assaults, but was finally overcome in a third charge led by Forrest in person. Ultimately all the officers who advocated the surrender were dismissed from the service.

 The Regiment was sent to Madison, Georgia for three months, then to Libby prison, where it was paroled and sent to Nashville. In Nashville an attempt was made to induce the men to break their parole, and they were criticized for surrendering. They resented the injustice and, to their credit, declined to break their parole.

 They were then posted to Fort Snelling and remained in Minnesota to aid in putting down Indian raids. The Regiment joined General Sibley at Fort Ridgely in September, after a forced march from Fort Snelling, and in which it was always in the advance. On the 23 September a small party left camp to procure potatoes from Yellow Medicine Agency and was attacked by a force of several hundred Indians about a mile from camp. The 3rd Regiment was in the fray, and while falling back in line of battle, 250 men repulsed 700 Indians, and then with reinforcements routed them in a bayonet charge. This conflict, which became known as the Battle of Wood Lake Camp, was made at a point later called Camp Release. The Regiment remained in the field until 14 November, when it reported in at Fort Snelling and was granted a furlough until 3 December.

 On 23 January 1863, the Regiment departed the state, and in the next 12 months traveled to Cairo, Illinois, Columbus and Fort Heiman, Kentucky, Vicksburg and Haynes' Bluff Mississippi, where it was attached to Kimball's provisional Division of the 16th Corps. It maintained a position at Snyder's Bluff until the surrender. Later it took part in the campaign in Arkansas, moved to Helena, Brownsville, Bayou Fourche, and helped occupy Little Rock, having been selected as one of the two Infantry Regiments for "its efficiency and discipline."

 Reenlistment under the Veteran Order ensued, and the old members were furloughed home in January 1864. On 1 April a detachment of the Regiment participated in an arduous conflict at Fitzhugh's Woods, repelling a cavalry charge by a counter charge with bayonets.

 It took part in the inauguration of Isaac Murphy, first free-state governor of Arkansas, and then moved to Pine Bluff for the summer where it suffered a great deal from malaria. Six companies were furloughed home in August, and in October, the Regiment quartered at DeVall's Bluff for the winter. On June 3, Confederate General Jeff Thompson surrendered his command to the Regiment, and it was mustered out at DeVall's Bluff Sept. 2, 1865.

 Arkansas Governor Isaac Murphy said of the men of the Regiment: "They have proved ready for any undertaking and reliable in every emergency. Such men are an honor to the government. Their state may justly be proud of them."

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