This 1850s cartridge box from the Minnesota Pioneer Guard is just one of nearly 8,000 military artifacts that tell the story of Minnesotans who have served in our nation’s armed forces. Established in St. Paul in 1856, the Pioneer Guard was the first militia unit to be formed in the Minnesota Territory. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the unit was conscripted into state service as Company A of the First Minnesota Regiment of Volunteers.
