Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. A lumber manufacturer and commission merchant before the Civil War, MacLaren joined the army as a result of the perceived threat caused by the Sioux uprising in August of 1862. With a lieutenant's commission, he raised a company for the 6th Minnesota Infantry. For eighteen months in 1862 and 1863, he was sent on important expeditions to secure the western frontier. He participated in the battles of Wood Lake and Birch Cooley and assisted in taking several Indian camps. He was appointed colonel of the 2nd Minnesota Cavalry when that unit was formed and served in three summer campaigns against the Sioux. He was breveted brigadier general in December of 1865. Not long after that he was sent by the interior department as the of the commissioners to deal with the Sioux at Fort Laramie. In the 1870's be became an internal revenue assessor, agent, and collector in Minnesota. Although his last name is spelled "MacLaren" on his tombstone and on the family stone, he usually signed his name "McLaren."
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. A lumber manufacturer and commission merchant before the Civil War, MacLaren joined the army as a result of the perceived threat caused by the Sioux uprising in August of 1862. With a lieutenant's commission, he raised a company for the 6th Minnesota Infantry. For eighteen months in 1862 and 1863, he was sent on important expeditions to secure the western frontier. He participated in the battles of Wood Lake and Birch Cooley and assisted in taking several Indian camps. He was appointed colonel of the 2nd Minnesota Cavalry when that unit was formed and served in three summer campaigns against the Sioux. He was breveted brigadier general in December of 1865. Not long after that he was sent by the interior department as the of the commissioners to deal with the Sioux at Fort Laramie. In the 1870's be became an internal revenue assessor, agent, and collector in Minnesota. Although his last name is spelled "MacLaren" on his tombstone and on the family stone, he usually signed his name "McLaren."
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
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