In this book, "Colvill Smiled," Minnesota-born-and-raised-historian Steve Hoffbeck tells the powerful Civil War stories of William Colvill and Martin Maginnis, officers of the First Minnesota Regiment.

The recollections, speeches, and writings of these two Minnesotans from Red Wing are woven into the narrative of the regiment's legendary deeds as they fought in Virginia, in Maryland, and in Pennsylvania.

The regiment started out with 1,000 men, amid cheers, hurrahs, and teary-eyed goodbyes; but the numbers were whittled down by bullets, by disease, and by wounds and capture. At Gettysburg, though so many were bleeding, they stood their ground and saved the day.

Few of their numbers remained in 1864, when they came marching home again.

The reader may better know what the Civil War was all about by reading of the lives and times of Colvill and Maginnis.

The fame of the 'Old First Minnesota' became a true legend, worthy to be remembered for all time by Minnesotans.