Born ________ __, 1832, Urdal, near Trondhiem, Kingdom
of Norway
Parents were ___________________ (1___-18__) and __________________
(1___-18__)
Immigrated to America, 1861
Married March 25, 1858, to
Agnete Tobine Jacobsen (18__-1___) at ___________________
Died March 19, 1903, at ______________________________________________________
Buried
Town of LaVerne, ___________ County, State of Minnesota
Gahr Aanunsen was enlisted in Company A of the 15th Wisconsin by Captain Andrew Torkildson at the City of Madison, Dane County, State of Wisconsin, on October 29, 1861, for a 3 year term of service. The men of Company A called themselves the "St. Olaf's" Rifles. They were also known as the "Sailor Company" because many of them were Seamen, and as the "Chicago Company" because many of them were residents of that city. Gahr was mustered into Federal service as a Private (Menig) on November 25, 1861, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Wisconsin. At the time he was listed as being 29 years old and married. His residence was recorded as Madison, Wisconsin.
On January 14, 1862, the men of the 15th were issued Belgian rifled muskets. About 6 weeks later, after nearly 4 months at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private Aanunsen left there in early March, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until August, 1863, he was listed as "present" with the 15th. As such he would have participated in the successful siege of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River in the State of Tennessee, and the surprise raid on Union City, Tennessee, in March and April, 1862. That summer he would have been with the 15th on campaign through Tennessee and the States of Mississippi and Alabama. In August and September he would have participated in the grueling 400 mile retreat with General Buell up to the City of Louisville, State of Kentucky, with the last 2 weeks being on half rations and short of water.
Private Aanunsen would have also been present at the October 8, 1862, Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, which is also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. While this was the first big battle the 15th was in, it emerged without any fatalities. On December 26, 1862, he would have participated in the 15th's desperate charge upon a Confederate artillery battery at Knob Gap, Tennessee, just south of the City of Nashville. There the 15th captured a brass cannon. Private Aanunsen fought at the long, cold, wet, and bloody Battle of Stone River, Tennessee, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, on December 30-31, 1862. It is there that the 15th first suffered serious battle casualties, and was cited for bravery. One of the casualties was Private Aanunsen, who was "severely" wounded on December 31. Afterwards he was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, to recover.
The 15th camped in the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, area for the next 6 months, except for 2 weeks in February when it was sent to the Town of Franklin, Tennessee. Starting June 23, 1863, the regiment took part in General Rosecrans' Tullahoma campaign. On July 3, 1863, it camped at the Town of Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee, for about 6 weeks. On August 17, 1863, the 15th left there to participate in General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign. Private Aanunsen was "left sick" at the Town of Stevenson, Alabama, when the 15th departed there on August 27, 1863. That was the last time he was ever with the regiment.
General Order 104 dated August 27, 1863, from the Headquarters of the 20th Army Corps officially transferred Private Aanunsen to the Veterans Reserve Corps (VRC) effective September 1, 1863. The VRC was also known as the Invalid Corps. Private Aanunsen was transferred because he had become too disabled for field service, but was still able enough to do service in garrisons, hospitals, or at prisoner of war camps. With this transfer, Private Aanunsen's official connection with the 15th Wisconsin ended.
Gahr Aanunsen lived nearly 40 years after leaving the 15th Wisconsin. He and his wife had 5 children. He passed away shortly before his 71st birthday. It is believed that his death was to Pneumonia.
Sources: Genealogical data courtesy of his Great Grandson Robert Knorr; Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC); Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillage [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers] by Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1895); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume I Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).
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