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Anders Johnson Urness
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Photo taken sometime after May, 1862
He is wearing
a non-commissioned officer (NCO) sword
Photo Collection PH2361, State
Historical Society of Wisconsin
Picture shown above has been electronically enhanced by
Deep Vee Productions
Born February 21, 1836, Urnæs, Sogn, Kingdom of Norway
Parents
were Johannes Olsen Kreken (1813-1894) and Kari Pedersdotter Sandvig (1810-1880)
Immigrated
to America, 1861, with his brothers Ole and Peter
Married September 17, 1867, to Antonett Jacobsen
(1845-1926),
Holmes City, Douglas County, State of Minnesota
Died June 28, 1901, at the Town
of Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota
Buried at West Moe Cemetery, West Moe
Township, Douglas County, Minnesota
On October 28, 1861, Anders J. Urness was enlisted by Captain Ole C. Johnson for 3 years service in Company B of the 15th Wisconsin. In January, 1862, his brother Peter Urness joined the same company, as did his brother Ole J. Urness 2 years later. The Urness brothers were one of what is said to have been 3 sets of 3 brothers who served in the 15th.
The men of Company B called themselves the "Wergeland Guards" in honor of the famous Norwegian writer and poet Henrik Wergeland. Anders was mustered into Federal service at the rank of 1st Corporal of Company B on February 16, 1862, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, State of Wisconsin. At the time the army listed him as being 24 years old and not married. His residence was recorded as Town of Black Earth, Dane County, Wisconsin.
Corporal Urness was promoted to 2nd Sergeant (Second Sersjant) of Company B at a date not indicated. He was later appointed as the 15th's Regimental Color Sergeant (Regimentets Fanebærer), a position of great honor.
Color Sergeant Urness was present at the September 19-20, 1863, fighting at Chickamauga in the State of Georgia -- the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. During the vicious fighting near Viniard's Farm on the first afternoon of the fighting he was shot in the breast while carrying the 15th's National flag. Private Jens Hansen rushed forward and rescued the flag. The following is from Hansen's award citation in 1867.
| "In recognition of conspicuous gallantry manifested by him at the battle of Chickamauga at that date under the following circumstances: A charge was made by the rebels and the Brigade to which the 15" Regt. was attached was outflanked and compelled to retreat a short distance. In this retreat the color bearer was severely wounded and dropped the colors, when Jens Hanson noticed it and exposing himself to a deadly fire advanced to the front and picked them up thereby preventing their falling into the enemys hands. Hanson was afterwards captured and died a prisoner at Andersonville Ga." |
Hansen's advance also saved Sergeant Urness from capture. After recovering from his wound, Sergeant Urness was ordered away on recruiting duty in Wisconsin starting in November, 1863. It was during his time at home that his brother Ole enlisted in the 15th.
Sergeant Urness returned to the regiment in time to participate in the successful campaign to capture the City of Atlanta, Georgia, led by U.S. Major General William T. Sherman. This campaign was marked by almost daily marching and/or combat for 4 months. The 15th took part in the fighting at Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, in early May, at the bloody Battle of Resaca, Georgia, on May 14-15, and at the disastrous Battle of Pickett's Mill (often called Dallas or New Hope Church), Georgia, on May 27, 1864. There the 15th suffered 50% casualties, including 29 soldiers who were captured. Buslett's 1894 regimental history contains this quote about Sergeant Urness at Pickett's Mill.
"He was a flag-bearer and a smart man; even though he lay hidden among the Rebels, he managed to sneak away." |
Sergeant Urness served as the 15th's Color Sergeant till November 1864, a period that included fighting at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, on June 23, before Atlanta, Georgia, on July 22, at Jonesboro, Georgia, on September 1, and at Lovejoy Station, Georgia, on September 4, 1864.
After a rest following the capture of Atlanta in early September, 1864, the 15th was briefly assigned to Provost (police) duty in the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the beginning of October, 1864. This was followed by several months of what many in the 15th consider their easiest duty during the war: guarding a railroad bridge at Whitesides, Tennessee, near Chattanooga.
Anders mustered out of Federal service with most of the others survivors of Company B on December 2, 1864, at Chattanooga upon the expiration of his 3 year term of service.
After returning from the army Anders and a number of other former 15th soldiers, including his brother Ole, moved to Douglas County, Minnesota. There he established a farm in the Town of Brandon. In 1868 Anders wed the same day as his sister Kristi, who married a 15th comrade of his, Amos Johnson. In 1871 Amos was responsible for changing the name of nearby Red Rock Township to Urness.
Anders and his wife Antonett had 9 children: Carrie, born 1869; Johanna, born 1871; John, born 1873; Anna, born 1876; Martha, born 1878; Peder, born 1881 (died 1882); Peder, born 1883; Andrew, born 1885; and Alice, born 1887.
Anders was a member of the John F. Reynolds Post No. 51 of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R., the Union veterans organization) in the Town of Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota. Other 15th members included: Ole J. Urness and Andrew Burke, both of Company B; Gustave Olson of Company F; Andrew A. Brown of Company H; and Martin J. Norde of Company I.
The following passage by "a Veteran" appeared in Ager's 1916 history of the 15th Wisconsin.
| "Everyone in the regiment knew the Urness brothers. There were three of them. Anders Urness was the flag carrier or "Color Bearer." He was also mature in his attitude. One could not find a more gallant soldier in the regiment than he." |
Sources: Genealogical data by Ann Urness Gesme; data about Anders and Amos Johnson provided by Darlene and Harland Hanson; Roster of John P. Reynolds Post No. 51 Grand Army of the Republic (Alexandria, Minnesota, not dated); Oberst Heg og Hans Gutter [Colonel Heg and His Boys] by Waldemar Ager (Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1916); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 by the Office of Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); and, Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume 1 by the Office of Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).
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Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep
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All Rights Reserved. Created January 24, 1999. Last updated May 30,
2003.