Company B Roster Battle of Chickamauga 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry The Scandinavian Regiment

Captain Joseph Mathiesen of Company B
This Dane from Copenhagen survived the war without injury or illness
Image WHi (X3) 44267, State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Picture appearing above has been electronically enhanced by Deep Vee Productions

The Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19-20, 1863, was the second bloodiest battle of the American Civil War (1861-1865).  It was also a huge Federal defeat. According to official records, the 15th Wisconsin took 176 officers and enlisted men into the battle and suffered 111 killed, wounded, or missing (presumed to be prisoners) -- a staggering 63% casualty rate!

Considerable efforts were made to determine, to the extent that records permit, where each 15th soldier was, and what happened to him, at Chickamauga.  This was one of the efforts made to provide a detailed historical background for the Civil War reenactors who portrayed the Scandinavian Regiment at the Chickamauga reenactment, which took place September 17-19, 1999, in northern Georgia near the site of the original fighting.  It is hoped this information will also prove of value to descendants of 15th soldiers.  

This page contains what is believed to be a nearly complete list of all the soldiers who were still members of Company B at the time of Chickamauga. The men of  Company B called themselves the "Wergeland Guards" in honor of the famous Norwegian poet and writer, Henrik Wergeland.  Even before the battle Company B was much reduced from its muster-in strength of early 1862. This was primarily due to deaths and discharges from the Army as a result of battles and disease, but also from a lack of recruits (replacements).  After 2 hellish days at Chickamauga it was reduced to just a handful of survivors led by its lone officer.

The table below contains the names and fates of soldiers who are known or believed to have been with Company B during the fighting.  After the table is a list of the soldiers who are known or believed to have been away from the company during the battle.  Clicking on a soldier's name that is underlined and in color will bring up a detailed profile of his military service.  To see a list of definitions for the abbreviations and terms used, click HERE.  

Based on a careful review of the sources cited below, it seems virtually certain that Company B went into the Battle of Chickamauga with 1 Commissioned Officer, 5 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO's), and at least 22 Privates.  A review of the same sources suggests that as many as 2 other Privates were also in the company's ranks at the start of the battle (question marks have been placed after their names below).  Further review of the sources may yield evidence on their whereabouts, and may well result in other changes to the information below.

Sources: Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 by Office of Adjutant General State of Wisconsin, (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); Return of Killed, Wounded, and Missing in Action in the 15th Regt. Wis. Vol. Inf. at Chickamauga, Ga. on the 19th & 20th of September 1863; Report of Missing From the 15th Regt. Wisconsin Vols. (Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 16, 1863); and RETURN of the 15th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, Army of the United States, for the month of September 1863 by Adjutant Lewis G. Nelson (Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 12, 1863).

The following members of Company B are known or believed not to have been in its ranks during the battle.

1st Lieutenant Ole R. Dahl absent as 3rd Brigade Topographical Engineer. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. Captured Mar., '64, Morristown, Tenn., and held 11 months. M.O. Mar. 12, '65, term exp.
Sergeant Andreas J. Urnes on duty as Regimental Color Bearer. "Shot in breast" Sept. 19th near Viniard's Farm. Survived wound. M.O. with Co. B Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Corporal Christen Hanson absent since Sept. 11, '63, "left with the [wagon] train." M.O. with Co. B Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Jens Anderson absent since July 29, '63, with 8th Wis. Battery. Still absent at M.O. of Regt.
Private Erick N. Basness absent since December 31, 1862, recovering his health and awaiting exchange after being shot and captured at Stone River, Tennessee.  M.O. with Co. B Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Anders J. Burke absent since May 17, '63, in Convalescent Camp near Murfreesboro, Tenn. Trans. Oct. 4, '63, to V.R.C.
Private Anders Erickson on duty as Nurse in 15th Regimental hospital. Survived battle unhurt. M.O. Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Carl C. Evenson on duty with 1st Division Provost Guard since June 20, '63. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Soren L.H. Hauge on duty as 15th Regimental Teamster. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ludvig L.H. Hauge on duty as 15th Regimental Teamster. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Christopher Hoff absent since Nov. 26, '62, with Pioneer Corps. M.O. Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Musician Jorgen Isachson on duty as 15th Regimental Drum Major. Survived battle. Captured Jan. 1, '65, near Knoxville, Tenn. "Geo. Ireckson" died a prisoner Mar. 20, '64, Richmond, Va.
Musician Engel Johnson on duty as Drummer. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Lewis Nelson wounded Stone River and absent since Jan. '63, Nashville, Tenn. Killed June 28, 64, Bald Knob, Ga.
Private Rasmus Nelson absent sick since Sept. 17, '62, Bowling Green, Ky. Trans. Apr. 9, '64, to V.R.C.
Private Knud Olson absent since Sept. 11, '63, "left with the [wagon] train." Trans. July 1, '64, to V.R.C.
Private Herman Peterson absent since Nov. 26, '62, with the Pioneer Corps. Died June 13, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., "disease."
Private Peter Peterson on duty as 15th Regimental Teamster. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Anfin Syvertson wounded Stone River and absent since Jan. '63, Nashville, Tenn. M.O. Dec. 2, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Carl Syvertson absent sick since Dec. 26, '62, Louisville, Ky. Trans. Oct. 6, '63, to V.R.C.
Private Jorgen C. Velle absent since July 29, '63, with 8th Wis. Battery. Still absent at M.O. of Regt.
Private Peter Wahlin absent since May 17, '63, in convalescent camp near Murfreesboro, Tenn. Trans. Nov. 1, '63, to V.R.C.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created January 24, 1999. Last updated March 1, 2001.

Back to 15th Chickamauga Rosters Page

Back to 15th Home Page