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

Captain Hans Hanson of Company C
Wounded and captured September 19, 1863, Chickamauga, Georgia; died of his wounds
Photo RG985-CWP-161.77, Wm. Schultz College, U.S. Army Military History Institute
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 have been 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 a number of 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 C at the time of Chickamauga. The men of Company C called themselves the "Norway Bear Hunters" but were also known as the regiment's Color (flag) Company.  Even before the battle Company C 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 still further.

The table below contains the names and fates of soldiers who are known or believed to have been with Company C 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 C went into the Battle of Chickamauga with 2 of its 3 Commissioned Officers, 5 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO's), and at least 19 Privates.  A review of the same sources suggests that 1 other Private was also in the company's ranks at the start of the battle (he is noted below with a question mark after his name).  Further review of the sources may yield evidence on his 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 C are known or believed not to have been in its ranks during the battle.

2nd Lieutenant James Larson absent since Sept. 3, '63, as 3rd Brigade Acting Assistant Commissary of Subsistence (AACS) with the 1st Division wagon trains. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Sergeant Hans Jacobson absent sick since June 1, '63, paroled prisoner of war, Annapolis, Md. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Sergeant Jarvis L. Rice was serving as 15th Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Corporal Oscar W. Gipson absent on duty as Orderly at 3rd Brigade Headquarters. Captured Sept. 19th near Viniard's Farm. Died a prisoner Feb. 2, '64, Richmond, Va., "disease."
Corporal Edwin W. Wheeler absent on duty "with Captain Fouke as butcher" since Sept. 1, '63. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Martin Amundsen absent sick since Dec. 6, '62, Nashville, Tenn. Trans. Dec. 1, '63, to V.R.C. M.O. Dec. 31, '64, term exp.
Private Herman Benz absent since Apr. 1, '63, as Provost Guard, Columbus, Oh. Trans. Jan. 5, '64, to V.R.C.
Private Ole Bergesen absent sick since severely wounded Dec. 30, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Disch. June 3, '64, Mound City, Ill., "disability."
Private James Brown absent on duty as 3rd Brigade Commissary Clerk. Survived battle. Died Jan. 15, '64, Racine, Wisc., "disease."
Private Knud Brownson absent sick since Nov. 4, '62, Bowling Green, Ky. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Enoch Christophersen absent sick since Sept. 2, '62. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Daniel Danielson absent sick since July 27, '63. Died Oct. 15, '63, Racine, Wis., "disease."
Private William Elliott absent since June 29, '63, paroled prisoner of war, St. Louis, Mo. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Thomas Emmonson absent since June 30, '63, on duty as Teamster with 1st Division Quartermaster supply wagon train. During battle was sick in hospital at Stevenson, Ala., where he died Oct. 20, '63, of "disease."
Private George Fogg on duty as 15th Regimental Musician. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Elias Halvorsen absent sick since Sept. 9, '63, at "Vincon Valley." M.O. Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Andrew Hansen absent since Nov. 27, '62, with Pioneer Corps. M.O. Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Salomon Jacobsen on duty as Orderly in 15th Regimental Headquarters. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. Absent sick June, '64 till M.O. Jan. 30, '65, Madison, Wis., term exp.
Private Henrich Johnson absent sick since Dec. 6, '62. Died Feb. 25, '63, Bowling Green, Ky., "disease."
Private Peter Johnson absent since June 29, '63, paroled prisoner of war, St. Louis, Mo. Captured Dec. 28, '63, Charleston, Tenn. M.O. June 10, '65, Madison, Wis., term exp.
Private Samuel Johnson absent sick since wounded Dec. 30 or 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Disch. Apr. 15, '64, Louisville, Ky., "wounds."
Private Peter Jorgensen absent sick since wounded Dec. 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Trans. Dec. 1, '63, to V.R.C.
Private Darwin A. Merrill absent since June 29, '63, paroled prisoner of war, St. Louis, Mo. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ole Olson (Jr) absent since Nov. 27, '62, with Pioneer Corps. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Thore Olson absent sick since Sept. 9, '63, Ville Valley, Ala. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Levi Page absent since June 30, '63, on duty as Teamster with 1st Division Quartermaster supply wagon train. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ole Petersen (Sr) absent since Nov. 27, '62, with Pioneer Corps. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Peter Sorensen absent sick since Sept. 9, '63. Died Nov. 17, '63, Nashville, Tenn., "disease."
Private Erick C. Steensby absent sick since Mar. 26, '63, Murfreesboro, Tenn. M.O. with "C" Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ole Svendsen absent since Sept. 3, '63, on duty with 1st Division Supply Train. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 31, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Du Bartus Willard absent since Sept. 3, '63, on duty with 1st Division Supply Train. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. Trans. Dec. 24, '64, to "N.G.S." M.O. June 22, '65, term exp.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created January 24, 1999. Last updated January 12, 2001.

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