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

1st Lieutenant Torkild A. Rossing of Company E
Commanded the company at Chickamauga; survived the battle without injury
Image RG985-CWP-161.79, 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 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 a number 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 that 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 E at the time of Chickamauga. The men of Company E called themselves "Odin's Rifles."  Even before the battle Company E 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).  At the beginning of the battle about half the company was absent on detached duty or sick in hospital.  Of those present, one third would be killed, wounded, or captured during 2 hellish days at Chickamauga.  Almost as many would die of disease within a few months after the battle.

The table below contains the names and fates of soldiers who are known or believed to have been with Company E 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 E went into the Battle of Chickamauga with 2 of its 3 Commissioned Officers, 4 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO's), and 19 Privates present with the company.  Nevertheless, further research may result in changes to the information below.  After the battle Company E reported that 3 enlisted men had been "severely wounded," its Captain and 6 enlisted men were "missing," and that while its arms were in "good order," its clothing was in "poor" condition.

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); Muster Roll of Captain Henry Hauff's Company "E" of the Fifteenth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers by 1st Lieutenant T.A. Rossing (Sand Mountain, Alabama, August 31, 1863, and "opposite Chattanooga," Tennessee, October 31, 1863); 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); 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 E are either known or believed not to have been in its ranks during the Battle of Chickamauga.

Captain Henry Hauff absent as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General (AAAG) of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps (Army of the Cumberland). Killed Sept. 19th near Viniard's Farm. Initially listed as "missing."
1st Sergeant Thor P. Sloan absent on duty as Clerk at Head Quarters of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps (Army of the Cumberland) by order of Colonel Heg. Severely "wounded in head" June 21, '64, Kenesaw Mountain, Ga. and died June 28, '64, Big Shanty, Ga., wounds.
1st Corporal Simon Amundsen absent with wagon train. Captured Sept. 20, '63, Dug Gap, Ga. Died a prisoner, date unknown, Richmond, Va., cause unknown.
4th Corporal Edwin Hadley absent since Dec. 20, '62, with 1st Division Provost Guard. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. Killed May 27, '64, Pickett's Mill, Ga.
Private Iver Andersen absent sick New Albany, Ind., recovering from wound received Dec. 30 or 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Rejoined Regt. Nov. '63. Killed May 27, '64, Pickett's Mill, Ga.
Private Peter Andersen absent sick Gallatin, Tenn. "when last heard from." Died Sept. 11, '64, Washington, DC, "disease. "
Private Lawrence Arneson absent sick? Captured May 27, '64, Pickett's Mill, Ga. Died a prisoner June 22, '64, Atlanta, Ga., "wounds."
Private William Bergesen absent sick since Sept. 15, '63, in Field Hospital, Chattanooga, Tenn.. Died Nov. 9, '63, Nashville, Tenn., "disease."
Private Gulbrand Dahl absent since Dec. 24, '62, in Pioneer Corps by order of Major General Rosecrans. M.O. Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Peter Ericksen absent with wagon train. Captured Sept. 20, '63, Dug Gap, Ga. Died a prisoner Dec. 1, '63, Richmond, Va., "disease."
Private Torger Ericksen absent since Dec. 20, '62, in Division Provost Guard. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp..
Private Gunder Gundersen absent since June 23, '63, as Paroled Prisoner of War, St. Louis, Mo. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Neri Hansen absent since Nov. 26, '62, in Pioneer Corps. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Peter Johnson (1st) on duty as Cook at 15th's Regimental Hospital. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Knud Johnson absent since Aug. 21, '63, on duty as Orderly at Head Quarters 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps (Army of the Cumberland). Sick starting Sept. 20, '63, at Field Hospital. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private John Jorgensen absent sick since Sept. 9, '63, Stevenson, Ala. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ole Kjostulsen absent since July 29, '63, with 8th Wisc. Battery by order of Colonel Heg. Still absent at M.O. of Regt.
Musician Thore Knudsen on duty with "Field Music." Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private August Moller absent sick since Sept. 9, '63, Stevenson, Ala. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Nels Nelson absent since July 29, '63, with 8th Wisc. Battery by order of Colonel Heg. Trans. to Co. H, Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn. Trans. Feb. 13, '65, to 24th Wisc. Vet. Vol. Inf. Regt.
Private Charles Olson absent sick since Nov. 26, '62, Nashville, Tenn. Initially listed as "deserted there Aug. 1, '64." Died Jan. 14, '63, Nashville, "disease."
Private Kittil Olsen absent sick since Sept. 9, '63, at Stevenson, Ala. Died Oct. 10, '63, Stevenson, Ala., "disease."
Private Private Osmund Olsen absent sick since Aug. 18, '63, Nashville, Tenn. Trans. Sept. 26, '63, to V.R.C.
Private Iver Ramsaas absent since June 19, '63, in 3rd Brigade Provost Guard by order of Colonel Heg. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. Died Dec. 1, '63, Chattanooga, Tenn., "disease."
Private Mads Rossum absent sick since July 1, '63, Tullahoma, Tenn. Wounded and captured May 27, '64, Pickett's Mill, Ga. Died a prisoner, date and location unknown, "wounds."
Private Asbjorn Sachariasen absent since June 30, '63, as Paroled Prisoner of War, St. Louis, Mo., having been wounded Dec. 30, '62, and captured Dec. 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. M.O. with "E" Dec. 20, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Johannes Tysdahl on duty as Nurse in 15th's Regimental Hospital. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Jan. 27, '65, term exp.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created January 24, 1999. Last updated August 7, 2001.

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