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

Captain Charles Gustafson of Company F
Commanded the company until captured midday September 20, 1863
Photo used with permission of his Great Grandson Robert E. Vits
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 is 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 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 F at the time of Chickamauga. The men of Company F called themselves "KK's Protectors" in honor of the 15th's first Lieutenant Colonel, Kiler K. Jones. It was also known as the "Valdres Company" because of the large number of members who came from that part of Norway. 

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, about half would be killed, wounded, or captured during the 2 hellish days at Chickamauga, especially during Longstreet's Breakthrough.

The table below contains the names and fates of soldiers who are known or believed to have been with Company F 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 F went into the Battle of Chickamauga with all 3 of its Commissioned Officers, 5 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO's), and at least 17 Privates.  A review of the same sources suggests that as many as 5 other Privates were also in the company's ranks at the start of the battle (they are noted below with a question mark after their names).  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); Return of Company F for January, 1864 by 1st Lieutenant Thor Simonson (Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, January 31, 1864); 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 F are either known or believed not to have been in its ranks during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia.

Sergeant William A. Fisher absent "detailed as Regimental Commissary since Aug. 4/63." Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. with "F" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Sergeant Knud Torrisen absent sick since Sept. 17, '62, Bowling Green, Ky. Absent at M.O. of Regt.
Corporal Charles Hultman believed absent sick at Chattanooga, Tenn., during battle. Died Sept. 23, '63, Chattanooga, "chronic diarrhea."
Corporal Albert Olsen absent in U.S. Army Hospital No. 1, Louisville, Ky., recovering from wound received Dec. 30 or 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Died Mar. 17, '64, Knoxville, Tenn., disease.
Private Einar Andersen absent sick since Aug. 17, '63, hospital, Cowan Station, Tenn. M.O. Dec. 20, '64, term exp.
Private Swen Bjorgason absent sick recovering from wounds suffered Dec. 30 or 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Disch. July 12, '64, due to his wounds.
Private Hans Christensen absent "left sick at Iuka Miss. Aug. 20/62." Killed May 27, '64, Pickett's Mill, Ga.
Private Ross Fredenburg on duty as "Teamster since May 1/63." Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Even Gjeraldsen absent sick since July 29, '63, General Hospital, Nashville, Tenn. Disch. Nov. 5, '63, "disability."
Private Niels Halvorsen absent in Pioneer Corps since Nov. 12, '62. M.O. Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Michael Larsen absent sick since Mar. 22, '63, General Hospital, Murfreesboro, Tenn. M.O. Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Joseph Lavassor absent since Nov. 26, '62, in Pioneer Corps. Disch. Mar. 17, '64, "disability."
Private Andrew Mikkelsen absent sick since Oct. 6, '62, Louisville, Ky. Dropped Nov. 6, '64, "deserter."
Private Christian O. Morbeck paroled prisoner of war captured Dec. 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn., absent awaiting exchange at St. Louis, Mo.. Trans. to 24th Wis. Vet. Vol. Inf. Regt., Feb. 13, '65.
Private Ole Nielson absent recovering from wound received Dec. 30 or 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Disch. Dec. 2, '63, "wounds."
Private Ole S. Olsen absent sick since wounded Dec. 30 or 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Absent at M.O. of Regt.
Private Salve Osolfsen absent at Camp Dennison, Oh. Was wounded and captured Dec. 30 or 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. M.O. with "F" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ole Torstensen absent sick since July 2, '63, Cumberland Hospital, Nashville, Tenn. Absent sick at M.O. of Regt.
Wagoner Torry Larsen believed to have been serving as a 15th Regimental Teamster. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp. Awarded rank of Brevet Captain in 1867 for "distinguished gallantry" Sept. 19, '63, near Viniard's Farm, Chickamauga.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created January 24, 1999. Last updated January 13, 2001.

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