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

1st Lieutenant Andrew A. Brown of Company H
Commanded the company at Chickamauga; survived the battle without injury
Photo RG985-CWP-161.82, 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 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 H at the time of Chickamauga.  The men of Company H called themselves "Heg's Rifles" in honor of the 15th's Colonel, Hans Christian Heg. It was also known as the "Voss Company" because of the large number of members who came from that part of Norway.  Even before the battle Company H 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 almost half the company was on regimental duty or absent sick in hospital.  Of those present, about half of those in ranks would be killed, wounded, or captured during 2 hellish days at Chickamauga.

The table below contains the names and fates of soldiers who are either known or believed to have been with Company H 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 H went into the Battle of Chickamauga with 1 of its 3 Commissioned Officers, 6 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO's), and at least 16 Privates.  A review of the same sources suggests that as many as 3 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 name).  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 "H" are either known or believed not to have been in its ranks during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia.

1st Lieutenant Cornelius E. Williams absent with Pioneer Corps since Nov. 26, '62. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
2nd Lieutenant Martin A. Erickson commissioned May 27, 1863, but not mustered as 2nd Lieutenant by Chickamauga. Served as Regimental Sergeant Major with 15th Field & Staff. Captured Sept. 20th, during Longstreet's Breakthrough. Absent "prisoner of war" at M.O. of Regt. M.O. May 27, '65, Madison, Wisc., term exp.
Private Ole Anfindson absent sick since Dec. 26, '62, Nashville, Tenn. Trans. to V.R.C. Mar. 25, '64.
Private Christen E. Bolstad absent sick since wounded Dec. 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. Trans. to V.R.C. July 8, '64.
Private Gulbrand Christianson absent sick since Aug. 7, '63, Murfreesboro, Tenn. Wounded Atlanta, Ga. Died Aug. 10, '64, Atlanta, Ga., "wounds."
Private Ole Evenson on duty as a Teamster. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp. Awarded Brevet Captain in 1867 for his actions June 27, '64.
Wagoner Ole L. Fosse on duty as a Teamster. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private John Helgeson absent since Nov. 26, '62, in Pioneer Corps. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Arne Helgeson absent sick since Dec. 26, '62, Nashville, Tenn. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Knud Knudson absent sick since Aug. 30, '63. Died Oct. 16, '63, Louisville, Ky., "disease."
Private Torsten L. Mossefin absent sick since May 17, '63, "in convalescent camp." Wounded at Atlanta, Ga. Survived wound. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ole Oleson on duty as Orderly at 15th Regimental Head Quarters. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. Wounded near Atlanta, Ga. Died Aug. 10, '64, Chattanooga, Tenn., "wounds."
Private Peter Peterson absent since Mar. 30, '63, serving as Nurse at Murfreesboro, Tenn. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Thomas A. Sandvig absent sick since wounded Dec. 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Ellend P. Sime absent sick since wounded Dec. 31, '62, Stone River, Tenn. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Asbjorn Torgerson absent since Nov. 26, '62, in Pioneer Corps. M.O. with "H" Jan. 13, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Sergeant Iver Torkelson absent since Nov. 26, '62, in Pioneer Corps. Trans. to V.R.C. Oct. 29, '63.

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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