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

Captain Mons Grinager of Company K
Commanded the company at Chickamauga and the 15th afterwards
Photo Collection PH2361, 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 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 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 K at the time of Chickamauga. The men of Company K called themselves "Clausen's Guards" in honor of the 15th's first Chaplain, Claus L. Clausen.  Even before the battle Company K 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 one third of the company was absent on duty or sick in hospital.  Of those present, well over half would be killed, wounded, or captured during 2 hellish days at Chickamauga.

The table below contains the names and fates of soldiers who are known or believed to have been with Company K 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 K went into the Battle of Chickamauga with all 3 of its Commissioned Officers, 4 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 K are either known or believed not to have been in its ranks during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia.

Private Tollef Anderson absent since Feb. 16, '63, in Pioneer Corps. M.O. with company Feb. 10, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp..
Private Peter Bjerk was on duty as Cook in the 15th's Regimental Hospital. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Feb. 10, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp..
Private Christian Gulbrandson absent sick since Aug. 17, '63, Nashville, Tenn.. M.O. with company Feb. 10, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp..
Private Anders Gulbrandson absent since Jan. 1, '63, when wounded at Stone River, Tenn.. Trans. Mar. 1, '64, to V.R.C..
Private Jens Jenson absent since Feb. 24, '63, on extra duty as Teamster with 3rd Brigade ambulance wagon train. Survived, apparently unhurt. M.O. with company Feb. 10, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp.
Private Torsten (Thomas) Larson absent sick since Oct. 18, '62, Danville, Ky. Died Lebanon, Marion County, Ky.
Private Sivert Larson absent sick since Aug. 17, '63, Nashville, Tenn.. M.O. with company Feb. 10, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp..
Private Gulbrand Olson absent sick since May 28, '63, Murfreesboro, Tenn.. Wounded May 27, '64, Pickett's Mill, Ga. Disch. Nov. 28, '64, "disability."
Private Kittel Sanderson absent sick since Nov. 4, '62, Bowling Green, Ky. Trans. Mar. 1, '64, to V.R.C..
Private Ole Thompson absent since Nov. 26, '62, in Pioneer Corps. M.O. with company Feb. 10, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp..
Private Ole G. Thompson on duty as Drummer. Survived battle, apparently unhurt. M.O. Feb. 10, '65, Chattanooga, Tenn., term exp..
Under Cook Bob Cheatam. Survived battle, apparently unhurt.  Transferred Feb. 10, '65, to Co. H.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created January 24, 1999.  Last updated July 17, 2004.

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