Louis Rolfsen (Rolfson) Private in Company C 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry The Scandinavian Regiment

Image has been clipped from a photo of 15th veterans
Group photo taken at a 1917 reunion at Madison, Wisconsin
Image WHi (X3) 30021, State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Picture shown above has been enhanced electronically by Deep Vee Productions
To view the original, un-retouched image, click HERE

Born February 9, 1841, near Christiania (now Oslo), Kingdom of Norway
Immigrated to America circa 1850 in sailing ship "Vesta"
Married Betsy Haugan, 1875
Died January 7, 1936, Town of Norway, Racine County, State of Wisconsin
Buried Norway Lutheran Church Cemetery, near Wind Lake, Racine County, Wisconsin

Lewis Rolfson was enlisted in Company C of the 15th Wisconsin by Captain Frederick R. Berg on December 14, 1861. Company C was the regimental Color Company, but its members called themselves the Norway Bear Hunters. Lewis was mustered into Federal service as a Private (Menig) for a 3 year term of service on January 1, 1862, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. He was recorded as being 22 years old, not married, a Farmer by occupation, and a resident of Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin.

After several months at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private Rolfson left there in early March, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until July, 1863, he was listed as "present" with the 15th. As such he would have participated in the successful siege of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River in the State of Tennessee, and the surprise raid on Union City, Tennessee, in March and April, 1862. That Summer he would have been with the 15th on campaign through Tennessee and the States of Mississippi and Alabama. In August and September he would have participated in the grueling 400 mile retreat with General Buell up to the City of Louisville, State of Kentucky, with the last 2 weeks being on half rations and short of water. 

Privae Rolfson would have been present at the October 8, 1862, Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, which is also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. While this was the first big battle the 15th was in, it emerged without any fatalities. On December 26, 1862, he would have participated in the 15th's desperate charge upon a Confederate artillery battery at Knob Gap, Tennessee, just south of the City of Nashville. There the 15th captured a brass cannon. He would have also fought at the long, cold, wet, and bloody Battle of Stone River, Tennessee, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, on December 30-31, 1862. It is there that the 15th first suffered serious battle casualties, and was cited for bravery.

The 15th camped in the Murfreesboro area for the next 6 months, except for 2 weeks in February when it was sent to the Town of Franklin, Tennessee.  Starting June 23, 1863, the regiment took part in General Rosecrans' Tullahoma campaign.  Private Rolfson was listed as having been left behind "absent sick" in a hospital at the town of Manchester, State of Tennessee, starting July 1, 1863.  On July 3, 1863, the 15th camped at Winchester, Tennessee.  

On August 17, 1863, the regiment left there to participate in General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign.  Private Rolfson is believed to have been present at the daring early morning crossing of the Tennessee River on August 28th, which the 15th led. He was present at the September 19-20, 1863, fighting at Chickamauga, Georgia -- the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War.  He survived the vicious fighting around Viniard's Farm on the first afternoon, as well as the near capture of the regiment around midday on the 20th during Longstreet's Breakthrough. Some 63% of the 15th's soldiers who were at Chickamauga were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.  Initially Private Rolfson was mistakenly listed as "missing" in action after the vicious afternoon fighting around Viniard's Farm on the first day.  In actuality, he escaped capture, even though many of the 15th were taken prisoner that day and during what is now known as Longstreet's Breakthrough.

Private Rolfson would then have served with the regiment during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee, which began right after the battle.  The siege resulted in severe shortages of food and firewood which, together with cold, wet weather, caused much suffering, sickness, and death.   The Confederate siege was finally broken by the Union Army's victorious charge up Mission Ridge on November 25, 1863, which the 15th took part in.  Starting right after Mission Ridge the 15th was engaged in almost non-stop marching and counter-marching all over Eastern Tennessee throughout the Winter of 1863/1864.  By many original accounts, this was the worst period of the regiment's 3 year term of service.  Poor rations, inadequate clothing and shelter, and unseasonably cold weather made these months nearly unbearable. 

Starting in May, 1864, the 15th participated in General Sherman's famous campaign to capture the City of Atlanta, Georgia.  This campaign was marked by almost daily marching and/or combat for 4 months straight.  It included fighting at Rocky Face Ridge in early May, at the bloody Battle of Resaca on May 14-15, and at the disastrous Battle of Pickett's Mill (often called Dallas or New Hope Church) on May 27 where the 15th suffered fearful casualties.  The 15th also took part in fighting at Kenesaw Mountain on June 23, at Atlanta on July 22, at Jonesboro on September 1, and at Lovejoy Station on September 4, 1864. 

After a rest following the capture of Atlanta at the beginning of September, the 15th was briefly assigned to Provost (police) duty in Chattanooga in early October.  This was followed by several months of guarding a railroad bridge at Whitesides, Tennessee, which some of the 15th's soldiers felt was the easiest duty of their war service.  Private Rolfson mustered out of Federal service along with most of the other surviving members of Company C on December 31, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tennessee, upon the expiration of his 3 year term of service.

After the war Lewis went to work as a sailor on the Minnesota, a three-masted schooner based in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which carried cargo on the Great Lakes.  After 2 sailing seasons (the Great Lakes freeze-over in winter) he returned to farming in Racine County.  In 1874 he bought 105 acres adjoining Lake Denoon from his father and built a home of Milwaukee cream brick.  In 1890 he applied for a veteran's pension for his war service.  In an interview published in The Milwaukee Journal newspaper of January 22, 1933, Lewis Rolfson spoke of his service in the 15th.

In the article Lewis claimed to be, at age 91, the last living member of the 15th Wisconsin. He attributed his longevity to his physical constitution and upbringing, stating:

Lewis Rolfson died just short of his 95th birthday, and is buried near Colonel Heg's grave.

Sources: Genealogical data from Dee Anna Grimsrud, MLIS, CGRS; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillage [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers] by Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1895); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 by the Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); and, Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume 1 by the Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created March 23, 1999. Last updated December 31, 2000.

Back to Profiles Page

Back to 15th Wisconsin Home Page