Hans P. Lenvig
Born October 23, 1837, Luster County, Sogn and
Fjordane fylke, Kingdom of Norway
Immigrated to America, 1853
Killed May 11, 1864,
at Rocky Face Ridge, State of Georgia
Hans Lenvig was enlisted in Company E of the 15th Wisconsin by Captain John Ingmundson at the Town of La Crosse, La Crosse County, State of Wisconsin, on December 18, 1861, for a 3 year term of service. His half-brother Ole Lenvig enlisted with him. The men of Company E called themselves Odin's Rifles. Hans was mustered into Federal service as a Private on December 20, 1861, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. At the time he was listed as 22 years old and not married. His residence was recorded as the Town of Rushford, Fillmore County, State of Minnesota.
After several months at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private lenvig left there in early March, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until November, 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. He is listed as having served as a "wagoner" beginning September 16, 1862, for about a month. Private Lenvig 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. On July 3, 1863, it camped at Winchester, Tennessee. On August 17, 1863, the 15th left there to participate in General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign. Private Lenvig 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, Battle of 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. Private Lenvig would have then served with the regiment during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee, which began right after the battle. The siege caused severe shortages of food and firewood. It was not until the Union Army's victorious charge up Mission Ridge on November 25, 1863, which the 15th took part in, that the siege was finally broken.
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. Private Lenvig missed the first part of this when he was "left sick at Chattanooga" starting November 28, 1863. He apparently caught up with the regiment in January or February, 1864, because he was listed as "left sick in Knoxville" Tennessee, on February 24, 1864. He returned to the 15th sometime in March or April, 1864.
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. It began with skirmishing at Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, on May 11, 1864. It was there that Private Hans Lenvig was killed in action. His half-brother Ole was killed in action 2 weeks later at Pickett's Mill, Georgia.
Sources: Genealogical data from Doug Purdy; Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC); Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillage [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers] by Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1895); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); and, Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume I Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).
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