Born circa 1837
Died April 1, 1864, Prison No. 3, Town of
Danville, State of Virginia
Gilbert Paulson was enlisted in Company F of the 15th Wisconsin by Captain Gustaveson in Manitowoc County in the State of Wisconsin on October 25, 1861, for a 3 year term of service. The men of Company F called themselves K.K.'s Protectors after the 15th's first Lieutenant Colonel, Kiler K. Jones. "F" was also known as the Valdres Company because a large number of its members hailed from the Valdres region of Norway. Gilbert was mustered into Federal service as a Private (Menig) on December 12, 1861, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. At the time he was recorded as being 24 years old, having blue eyes, and standing 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall. His residence was listed as Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, and his occupation as "Farmer."
Private Paulson was appointed to the rank of Corporal in Company F on January 1, 1862. After several months at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Corporal Paulson left there in early March, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until September, 1863, he was listed as "present." 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 the Town of Union City, Tennessee, in March and April, 1862. That Summer he would have been with the 15th on the campaign though Tennessee and the States of Mississippi and Alabama. In August and September he would have participated in the gruelling 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 would have been present at the October 8, 1862, Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, which is also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. In late December 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, at the end of December, 1862. It is there that the 15th first suffered serious battle casualties, and was cited for bravery. Corporal Paulson was wounded at some point during the battle; the official records note "nature and location of wound not stated."
In August and September, 1863, Corporal Paulson participated in General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign. He 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, but was taken prisoner 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. Corporal Paulson was transported to Richmond, Virginia where he was confined in prison beginning September 29, 1863. He was sent to Prison No. 3 in the Town of Danville, Virginia, on December 12, 1863.
On March 4, 1864, Corporal Paulson was admitted to the prison hospital, where he died of "chronic diarrhoea" in early April, 1864.
Sources: 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); 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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