Born December 14, 1843, at _____________________________________,
Kingdom of Norway
Parents were Lars Anderson Fosse (18__-18__) and Anna Olsdatter
Bolstad (18__-18__)
Immigrated to America,
18__
Married on ________, 18__, to Emma G. Anderson at
__________________________________
Died December 5, 1886, of _________________, City of
Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois
Buried at
_____________________________________________________________________
Stephen L. Fosse was enlisted in Company H of the 15th Wisconsin by Captain Ole C. Johnson at the City of Madison, Dane County, State of Wisconsin. Stephen joined up on November 2, 1861, for a 3 year term of service. His brothers Andrew L. Fosse and Ole L. Fosse had joined the same company a few weeks earlier. Together they were 1 of what was said to have been 3 sets of 3 brothers who served in the 15th. The men of Company H called themselves "Heg's Rifles" after the 15th's first commander, Colonel Hans C. Heg. They were also known as the "Voss Company" because many of them were originally from that area in Norway. Stephen was mustered into Federal service as a Private on February 13, 1862, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. At the time he was listed as 18 years old and not married. His residence was recorded as Leeds Township, Columbia County, Wisconsin.
After only a few weeks at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private Stephen Fosse left there in early March, 1862, with his brothers, their company, and the rest of the regiment to join the war. From April 30 until November, 1862, he was listed as "present" with the 15th. It is unclear from Army records whether he 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. However, that summer he would have been with the 15th on the campaign through Tennessee and the States of Mississippi and Alabama.
Beginning in July or August, 1862, Private Stephen Fosse became Wagoner Fosse, probably driving one of the 15th's mule or horse-drawn Army wagons. 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. At some point during that period he is recorded as having "lost one Haversack," which was what soldiers carried their rations and cooking utensils in. This was a serious loss, especially on that march.
Wagoner Stephen Fosse would have been present at, but probably did not participate in, the October 8, 1862, fighting at the Town of Perryville, Boyle County, Kentucky, which was also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. While this was the 15th's first big battle, it emerged without any fatalities. Starting in late November or early December, 1862, Wagoner Fosse was listed as being absent "on duty" in the City of Nashville, Tennessee. As a result he missed the long, cold, wet, and bloody Battle of Stone River, Tennessee, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, on December 30-31, 1862. It was there that the 15th first suffered serious battle casualties and was cited for bravery. One of the casualties who was cited for bravery was his brother Corporal Andrew L. Fosse, who was killed in action there. For his bravery, Andrew Fosse was posthumously awarded the rank of Brevet Captain.
Starting in January, 1863, Wagoner Stephen Fosse was again listed as being "present" with the regiment, and remained so until February, 1865. From January to June, 1863, the 15th camped in the Murfreesboro area, except for 2 weeks in February when it was sent to the Town of Franklin, Tennessee. At some point in April or May, 1863, Wagoner Fosse became Private Fosse again, returning to the ranks of Company H. Beginning June 23, 1863, the regiment took part in General Rosecrans' Tullahoma campaign. On July 3, 1863, the 15th went into camp at the Town of Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee, for 6 weeks.
Starting August 17, 1863, the 15th left Winchester to participate in General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign. Private Stephen Fosse 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 also 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.
Private Stephen Fosse 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 medicine, food, and firewood which, together with cold, wet weather, caused much suffering, sickness, and death. On October 14, 1863, Private Fosse was detached from the regiment and assigned as a Guard with the Army supply wagon train from Chattanooga over the mountains to the Federal supply base at the Town of Stevenson, Alabama, and back. By all accounts this 3 week trip was physically challenging and dangerous. Private Fosse was back with the regiment in early November, 1863. The siege ended with the victorious charge up Mission Ridge that the 15th took part in on November 25, 1863.
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 William T. 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. Private Fosse and the 15th took part in the fighting at Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, in early May, at the bloody Battle of Resaca, Georgia, on May 14-15, and at the disastrous Battle of Pickett's Mill (often called Dallas or New Hope Church), Georgia, on May 27, 1864. It was there that the 15th suffered fearful casualties, one of which was Private Stephen Fosse's brother, Wagoner Ole L. Fosse, who was seriously wounded in both legs.
Private Stephen Fosse and the 15th also took part in the fighting at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, on June 23, and at Atlanta on July 22, 1864. Starting August 18, 1864, Private Fosse was recorded as being "detached" from the regiment and assigned to the headquarters of the brigade that the 15th was part of. It is not clear how long he served at brigade headquarters. The 15th and the rest of the brigade fought at Jonesboro, Georgia, on September 1, and at Lovejoy Station, Georgia, on September 4, 1864. After a rest following the capture of Atlanta, the brigade was sent to Chattanooga at the beginning of October, 1864, where the 15th was briefly assigned to Provost (police) duty. The 15th then spent the remainder of its existence guarding a railroad bridge at Whitesides, Tennessee, near Chattanooga. Some of the 15th's soldiers felt this was the easiest duty of their entire war service.
Private Stephen Fosse was once again with Company H on February 13, 1865, at Chattanooga. On that date he, his brother Wagoner Ole Fosse, and most of the other surviving members of the company were mustered out of Federal service upon the end of their 3 year terms of service. At the time the Army noted that Private Stephen Fosse was due $100 in bounty money.
Stephen Fosse and his wife Emma had one son, Andrew Louis, born May 11, 1874.
Buslett's 1895 history of the 15th says this about Stephen, Andrew, and Ole Fosse.
|
"They were three cheerful and brave brothers." |
Sources: Genealogical data provided by Patty Fosse; 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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