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Christian KnudsonPrivate in Company K |
Image taken after May, 1862, and before September, 1863
Photo WHi (X3) 28862, State Historical Society of Wisconsin
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Born circa 1845, at
____________________________________________________
Parents were
___________________ (1___-18__) and ___________________ (1___-18__)
Never
married
Died June 26, 1864, Andersonville Prison Camp, Andersonville, State of Georgia
Buried Grave No. 2498, Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville,
Georgia
Christian Knudson was enlisted by M. Jenson in Company K of the 15th Wisconsin in Fillmore County, State of Minnesota, on February 11, 1862, for a 3 year term of service. The men of Company K called themselves "Clausen's Guards", in honor of the 15th's first Chaplain, Claus L. Clausen. Christian was mustered into Federal service at the rank of "Private" as of February 11, 1862, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. At the time he was listed by the Army as being 17 years old and not married. His residence was recorded as Fillmore County, Minnesota.
After only a few weeks at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private Knudson left there on March 2, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until October, 1862, he was listed as "present." It was also reported that he was "sick in the hospital" for some period during March and April, 1862. As such he may or may not have taken an active role in the successful siege of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River in the State of Tennessee, during late March and early April, 1862, or in the surprise raid on Union City, Tennessee, at the end of March.
After the Confederates surrendered Island No. 10 on April 7, 1862, Companies A, F, H, I, and K were sent to occupy the island. There was much hard, physical work to be done on the island, and quickly. The slave-built fortifications contained many cannons, which the Confederates had had installed to defend against a Union attack coming down the Mississippi River from the north. These had to be moved and the fortifications changed so they could be used to defend the island against a possible Confederate assault coming up the river from the south. This task was made even more difficult due to the unhealthy nature of the island, and with problems getting an adequate supply of rations. These conditions caused many complaints, sickness, and even death amongst the soldiers there.
On June 11, 1862, Private Knudson departed Island No. 10 by steamboat along with his company and regiment to go on summer campaign through Tennessee and the States of Mississippi and Alabama. In August and September he would have participated in the grueling 400 mile retreat from the Town of Iuka, Mississippi, up to the City of Louisville, State of Kentucky. During this forced march the 15th's soldiers walked 20 or more miles a day, and did do on half rations and with very little drinking water during the last half of the retreat.
In Louisville the 15th became part of the Army of the Ohio led by U.S. Major General Don Carlos Buell. Private Knudson would have next been present at the October 8, 1862, fighting at the village of Perryville, Boyle County, Kentucky, which is also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. While this was the 15th's first big battle, it emerged without any fatalities. Starting October 18, 1862, Private Knudson was reported "Absent sick in hosp. Danville, Ky." Starting October 26 or 27, 1862, he was listed as "sick in hospital at Lebanon, Ky." He did not return to the regiment for 6 months.
From May, 1863, until September 1863, Private Knudson was again listed as "present" with the 15th. At the time of his return the regiment was encamped near the Town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Starting June 23, 1863, the 15th left there to take part in the Tullahoma campaign led by U.S. Major General William S. Rosecrans. On July 3, 1863, the 15th went into camp at the Town of Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee, for 6 weeks.
On August 17, 1863, the 15th left Winchester to participate in what is now known as General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign. Private Knudson 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. There he survived the vicious fighting around Viniard's Farm on the first afternoon, but was one of about 2 dozen 15th soldiers, including the regiment's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ole C. Johnson, who were captured near Brotherton Field around midday on the 20th during what is now known as Longstreet's Breakthrough. Some 63% of the 15th's soldiers who were at Chickamauga were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner during the battle.
The 15th's prisoners were marched to Tunnel Hill, Georgia, then taken by railroad train to Atlanta, Georgia, and on to Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital. There they were imprisoned and their money confiscated. The 15th initially listed Private Knudson as "Missing" but was notified on November 4, 1863, that he was alive and being held as a prisoner in Richmond.
According to prisoner of war records, Private Knudson was transferred from Richmond to a prisoner of war camp at the Town of Danville, Virginia, on December 12, 1863. In March, 1864, many of the 15th's soldiers were sent further south to the infamous Andersonville Prison Camp in Georgia. It was there that Private Knudson was "Admitted to Hospital" on June 25, 1864, where he died the next day. Prison records listed him as "J. Knudson" and noted that he died of "anasarka" (anasaica - congestive heart failure).
Sources: Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC) provided by Carolyn Storlie; 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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